Apparently, there are actually some brain-dead Democrats who are engaged in the 'robust' debate: Walk vs. Chew Gum

The Plum Line Opinion.  Three big takeaways from Trump’s humiliating Pennsylvania failure.  (Washington Post, 3/14/2018)

Democrats can do better among blue-collar whites. In his speech to supporters last night, Lamb stressed the importance of organized labor to the future of the Democratic Party, spoke up for the value of unions and work, and emphasized the importance of maintaining bedrock programs such as Medicare and Social Security. He had also campaigned against the GOP tax cuts as a giveaway to the rich — and, importantly, blasted the tax cuts for creating deficits that would require deep cuts to entitlements, harming the middle class.

Conor Lamb clearly demonstrates what a false choice it is.  

Robust:  Most definitely an overused adjective.