Reply #49: Presidential elections have little to do with "policy"...

[IrateCitizen]

Rather, the majority of the electorate votes for a President based on "character". That's the main reason why Bush won and Kerry lost. Bush's campaign based their entire strategy around associating Bush with certain watchwords -- resolute, decisive, leadership, etc. At the same time, they associated Kerry with the OPPOSITE of those words -- flip-flopper, indecisive, etc.

When Kerry was busy talking about issues, Bush was talking about character. We see which approach worked.

But, extending this further into a broader strategy, I don't think that even the majority of "leftist" DUers are advocating that the Democratic Party run to the left in elections. However, we DO feel that the party needs to make some fundamental changes in its platform. Two areas I can think of right off the bat are trade policy and campaign finance.

Funny thing is, most independents and even RWers, when I ask them about their thoughts on these issues, we find ourselves in almost 100% agreement! None of us think that "free trade" is good for anybody except the richest Americans, and we also feel that our political process is one in which policy and access are for sale to the highest bidder. Yet, the stances of the Republicans and Democrats seem to come together, for the most part, on these issues.

Why aren't the Democrats leading the fight for Clean Elections laws, which would free up candidates from fundraising, allowing them access to public funds to run their campaigns? Why isn't every single Democrat in Congress on board on this, shouting from the rafters about the need for this reform? Why are Democrats still voting to further empower corporate interests while simultaneously stunting economic empowerment among both US and foreign working classes through "free trade" policies?

Perhaps the convergence of Democrats and Republicans on these issues indicates who the parties really work for? I dunno. All I do know is that saying "we mostly agree with the Republican policies, but we just want to enact them in a 'softer' way" isn't winning us any Congressional elections. We have to do something, that's for sure!