{"id":581451,"date":"2021-07-03T19:05:58","date_gmt":"2021-07-03T23:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=581451"},"modified":"2021-07-03T19:06:01","modified_gmt":"2021-07-03T23:06:01","slug":"delusions-of-progressive-resistance-in-pas-heartland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/delusions-of-progressive-resistance-in-pas-heartland\/","title":{"rendered":"Delusions Of Progressive \u2018Resistance\u2019 In PA\u2019s Heartland"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdelusions-of-progressive-resistance-in-pas-heartland%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=581451&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/E6747AD2-E344-4DB6-8F5A-BADDA3259C63-scaled-e1625269268458.jpeg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p>Drive 30 minutes east from Pittsburgh, and you\u2019ll enter Westmoreland County \u2013 one of Pennsylvania\u2019s most conservative areas. Over the course of two decades, Westmoreland has become ground zero for the Rust Belt\u2019s GOP shift. For perspective, in 1998 the county\u2019s 136,700 registered Democratic voters dwarfed the 70,600 registered Republicans, propelling their candidates to wins in nearly every local, state, and national election. But in 2020, Donald Trump took 64% of the vote.<\/p>\n<p>In May\u2019s state primary, the Republican trend continued when Westmoreland <a href=\"https:\/\/results.enr.clarityelections.com\/PA\/Westmoreland\/109366\/web.276935\/#\/summary?category=C_6\">voted by similar margins<\/a> in support of a constitutional amendment curtailing Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf\u2019s emergency powers \u2013 a clear rebuke of his excessive pandemic restrictions. Then, in a special election, county voters favored <a href=\"https:\/\/results.enr.clarityelections.com\/PA\/Westmoreland\/109366\/web.276935\/#\/summary?category=C_5\">Leslie Rossi<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theamericanconservative.com\/articles\/the-localist-legislator-last-hope-of-the-middle-class\/\">GOP state House candidate<\/a> who had painted her home like an American flag and erected a 14-foot Trump cutout.<\/p>\n<p>Since the Obama era, Westmoreland\u2019s former Democrats have switched parties over issues related to economic populism and social conservatism. But last year\u2019s social unrest and urban violence, including in Pittsburgh, led even more county Democrats to change their affiliation. In a paraphrase of Ronald Reagan\u2019s classic remark, Westmoreland Sheriff James Albert <a href=\"https:\/\/triblive.com\/local\/westmoreland\/westmoreland-sheriff-albert-explains-switch-to-gop-i-have-not-left-the-democratic-party-the-democratic-party-has-left-me\/\">put it<\/a> this way when joining the GOP: \u201cAs a lifelong public servant and member of law enforcement, I have not left the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party has left me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Though Trump\u2019s presidency fueled intraparty tensions, including in Pennsylvania, Westmorelanders feel their own political compass has remained fixed amid the GOP\u2019s evolving platforms. As one resident in Greensburg, the county seat, told me, \u201cTime has pretty much stood still around here for the last 30 years. And that\u2019s how we like it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But while Westmoreland\u2019s silent majority stands still, its progressive activists have increasingly mobilized. Last year, for example, along that half-hour drive from Pittsburgh, incendiary anti-Trump billboards displayed <a href=\"https:\/\/reason.com\/volokh\/2020\/05\/29\/of-course-when-the-looting-start-the-shooting-starts\/\">misrepresented<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolitics.com\/articles\/2019\/03\/21\/trump_didnt_call_neo-nazis_fine_people_heres_proof_139815.html\">quotes<\/a> from the former president. Today, billboards feature left-leaning messages such as \u201cBan Assault Weapons\u201d and \u201cTeach your children about systemic racism.\u201d Meanwhile, art displays that promote the central tenets of Critical Race Theory find their way to local museums and outdoor areas.<\/p>\n<p>Who is behind this progressive \u201cresistance\u201d in Pennsylvania\u2019s heartland? According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/10\/12\/us\/politics\/biden-trump-pennsylvania.html\">New York Times<\/a>, Westmoreland\u2019s radical campaigners operate like a secret society, complete with hand signals, invite-only gatherings, and leftist Facebook groups. Overall, they\u2019re united in purpose and strategic in approach \u2013 but this hardly suggests a grassroots effort.<\/p>\n<p>As is so often the case, Westmoreland\u2019s Left is less a coalition of local dissenters than a team of professional activists funded by out-of-town millions \u2013 and occasionally, even public tax dollars. Anti-gun billboards, for example, are paid for by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/political-action-committees-pacs\/mad-dog-pac\/C00663211\/donors\/2020\">PAC<\/a> involving prominent liberals, such as former Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill. Meanwhile, critical race theory <a href=\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/about\/press\/press-releases\/10-artists-chosen-for-the-westmoreland-diversity-coalitions-diversity-billboard-campaign\/\">displays<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/blog\/a-list-of-resources-and-organizations-fighting-racism-and-supporting-equality\/\">messaging<\/a> are funded by groups such as PA Start and the Westmoreland Diversity Coalition, both <a href=\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/about\/press\/press-releases\/westmoreland-museum-of-american-art-to-receive-national-endowment-for-the-arts-grant-award\/\">recipients<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/pastart.org\/\">taxpayer-funded<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/triblive.com\/local\/westmoreland\/westmoreland-museum-gets-grant-for-2022-exhibit\/\">grants<\/a> and gifts from corporations like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.co.westmoreland.pa.us\/DocumentCenter\/View\/21504\/2020-Annual-Report-Final-Draft-20210401\">Heinz<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The progressive campaign, though, isn\u2019t limited to leftist messaging on major thoroughfares. In fact, Westmoreland\u2019s liberal wing has clear-eyed electoral ambitions. In 2019, for example, the county commissioner elections turned into a bitter struggle between Democratic incumbents \u2013 termed the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/triblive.com\/opinion\/letter-to-the-editor-say-no-to-westmoreland-county-squad\/\">Westmoreland County Squad<\/a>\u201d after the congressional coalition led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes \u2013 and their Republican challengers.<\/p>\n<p>The local fight concerned the lobbying power of public-sector unions, whom Democrats had empowered to influence county spending. The unions\u2019 left-leaning positions on social issues, such as a <a href=\"https:\/\/westmorelandca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Confronting-Challenges-of-Diversity-7-7-15_final-version.pdf\">county diversity plan<\/a>, became part of Democratic candidates\u2019 platforms, too. This, in turn, unified Republican opposition. Since then, the most prominent Westmoreland Squad member has signaled her support for replacing Westmoreland\u2019s Flag Day observance with Juneteenth \u2013 but only <a href=\"https:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/no-juneteenth-holiday-westmoreland-county-100400448.html\">if the unions agree<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Westmoreland\u2019s progressives are also keen on dominating local school boards. The county chapter of <a href=\"https:\/\/paunited.org\/\">PA United<\/a>, a subsidiary of the George Soros-funded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2017\/03\/20\/george-soros-democracy-alliance-anti-trump-activists-meeting\/99417808\/\">Democracy Alliance<\/a>, has put forward several candidates seeking to make local school districts\u2019 curriculum and practices more progressive. The candidates present a neutral, pragmatic face to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/4-challengers-face-3-incumbents-100400764.html\">local media<\/a> but elsewhere tout their <a href=\"https:\/\/paunited.org\/cantwait\/\">progressive credentials<\/a>. Westmorelanders, though, likely wish to avoid the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/moms-of-america-fight-back-critical-race-theory\">parent-led battles<\/a> over <a href=\"https:\/\/americanmind.org\/salvo\/the-battle-of-loudoun-county\/\">ideological school boards<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.city-journal.org\/quaker-schools-embrace-critical-race-theory\">identity-driven curriculum<\/a> currently afflicting Loudoun County, Va., and suburban Philadelphia. This November, such issues are at stake in Westmoreland\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n<p>On guns, law and order, family values, and education, the county isn\u2019t a great fit for progressive activists or the elite millionaires who fund them. But post-Trump, such a conservative area remains a target for culture war assaults waged by \u201cresistance\u201d activists with deep pockets. For some reason, western Pennsylvania\u2019s towns, with their thriving small business economies, neighborhood safety, solidarity, and educational opportunity, have become a bugbear for the Left.<\/p>\n<p>But most Westmorelanders still consider these community features to be proud of \u2013 and defend.<\/p>\n<p><i>The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author\u2019s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>Andrew Cuff writes on conservative issues and policy reform from Latrobe, Pa. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewJCuff.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Drive 30 minutes east from Pittsburgh, and you\u2019ll enter Westmoreland County \u2013 one of Pennsylvania\u2019s most conservative areas. Over the course of two decades, Westmoreland has become ground zero for &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1893720,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-581451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=581451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581451\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1893720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=581451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=581451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=581451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}