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Ankur Shukla Published 8:45 a.m. PT June 19, 2020

Former Vice President Joe Biden called for justice and accountability in the death of George Floyd, a black man who died shortly after his arrest by four Minneapolis police officers. "George Floyd's life matters," Biden said. (May 27) AP Domestic

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This opinion column was submitted byAnkur Shukla, a native Nevadan anda veteran of international and U.S. presidential campaigns. Heholds a masters of public policy from Harvard University.

Dear progressives,

I want to reach out to you as a moderate Democrat. I am writing today because I need you. Reports are that many progressives are unenthusiastic about Joe Biden, and perhaps may not vote for him. Perhaps that is you. If so, please allow me to tell you something you already know: The country needs you, your voiceand your vote. I genuinely believe the opportunity for the progressive movement has never been greater.

Since you are a progressive, I do not have to convince you that Donald Trump is bad for the country. Like me, you are terrified for yourself and your loved ones health and safety as the coronavirus ravages through the nation and Trump prioritizes the stock market over the health of citizens. Like me, you were probably horrified when peaceful protestors were dispersed with tear gas and flash grenades, violating their First Amendment rights. Undoubtedly you were once again disappointed when Republicans looked away and even pretended to not have seen the whole thing. You and I have a common disgust for all this.

I have to admit, as a moderate I have not always understood the progressive point of view. I think there are a lot of moderates who need to better understand the progressive perspective and vice versa. However, despite our differences, we are on the same team. We believe that climate change is an existential threat, that health care is a human right, that a college education should be free, that a womans right to choose is sacrosanct, that there is racial injustice in the criminal justice system that must be corrected, to name only a few. We are all concerned about the courts being packed with right-wing judges and what could happen to the Supreme Court if Republicans win the White House and Senate again. We largely have the same goals, but we disagree on how to get thereMedicare for All versus strengthening the Affordable Care Act to get to universal health care, for example.

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The progressive movement has changed the political debate in this country, and even moderate presidential candidates adopted some progressive policies. The obvious example is Medicare for All and free college, which of millions of voters support, and which several moderate candidates included in their platforms.

I worked for the Pete Buttigieg campaign. One of the policies that drew me in was free college at public colleges and universities for low- and middle-income students a direct contribution from the 2016 Bernie Sanders campaign. Biden would later adopt this policy. The obvious conclusion is that the progressive movement holds great sway in the Democratic Party, and that is where, I would argue, you come in.

Progressives can continue to make an impact. I understand you may not favor Biden, and you may even distrust him. Perhaps you feel he has let you down in the past. I understand that, as a moderate, it is much easier for me to be enthusiastic about Biden. However, I would argue that there is plenty of reason for you to be excited about a Biden presidency, especially if we win both the House and the Senate.

One reason you have to be excited is that Biden has been moving to the left. Even before becoming the presumptive nominee, he adopted signature proposals from Sanders and Warren. Furthermore, Biden has incorporated prominent progressives into his leadership team. Typically, a presumptive nominee moves to the center of the ideological spectrum. Not Biden. So, there is great potential for progressive policies to be incorporated into Bidens agenda. Progressives can shape the Democratic National Committee platform and influence the narrative.

Also, with Biden at the top of the ticket, down-ballot Democrats have a great shot at winning the Senate with the same coalition that won the House in 2018. Progressive proposals could become law. And unlike in the past, progressives have a large, powerful caucus in the House, which will undoubtedly hold even a moderate Democratic president to account. There have even been rumblings out of the campaign that Biden wants more of an FDR-style presidency to heal the country after so much tumult, as opposed to his original incrementalism. You have an opening.

Ankur Shukla(Photo: Provided by Ankur Shukla)

What is more certain is that if Trump and Republicans win again, there will certainly be no advance in progressive policies. The country will most certainly continue to move backwards on the environment, health care, education, race relationsand so on.

There is only one choice right now:A possibility of advancing progressive goals with Biden, and with Democrats controlling both houses of Congress, or continued degradation of our country.

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Progressives will win with Biden | Shukla - Reno Gazette Journal