this post was submitted on 01 May 2025
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Democrats keep reacting normally to being told to do their fucking jobs. This guy is looking to be on the House Oversight Committee btw (the same one AOC got kicked off from, to pick a 70 year old throat cancer patient who had to resign a few months later).

Lynch, who's represented a safely blue seat in Congress since 2001, was exhorted by rallygoers at a Friday protest to stand up more forcefully to Trump. But he demurred when one attendee asked him to "commit to not voting for any Republican legislation," saying he had to consider the views of his entire district.

"I got 800,000 people that I represent, and I gotta figure out what's in their best interest, not the best interest of, you know, Sally Blue from across the street," said Lynch in a video published by MassLive. One attendee, however, interjected to say, "This is in the best interests of our country and our democracy," which set Lynch off.

"I get to decide that. I get to decide that," he responded with evident irritation. "I get to decide that. I'm elected. I get to decide that. You wanna decide that? You need to run for Congress, okay? I get to decide that."

Lynch may soon get reminded that voters, in fact, decide that. Attorney Patrick Roath, described by Politico as a "voting rights advocate and Deval Patrick alum," is weighing a bid against the congressman in next year's Democratic primary, according to an unnamed source.

Roath hasn't commented publicly, but the day after Lynch's eruption, he tweeted, "Arrogance is bad. So is entitlement."

[...]

Lynch, a former ironworker with close ties to organized labor, also brings with him a record of past social conservatism: Earlier in his career, he opposed abortion rights, though he later shifted his views (but he still called himself "pro-life" as recently as 2019.) Infamously in progressive circles, he also voted against the Affordable Care Act, though he claimed to do so from the left.

Roath, who is in his late 30s, would offer a stark generational contrast with Lynch, who turns 70 next month and has held public office since 1995. But even if Lynch avoids a primary, he's by no means the only longtime Democrat whose posture toward Trump has drawn progressive ire—anger that is reminiscent of the tea party furor that reshaped the GOP in 2010 and could fuel a wave of primary challenges next year.

Deflecting by saying you represent all constituents is pretty classic Democrat.

"You may have voted for me for specific reasons, with specific policies, identified with a specific politcal party I knowingly campaign and identify with, but now that you've elected me I represent all constituents so please stop asking me what I'm going to do about any of them."

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KArSrW4P-jw

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 16 hours ago

"How dare you tell me what you need! I'll decide what you need, you ungrateful peasants!"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 18 hours ago

Roath, who is in his late 30s, would offer a stark generational contrast with Lynch, who turns 70 next month and has held public office since 1995.

Get outta here old man. Let younger generations have a seat at the table. At this moment, I support Roath. He had me at voting rights.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I’m a constituent of this chucklefuck. I’m gonna call him later this afternoon and tell him in a very profane way that I’m never going to vote for him again because he’s a spineless, limpdick piece of shit who couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag.

Fuck you, Lynch. You are unable and unwilling to do your job. Shove it up your ass.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

The guy shouldn't have lost his cool but

commit to not voting for any Republican legislation,

isn't a good idea. Many Republicans are willing to hurt themselves as long as they hurt Democrats more, but that's not a sensible theory of government.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 23 hours ago

Right but we could have explained that. There’s an excellent example of the “take it down” legislation (anti-unconsentual porn, deepfakes, etc) that recently passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 23 hours ago

But he does have to represent all his constituents. It's not us vs them, normally. We don't ignore our neighbours because they're deranged, but we do what's best for them too.

And of course he should have the opportunity and will-power to absolutely derail really bad and evil shit like what's going on now, and that's his mandate.

Having said that, he's also not gonna skip a good piece of legislation just because the author flies the red flag. Even a broken watch is right twice a day, and GoP people could lob a bill that accidentally does good.

I read what he's saying as that: he's gotta do what's best for everyone, he's gotta evaluate everything and prune the shit, but he's not gonna kneejerk and ignore a bill just because it was written by the wrong guy.

Everything after that just seems reactionary.

That's my piece. Unleash the downvotes.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

It is that time of the election cycle and the media has to run a few stories about someone who might see a primary challenge. Sometimes it even happens. Rarely the challenge succeeds. Really this is just a slow news day filler. Let me know if/when challenges start getting enough traction that there is success.