Dean Likely To Replace McAuliffe
It's no secret, CNN even took a poll (gasp!).
Fifty-six percent of the party leaders said the party needs major changes in its approach to winning elections, and another 34 percent called for minor changes -- and 61 percent, given a choice between persuading undecided voters and mobilizing the base, said going after so called "swing" voters is the more important.
I'm not sure these DNC leaders understand what it will take to win the coveted swing vote, and I'm not sure that Dean will pave the way in that direction. In spite of my ideological differences with Dean, I do admire his enthusiasm (really!) and this kind of role requires a charismatic individual. I think he will do well on the organizational side of things, but there are some major questions the party needs to address. Fundraising they've got covered; connecting with voters, as we've seen, isn't going as well.
It could just be faulty polling, but there's no mention here of the need to communicate with the working class (or the wide spectrum of middle-class people who identify themselves as working class). Kerry certainly didn't help counter the idea that Democrats are out-of-touch elitists; to win the next Presidential election the Democratic party needs an appealing populist, not a stuffy grouch like Lieberman or a near-dilettante like Kerry.
In local politics, we just need some raw honesty. Pawlenty trumpets fiscal responsibility while driving us deeper into debt and begging door-to-door on the local Indian reservations. Puh-leeze. I know we can do better.
Speaking of- breaking news! James Hohmann (co-founder of the John Hinderaker Fan Club and Rhythmic Gymnastics Society) has been reasonably successful in the speech and debate communities! Though he should really think about deleting some of that comment spam.
posted by Anonymous @ 11:06 PM |
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3 Comments:
Interesting points. I do see a looming vulnerability for Dean though and it is fund raising. Lets be honest with ourselves. Take away Soros and handful of Hollywood types and a big chunk of cash gets lost.
How does he pander to these elitists and reach out to the swing voters simulataniously? That's a big challenge.
I am a little surprised that only 56% think major change is needed in winning elections. Hey, 44% - what are you thinking!?!
There is a change needed, and its turning losses into wins. To do that there has to be explicit recognition that getting part of the agenda in, is better than none of it. Swing voters aren't responding to a superior advertising campaign by the republicans, they are responding to a less extream platform.
To become successful again, the Democratic party has to become more moderate. Set change objectives out as long term and seek small significant yet progressive changes.
For example - Universal Healthcare is the long term objective, cost is the obvious obstacle, so support something that can help with the cost, but capture that and tie to an incremental improvement. Support Tort reform but commit the savings (the Repub's estimates) to a care program for children...
Gay marriage is the long term objective, fight for civil union recognition with commensurate rights and taxes. Once its in place, its an easy sale to "reduce administrative costs" by using a single process. Baby steps people. (You could even recapture the savings and reallocate it to another programs.)
Commit to not raising any more taxes and reigning in spending, but do it by holding the spending where it is, just reallocating it. Make the choice as clear as guns vs butter and people will come around.
I'm just afraid that Dean will come out with more of the same and the results are going to be just that. More seats lost and fuel for the rightward shift in public conscienceness.
Or focus on something more achievable like universal heath care for children.
(Hey! Blogger greatly improved the commenting interface. Cool.)
"Or focus on something more achievable like universal heath care for children."
Or completely astound everyone by advocating that people take child bearing seriously enough to wait until they are prepared to handle it.
decaf9, your idea of repackaging the left's agenda into bite sized pieces won't work either.
Surprisingly enough there are a lot of people who are savvy enough to make judgements based by how people act rather than what they say publicly.
In other words, Dem's don't fool anyone but other Dem's.
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