The progressive wing of the Democratic Party is expert at redefining words to fit a trendy political narrative. The latest rewriting of terminology involves the process of redistricting – a constitutional directive to ensure every American citizen is represented in Congress. After all, we need more congressional seats filled by people doing the work many current officeholders are not; the people’s work. However, another term for the process, used repeatedly and derogatorily since the 1800s, is gerrymandering. Essentially, that is when more Republicans are corralled into a newly drawn congressional district and Democrats call foul.
Yeah, Let’s Say That Now
Eric Holder (left) and Barack Obama (right) (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Former President Barack Obama and his old U.S. attorney general pal, Eric Holder, have been on a media tour to stamp out gerrymandering and instill redistricting since the 2020 Census – but only if you are redrawing the lines to eliminate Republican strongholds. Mr. Holder is in charge of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) – a group created to increase domination in historically blue states and water down the power in red states until someone cries “uncle.”
Mr. Obama praised his cohort in “fighting so hard to make sure people everywhere have an equal opportunity to choose their representatives.” Really? That’s what this is all about? Holder has been on a line-drawing media extravaganza of late to discuss how Republicans have “gamed” the system since 2010. Apparently, Dems are not satisfied with a 2012 presidential win and several years of congressional control since then. In cable news, the bottom of the barrel is touting a “break-even” scorecard, referring to a “positive redistricting” as new maps expected to favor Democrats will soon be released in New York and Pennsylvania.
As Holder charges on toward saving the Republic one interview at a time, several red states have been brought up as gerrymandering pros: Texas, Florida, and nearly any state in the Midwest. What Holder doesn’t discuss is the radically wild “fair line drawing” of blue states. Take a gander at Illinois: one district snakes narrowly through Chicago’s south side – which includes many populous areas – before winding up in a farmer’s cornfield. Nothing to see here, folks.
And deep-blue Maryland? Well, that new map might “redistrict” the lone Republican out of his congressional seat.
But those victories have not satisfied the Democratic Party one tiny bit. Members insist someone must do something, and, in 2019, their plight finally made it to the Supreme Court. The Court tossed it about like a game of Hot Potato before ruling. Chief Justice John Roberts decreed:
“We conclude that partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts. Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, with no plausible grant of authority in the Constitution, and no legal standards to limit and direct their decisions.”
Can We Just Stick to States’ Laws?
When it comes to redistricting, well, it is based on population. Drawing a snake, a salamander, a punctuation mark, or George Washington on a map need only be done to encompass residents. And here are a few less widely known facts – without the cable spin or soundbites – for edification. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures:
- Thirty-seven states require districts to be “compact” or fit a specified geometric size and shape.
- Eight states allow maps to be drawn to avoid pitting two legislators against each other; nine states disallow drawing maps that give an advantage to a party or incumbent.
- All people in the United States must be equally represented in legislative bodies; i.e., legislators in the same body must represent roughly the same number of people.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry of the Democratic-Republican Party inadvertently coined the negative term “gerrymander.” It seems he drew a district that looked a lot like a salamander and the newshounds went all-in on a new sobriquet. Hence, the term Democrats have glommed onto today. The negative press, refusal to sign the U.S. Constitution, and unfortunate nickname did not hold Gerry down. He was elected vice president on the ticket with James Madison.
But if only he could see the shenanigans of politics in the 21st Century and his handle used in vain.
~ Read more from Sarah Cowgill.
