How Do We Win?

[sangh0]

How Do We Win?
Sandeep Kaushik
November 18, 2004

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/how_do_we_win.php

"After the Democrats went down in flames on November 2, liberals gave themselves over to a bout of gnashing of teeth and clenching of fists or simply to wailing out plaintive keens of profound despair. Which then led into an orgy of high-minded self-flagellation. I’ve gluttonously consumed the endless outpouring of untethered advice picking at the scab of our failure. And I have learned a variety of fascinating, if contradictory, things along the way.

I’ve learned that Howard Dean was right, and we need to move left (Dean for DNC chair!). I’ve learned that Dean was wrong, and he needs to shut up so establishment Dems can get back to losing elections in peace (Vilsack for DNC chair!). I’ve learned that we need to bash the gays (but only rhetorically; please, we’re Democrats). I’ve learned we need to fall in love with the exurbs (David Brooks for DNC chair!). That we need to advocate for further abortion restrictions, trash the liberal libertarianism of our dominant culture (and of our urban base), and—just to be safe—rush off to buy an AK-47 at a gun show.

I’ve learned that we need to be more urban, or more rural, or more godly or more humanistic. I’ve learned we need a vision, or a message, or a narrative or at least a less snooty set of values. To sum up: I’ve learned nothing at all, except that the chattering classes contain a lot of opinionated people who think the Democratic Party ought to be more like them.

At first I was inclined to join the frenzy; after all, why shouldn’t the Democratic Party be more like me? But then I had a different, even radical, idea: I came to the conclusion that the party ought to be more like Derek Kilmer...."

Please note that Mr Kilmer did not have to change any of his positions on the issues or compromise his principles. Instead, he found an effective way to frame the issues

[sangh0]

1. kick

for the evening crowd

[blm]

2. Good article. I think the author must be a DU lurker.

;)))))))

[liberalpress]

3. You know I can feel the flame throwers now...

.. but I agree. We sometimes think (especially here in DU) that we "ought to be more like them." What we forget is that they are homophobic, xenophobic, anti-choice anti-education throwbacks to the fifties. Why on earth would we want to be like them.

AS James Carville once said, we're right and they're wrong. When the personal attacks come, we panic and answer them. We think we have to or else the public will think we're weak. Well guess what? We ARE weak. Too weak to find a message, too weak to stay focused, to weak to stand up for what we believe in.

If we are to become anything more than a footnote in this nation's history we have to stop wandering like a four year old lost in the mall and unite. Firm up behind a clear, easily understood positive message, and stay on tack even if we're sure the train is coming straight at us.

Until we're ready to stop whining about stolen elections, until we're ready to stop blaming everyone else for our failures, until we're ready to play "chicken" with our beliefs, the public will never understand our way is a better way, and we will actually become as out-of-touch as they claim we are.

OK. Flame up. I'm wearin' by asbestos boxers.