Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville used a recent media event to criticize the growing influence of Democratic Socialists within his own party. Speaking at a press conference promoting the newly announced “Promise to America” pledge, Carville said the party’s most outspoken members are not even true Democrats and should consider removing the word “Democrat” from their name.
“I wish they’d take the word Democrat out of their name. If you hate the Democratic Party so much, then don’t use our god‑‑‑‑ name. Go think of your own name,” Carville said, adding that the insurgent faction is subjugating moderate voices.
Promise to America pledge
The “Promise to America” is a set of principles drafted in part by two moderate House members, Rep. Tom Suozzi (D‑NY) and Rep. Adam Gray (D‑CA). According to its website, the pledge celebrates “capitalism, safety, fiscal responsibility, effective government, common purpose, and patriotism.” Carville argued that these values reflect the preferences of roughly 80 % of Democrats, but he noted that only a handful of House members have signed on so far.
To date, ten House Democrats have endorsed the pledge, with just five of those being current candidates for the upcoming midterm elections. Republicans have seized on the low number of signatories as evidence that the party’s far‑left is gaining control.
Moderate leaders defend the effort
Both Suozzi and Gray defended the initiative when questioned by Fox News Digital. Suozzi said the limited number of signatories is intentional, explaining, “We only want 10 members of Congress because we don’t want to make it only about Washington. That’s why we’re going out to the state and local officials.” Gray added that attempts to nationalize the debate are a distraction, stating, “The efforts on the cable news networks and everything else to nationalize our politics all the time, pretend that, you know, somebody in some big city represents all of us is absurd. … It’s a distraction, this idea that somehow some leader somewhere is supposed to win my district.”
Carville emphasized that the core of the discussion is common‑sense policy. “Who’s not for lower crime? Everybody is, but we just need to restate it,” he said, urging the party to focus on issues that resonate with everyday Americans.
Broader partisan context
The intra‑party conflict has become a focal point for Republicans, who argue that a Democratic victory in the November midterms would enable a far‑left agenda that most voters reject. The debate reflects a larger struggle within the Democratic Party between establishment‑moderate figures and a rising socialist insurgency that has already unseated several establishment‑backed incumbents.
While the “Promise to America” pledge is still in its early stages, its proponents hope it will provide a rallying point for Democrats who wish to distance themselves from the socialist wing and re‑assert a centrist, pro‑American platform ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
