Rahm Emanuel was the architect of the Democrats’ prior (before 2018) majority in the House. His theory had been that to hold the majority, he needed centrist and “blue dog” Democrats in places where liberals could not win. He has penned a memo to the Democratic Presidential Candidates. I don’t agree with his answers but he is giving Democrats good advice that they likely don’t want to hear.

Ignore the twitter mobs; you need voters not Twitter accolades. It is the center-center/left voters in swing states that will make you president. If you run the primary in a way that you lose the general you will go down poorly in history as the person who could not beat Trump.

Some of his ideas are downright “America First.” Fix health care for poorer Americans before you worry about free health care for illegal immigrants. Invest in infrastructure and education; both need help and both are spending in America that generate jobs here, these things can’t be outsourced. China steals intellectual property from us because our system is the best for generating new ideas.

Don’t talk about free money for healthy people who refuse to work, help poor Americans who are working.

Emanuel does not call anyone racist or transphobic, his points do not touch on identity politics at all. He clearly dislikes Trump and wants Democrats to win the election. His advice is smart. Win the center, the base will come out to beat Trump no matter what.

I hope that the Democrats on that debate stage ignore Emanuel and continue to push the Twitter-approved messages. I dislike most of Rahm’s policy choices.

By giving the Democrats a dose of common sense, Rahm risks being written out of a movement that continues to push further and further to the left.