Francesca Hong’s weird Thanksgiving take highlights everything that’s wrong with the left.
Key Points:
- Francesca Hong, endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, leads the Wisconsin governor's primary with strong support due to her progressive policies like Medicare for All, universal childcare, ICE abolition, cannabis legalization, free school lunches, and expanded union membership.
- Despite her popularity, Hong faces criticism from moderate Democrats, largely due to a controversial 2020 tweet calling for the cancellation of Thanksgiving, which she linked to colonialism and Indigenous suffering.
- When questioned about Thanksgiving on CNN, Hong softened her stance, emphasizing the holiday's pain for some communities but also its significance, suggesting her views have evolved while maintaining her progressive credentials.
- The article argues Hong would benefit politically by simply disavowing unpopular past positions to focus on her core platform, noting that political figures like Zohran Mamdani have successfully done so without losing leftist support.
- Overall, Hong is seen as a skilled and promising candidate whose progressive agenda aligns with voter priorities like cost of living, and cultural debates like Thanksgiving should be sidelined in favor of more pressing issues during the general election.