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Is this really believed by almost all Democratic politicians? I'd thought that medical transition of children as being necessary was still not universally accepted in the left. I've seen my share of left-leaning activists who are rather skeptical of it at all, much less believe it necessary. And Democratic politicians tend to lag behind the SocJus/idpol left in most issues like this.
I think you're underestimating the level of ideological conformity required to become a politician. There are no Jesse Singals in elected legislative office. Carrick Flynn got pwned in the primary. Lest you think I'm picking on Democrats here, look at what happened to Liz Cheney.
I would highlight that the key phrase is "ideological conformity" and not "commitment to the ideology"
If they actually exhibited an ideology beyond conformity they wouldn't change it so readily in response to shifts in the overton window.
Which is to say most of them care about trans issues like megacorps care about pride month.
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There are a few outliers like Manchin but I take your point. He sometimes bows to the needs of his party, more often than I thought.
Manchin is in a Trump +40 state, and facing a popular GOP governor in his next senate race.
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