The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s recent policy designed to shield incumbents from primary challengers is not sitting well with “CBS This Morning” host Tony Dokoupil.
“I have a story of unintended consequences,” Mr. Dokoupil told his colleagues on Tuesday. “The Democratic leadership in the House, they have a new policy meant to protect incumbents — people currently in office. The policy is no consultant can work for a challenger to that seat. Now the idea is to help keep the people who are in Congress, make them stay in Congress. Now, here’s the problem. Two-thirds of the people in those safe House seats are older white men. The people who are making the challenges often: often female, often younger, often people of color.”
Mr. Dokoupil was referencing a June 2 piece by The New York Times titled “Insurgent Democrats, Many of Them Women, Worry a New Party Policy Will Block Them.”
Steve Welchert, a veteran Democratic consultant, called the policy a form of “bullying.”
“It certainly harms younger candidates,” he told the newspaper.
Mr. Dokoupil expanded upon that on Tuesday by calling the DCCC’s policy “not a good look.”
“White men are everywhere, Tony” co-host Gayle King deadpanned. “There’s a lot of you guys in here right now.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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