archived: 7 - 13 Aug, 2005 Back Next
WAGING THE FIGHT
Democracy Corps has just published a game plan to ready Democrats for the next election cycle. It is a must read: -- Democracy Corps
Democracy Corps research clearly demonstrates that a number of groups are defecting from the radical Republican policies or leaning away from Republicans. These are the groups in which the biggest shifts have occurred
The common denominators among these groups are:
older blue collar voters and seniors, as well as practicing Catholics. These are precisely the voters that Kerry lost the most ground with last year and that are currently available to the Democrats to build a larger majority.
It also includes the unmarried women, who are already voting Democratic but who have the potential for an even bigger vote for change: 67 percent want to see a significant change in direction from Bush.
No region in the country has grown more disgruntled with Bush and the Republicans over the past nine months than the Midwest – the more industrial eastern north central states.
The polling data demonstrates both the progress that Democrats are making and the critical obstacles facing Democrats. The most recent national poll by AP-Ipsos has Bush’s overall approval at 42% and disapproval at 56%. For the first time, Americans who believe Bush is honest, 48%, is less than those who believe he is not honest, 50%. Yet, with Bush poll numbers a low as these, the Democratic Party has not established solid perceptions that it is the Party to lead:
Democracy Corps’ concludes:
All these groups are united in their dissatisfaction with the current direction of the country, both at home and abroad, yet they remain unconvinced that the Democrats are capable of improving the situation. Democrats currently hold a solid advantage in a generic congressional contest, but if they are to make significant gains in 2006, they must tap into the frustrations of these groups and work to convince them that the Democrats are their best option to bring about the changes America needs.
A special congressional election in Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District last week adds substantial credence to Democracy Corps conclusions. Ohio’s 2nd District is historically heavily Republican and one of the most heavily Republican Congressional Districts in America. Sen. Kerry got just 36% of the vote in this district.
Democrat candidate Paul Hackett, an attorney and Iraq war veteran, directly attacked Bush on the war in Iraq and campaigned on libertarian leaning Democratic policy. For example, Hackett expressed personal opposition to abortion but defended legalized abortion. On the same principals, Hackett defended the right of gun ownership.
Hackett lost the election but garnered 48% of the vote. Political analysts across the country are noting that Hackett’s unexpectedly high performance demonstrates slippage in the Republican base and portends widespread problems for Republicans in 2006. Equally important, Hackett’s performance supports Democracy Corps proposition that Democrats must field candidates who can convince voters that Democrats can better lead America.
THE AND A MESSAGE FOR DEMOCRATS
TPJ has featured a plethora of ideas for Democrats on issues and “framing” of those issues. Jim Wallis, Editor of Sojourners magazine and author of "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It," has authored an excellent article in the New York Times, The Message Thing.
Wallis’ believes that obsession with “framing issues” belies the need within the Democratic Party to determine its core values. He correctly states:
Language is clearly important in politics, but the message remains more important than the messaging. In the interests of full disclosure, let me note that I have been talking to the Democrats about both. But I believe that first, you must get your message straight. What are your best ideas, and what are you for-as opposed to what you're against in the other party's message? Only when you answer those questions can you figure out how to present your message to the American people.
He believes that:
The discussion that shapes our political future should be one about moral values, but the questions to ask are these: Whose values? Which values? And how broadly and deeply will our political values be defined? Democrats must offer new ideas and a fresh agenda, rather than linguistic strategies to sell an old set of ideologies and interest group demands.
Wallis then offers five areas in which Democrats should change their message. They are:
First, somebody must lead on the issue of poverty, and right now neither party is doing so.
The Democrats need . . . must insist that private interests should never obstruct our country's path to a cleaner and more efficient energy future, let alone hold our foreign policy hostage to the dictates of repressive regimes in the Middle East.
Democrats will win back "values voters" only with fresh ideas.
As for "family values," the Democrats can become the truly pro-family party by supporting parents in doing the most important and difficult job in America: raising children.
Finally, on national security, Democrats should argue that the safety of the United States depends on the credibility of its international leadership.
Wallis article is simply a must read.
Last Update: 03/23/2006
