Cheri Bustos Reflects on Her Service

Rep. Cheri Bustos is leaving Congress at the end of this term. What has she ...

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Rep. Cheri Bustos is leaving Congress at the end of this term. What has she learned from her five terms in the House and—as the former leader of the House Democrats’ campaign arm—from the 2020 election? How can Democrats improve their prospects in the 2022 midterms? Sarah gets these answers and more in a candid conversation with the Illinois congresswoman.

Show Notes:

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  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    Boy, talk about not reading the room! I was really enjoying this interview and didn’t mind the politician-pitch stuff but then when Sarah asks a softball question about advice for women running for office - immediately after talking about how she’s a moderate and likes to compromise - the congresswomen refuses to answer the question and goes after Elise Stefanik in a somewhat personal way. Honestly, I probably agree with everything Rep. Bustos said about Rep. Stefanik. But it was completely tasteless and poor timing on her part to say it. Sarah, thanks for pushing back a little and then pushing back on the “we’re changing the world” answer to the next question.

    Congresswoman Bustos somewhat redeemed herself with her softball answer. Also, that was some shade thrown at the Dispatch softball team by Sarah!

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    Mandy

    This was a great conversation, and I really enjoyed listening to it. Sarah and Rep. Bustos both set a fabulous example for us as Americans through their excellent work, good nature, and principled conduct. Kudos and thanks, ladies.

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  3. Brilliantly Oblivious

    OMG- Making Rosa Delauro an example! Perhaps a look at her use of campaign funding is in order.

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    Will Roberts

    Good interview. She was honest as a politician can be. Some fair challenges.

    I noticed Sarah didn't take the chance to engage a Democrat on questions of voter suppression. Again I think the Dispatch's stance that voter suppression doesn't matter is not well thought out or proven.

    If you are right there is no harm having someone from the other side who you think has a poorer argument.

    I was a little confused when Sarah said that women are generally more liberal based on the research and then seemed to say that the lack of Republican women is a stereotype. It is not a stereotype if it is confirmed by research. It is a general trend that not all women fit into but many do.

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    Mark Hunter

    I'm sure there is a pony in there somewhere.

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    Patrick

    I believe her when she says she cares more about her principles than her own re-election.

    But she also seems to think her job #1 is to get as many *other Democrats* elected as possible.

    These ideas are in tension.

    Each time y’all talk to someone in Congress, I’m dismayed at how much time they spend on winning seats for their party instead of identifying and resolving issues for their constituents.

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    Rev Snow

    "Women tend to be more liberal than their male counterparts... [evidence, primary dynamics, party demographic differences] ... and it creates this stereotype that women are more liberal than men..."

    That question really took a journey.

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    Rev Snow

    Rep. Bustos describes votes against Electoral College ballot certification as "burning the Constitution to ashes." I'd have more respect for this position if she offered even a single word of criticism against her seven Democrat colleagues who objected to the Electoral College ballots of 10 states on Jan. 6, 2017. To her credit, Rep. Bustos did not join these efforts. (Similar Democrat efforts to block a GOP Presidential victory in 2001 and 2005 were before her time in Congress)

    We need a bright line between votes that are wrong/unwise and votes that are disqualifying and we need to apply it across the board. My own opinion is that on any question that is properly before the body, no vote in either direction can be disqualifying. That would constrain representation unacceptably.

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      Slp

      They all might be wrong/unwise votes but don't you think there is a difference in kind between a few congressionals voting against certification and the majority of a party voting against certification, while the loser of the election is claiming fraud?

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  9. Josh Miller

    Why do politicians claim to “create jobs?” Politicians create nothing, they just get out of the way.

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    Rev Snow

    Far more than one GOP woman won election to Congress in 2018.

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