John Delaney is the Presidential Candidate of the Future
By Owen Mortner
The Progressive Teen Staff Writer
THE FIRST QUESTION RAISED when I casually bring up my support for Congressman John Delaney’s presidential bid is nearly unanimous: who? The next invariably is “why?” The confusion is justified; the quietly bipartisan US Representative has remained largely out of the public eye for his three terms of public service, choosing to remain outside of lockstep with the establishment and pursue critical but often unglamorous policies like infrastructure reform and veterans benefits.
Delaney has raised a few eyebrows by leaping into the 2020 Presidential race so early but his logic becomes evident when those same critics fail to recognize the congressman’s name. Delaney himself phrases his impetus well, “I’m not particularly well-known nationally, so I have to act like I’m a long-distance swimmer. I want to get in the pool first.”
While the media is analyzing Trump’s latest indiscretion, they seem to have ignored an issue tearing at the seams of our democracy — one that Delaney has made a centerpiece of his campaign; The Citizens United Supreme court decision has combined with Gerrymandering to create a perfect storm compromising the core of our representative democracy. An underreported achievement of his congressional tenure, is Delaney’s visionary “Open Our Democracy Act” which — among other things — would establish election day as a federal holiday and end gerrymandering by requiring independent commissions to draw the districts in each state.
Newton’s Third Law, that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, has unfortunately become enmeshed into our electoral consciousness. We had eight years of Bush and then Obama, we had eight years of Obama, then we got Trump. The pendular nature of our politics dictates that the more partisan a candidate is one way, the greater the likelihood is of their antithesis assuming power during the next cycle. Delaney is just the politician to throw a wrench in the gears of this gridlocked political system. Consistently ranked as one of the most bipartisan congressman, Delaney believes that our true enemy is the intensity of partisan tribalism. He goes as far as to feature former Republican Congressman John Yanna, in his announcement video, and makes clear that he doesn’t shy away from reaching across the aisle.
“Newton’s Third Law, that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, has unfortunately become enmeshed into our electoral consciousness. We had eight years of Bush and then Obama, we had eight years of Obama, then we got Trump.”
A mixed crowd of packs the small offices of the Rockingham County Dems in New Hampshire. Delaney stands before a ring of chairs, fielding questions on everything from work service programs to climate change. Delaney is committed in a way few other candidates have been previously. He’s already aired ads focused on one of his central campaign themes, bipartisanship, in Iowa. His candor is hard to ignore, it’s not that he isn’t political or that he’s breaking down any cultural barriers with his bid, but the stamp of performance is notably missing from Delaney. Unlike others, he’s not driven by a ruthless political calculus but rather by a genuine desire to use his fresh ideas to advance American ideals.
As a millenial, Delaney is the type of public servant I want negotiating the difficult terrain that will determine our nation’s future. He brings a refreshing clarity and scarce authenticity to the stage. My biggest complaint with our commander-in-chief is not his bombastic rhetoric and degrading antics, but his inability to recognize the future that is staring America in the face. And Democrats, caught up in his firestorm, have similarly dropped the ball on passing legislation that sets the groundwork for our rapidly changing world. Delaney is invested in innovative platforms like AI integration and carbon taxing that lay a sustainable blueprint for economic solvency in the coming millenia. Most of all, he understands that attacking one sector of America will not carry the next generation into prosperity. An underreported achievement of his congressional tenure, is Delaney’s visionary “Open Our Democracy Act” which — among other things — would establish election day as a federal holiday and end gerrymandering by requiring independent commissions to draw the districts in each state. His time in congress has been marked by a tireless commitment to bolstering America’s founding principles while mapping a legislative plan to serve its future.
“My biggest complaint with our commander-in-chief is not his bombastic rhetoric and degrading antics, but his inability to recognize the future that is staring America in the face. And Democrats, caught up in his firestorm, have similarly dropped the ball on passing legislation that sets the groundwork for our rapidly changing world.”
While hackneyed, the old adage about actions speaking louder than words seems particularly relevant in Delaney’s case. Though he lacks the fiery rhetoric of some politicians, he has the even-keeled managerial skills to actually accomplish difficult policy goals.
As attention spans grow shorter, Americans begin to favor entertainers over actual thinkers, a mindset, which as we’ve seen, can result in disaster. If 2016 taught us anything, it’s that personality and snap judgements can only take us so far.
