Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema did not lie to Democrats in order to get elected. She did not lie to Republicans either.

Sinema is exactly who she said she was, a person who believes in working across the aisle in order to “get stuff done.”

She’s not an ideologue, but more of a pragmatist, with a tilt to the left.

Apparently, that isn’t good enough for some members of the Arizona Democratic Party.

According to ABC15, the party’s Progressive Caucus wants to formally censure Sen. Kyrsten Sinema at the state committee meeting this weekend.

Caucus member Dan O’Neil told ABC15, “The Progressive Caucus is very concerned with Kyrsten Sinema’s voting record. We love her, as we love all Democrats, but we want her to vote like a Democrat rather than supporting Trump half the time.”

Sinema is sticking to her principles

I get that.

But it’s not like Sinema pulled the wool over their eyes.

She has been upfront about her beliefs and how she operates, and she has stuck to it. Even after taking heat from hacks like me. Some of her votes – particularly her vote to confirm William Barr for attorney general – are confusing, if not intolerable.

But she never, ever said that she would stick strictly to the party line.

And that’s actually a good thing. As long as it’s honest. And with Sinema, it is.

If Democrats praised the late Sen. John McCain for his displays of independence – and they did – they should do the same for Sinema, even if some of those displays are annoying to them.

That's something to be celebrated

Besides, censure is a joke.

It was a joke when Arizona Republicans did it to McCain and it would be a joke if Democrats do it to Sinema.

There are plenty of partisan zealots in both the Democratic and Republican parties. Having a realist in your midst isn’t something to be lamented.

It’s something to be celebrated.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.