Forging America: My Campaign Manager is Roosevelt

Chapter 363 - 173: Rodman Moment

"The Republican Party will launch endless investigative hearings."

"They’ll paralyze the entire government."

"At that point, the President will be at the Republican Party’s mercy just to change the carpet in his own office."

"Do you want that outcome?"

"Tell me, David."

"What’s more important, appearances or power?"

Stern was running the numbers.

He was weighing the pros and cons of this political deal.

Bringing these people in would offend the party’s radical left and trigger a backlash from the media.

But if they could win Pennsylvania, they could hold the Senate.

Hold the Senate, and they hold judicial appointments, budget approval, and the President’s political legacy.

The math was simple.

It was just that the deal was too dirty.

So dirty that it was hard for him, a chief of staff who had always championed "progress and inclusivity," to stomach.

"That kid from Pittsburgh..."

Stern suddenly spoke up, changing the subject.

"Leo Wallace."

"Can he really control these people?"

"Dennis Rodman may have been an asshole, but he listened to Phil Jackson, and he listened to Jordan."

"But these mayors, these guys who are used to being kings in their own towns... are they going to listen to some kid in his twenties?"

"If they join us but we can’t control them, then we’re not grabbing a rebound; we’re letting the wolf in the door."

Sanders smiled.

"You can rest assured on that point."

"Leo Wallace isn’t just the team’s coach."

"He’s the one who signs Rodman’s paychecks."

Sanders pointed to the files on the desk.

"Leo has these beasts chained to his chariot with their own self-interest."

"They can’t afford to leave him."

"As long as the machine in Pittsburgh keeps running, as long as that alliance is still operating, these people will be more obedient than any loyal party member."

"Because it’s their meal ticket."

"Besides, Leo’s a smart kid," Sanders added.

"He knows where the line is."

"He won’t have these people showing up on the White House lawn, and he won’t let them interfere with the party’s core agenda."

"He just needs them in Pennsylvania, in those corners we can’t reach, to vote for Murphy."

"He’ll do the dirty work, and he’ll do it cleanly."

"Just like he did in Pittsburgh."

Stern looked at Sanders’s eyes, burning with the will to win.

He suddenly realized that this old Senator, who always spoke of ideals and justice, was, at his core, more of a realist than anyone.

’To win, Sanders would make a deal with the Demon.’

’To win, Sanders would set his principles aside.’

’Now *that’s* a seasoned politician.’

"Alright."

Stern let out a long breath and sat back down behind his desk.

He picked up a pen and tapped it against the list.

"Daniel, I can agree to this plan."

"But we have to draw some clear lines."

Stern’s gaze sharpened.

"The President will not be going to Pennsylvania, nor will he be publicly shaking hands with these people. At least not until after the general election. The White House will keep its distance."

"We can’t give the media an opening to say the President is cozying up to a bunch of anti-environment, anti-gun-control right-wingers just for votes."

"That would hurt our base in California and New York."

Sanders nodded.

He had expected as much.

"I understand," Sanders said. "We don’t need the President’s embrace. We just need his tacit approval."

"More than just tacit approval."

Stern pulled open a drawer, took out a notepad, and quickly scribbled something down.

"I’ll have a word with the Democratic National Committee."

"I’ll tell them to give these people a green light, a special political track."

"We’ll allow them to form an independent caucus within the Pennsylvania Democratic Party."

Stern looked up and said the name.

"The Democratic Blue-collar Core Team."

"This group will have a special status."

"We’ll give them a back door on the implementation of the party platform."

Stern wrote a term on the paper.

"A conscience clause."

"This means that on sensitive cultural issues like gun control, shale gas development, and religious freedom, they don’t have to follow the party line."

"They can vote their conscience."

"They can continue to support gun rights in Erie and support fossil fuel development in Scranton."

"We’ll tell the public this is a demonstration of the Democratic Party’s inclusivity—that we respect local traditions."

Stern’s tone suddenly turned icy.

"But during critical mobilization for the statewide election, when our candidates for President or Senator need their endorsements on the stump, and on key personnel votes for the Pennsylvania party organization..."

"They must obey the Party Whip."

"That is the bottom line."

"If they carry the Democratic Party’s card, they serve the Democratic Party’s power."

"If they want to stay in this big tent, they have to pay the protection money."

"A fair trade."

Sanders concurred.

"Murphy will handle them. Those mayors only care about getting money to fix their roads. As long as we don’t force them into any pride parades, they’ll be happy to vote yes on the budget."

"I’m not worried about Murphy."

Stern put down his pen and stared hard at Sanders.

"I’m worried about the other one."

"That kid from Pittsburgh."

"Leo Wallace."