https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20191119/shunned-by-their-party-democratic-womens-caucus-votes-to-go-it-alone
Recently, the Rhode Island Democratic Party's Women's Caucus filed to split from the RI Democratic Party. The Democratic state committee voted 122-to-27 that introduced new rules that required caucuses to receive the party chairman's approval before "endorsing candidates, spending money, or making statement". The Party Chairman, Joseph McNamara, stated that these changes have been "misread". Although the state is predominately blue, this event triggered the inevitable split because the state party has increasingly supported conservative agendas over democratic ideals. As the caucus reported: "They have endorsed republican white [supremacists] over progressive female incumbents... have forced women to endorse candidates who read Bible passages during Senate hearings, condemning women who support reproductive justice... have required women to fundraise into a party account that spends more money on pizza and liquor than on progressive, democratic female candidates..." Other progressive caucuses that ideologically are in line with the Women's Caucus have not separated; however, the Women's Caucus was the only one that independently raised and deployed funds, thus they have more economic capabilities relative to others when operating independently. However, the split indicates that there is a party fracture, problems with the agenda (its priorities), and its administrative governance.
I found this a really interesting read. When McNamara said that stripping the women of their independence would unify the party more, as Steve Frias alluded to, it seems reminiscent of what a dictatorial regime would say-- that they took away individual freedoms for the sake of the "greater" good, whatever "greater" means. It's ridiculous they think that the better alternative to open discussion is oppression and it's really sickening to see that, especially in the party that's supposed to be considered liberal and progressive.
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