Middlebury College Democrats have recently emphasized their bipartisanship. They have consistently invited College Republicans to partake in joint meetings. This has been discussed in a Jan. 15 Campus article co-written by the leadership of Middlebury Democrats and Middlebury Republicans. This development has even caught the attention and praise of President Baucom on Instagram. Those who care for liberal values should not respond with praise. This development is illogical, cowardly and unprincipled.
Speaking as a College Democrat, I am frustrated. The College Democrats do not have to normalize conservatism to treat our peers respectfully. Middlebury Democrats should be kind to our peers but rebuke conservative ideals. This embrace of modern conservatism betrays the values of our party. Former President Obama stressed hope, opportunity and democracy in his 2008 DNC speech. These ideals are not radical; they are essential. However, the authoritarian party of U.S. President Donald Trump could not be further apart from hope, opportunity or democracy.
College Democrats advanced those ideals this November by protesting for the No Kings movement. Our members shouted that Donald Trump is a fascist. What does that make of our leadership when they invite Republicans to take part in meetings? Speaking as a College Democrat, I do not believe the College Republicans are fascists, but the politicians the College Republicans support are fascists. Donald Trump’s denial of elections, use of force against the citizenry and erosion of the rule of law are real indicators that the Republican Party is fascist.
Speaking as a Democrat voter, I am equally frustrated with this approach to politics. On the national scale, the Democratic Party leadership extends an olive branch to conservatives and still loses. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris did not take the Gaza issue seriously and lost voters in a close election. Further, the Harris campaign touted the right-wing architect of the Iraq war with Dick Cheney’s endorsement. She pulled toward the center, diluted her message and lost. It is unreasonable for a party resisting authoritarianism to embrace agreement with an authoritarian party. A bipartisan message tells the general public that the Democrats are unserious. There is no reason Middlebury College Democrats should repeat the same mistake our leaders made. It will cost our group legitimacy, consistency in our message and political strength.
No matter where you look, in the college or outside of it, liberal values are taken unseriously. College Democrats should acknowledge this reality and follow through on our principles, setting an example as colleges are meant to do. There is a lack of spine in our party, and there is a lack of spine amongst the College Democrats.
