The DNC sucks. Here's why...

[no name no slogan]

Have you ever visited the DNC site (www.democrats.org)? I have been doing some browsing around the site, and have been struck by a couple of things which really disappointed me. And it's not about the site's design or architecture, either.

The first thing that grabs me as the homepage loads is the plea for contributions. Sure, that's fine and well, everybody needs money to survive. But since the DLC took over the DNC in the mid-90s, they've had access to large amounts of corporate influence-- er, "donations". Is it really necessary to hit up John Q. Public right as he enters the site?

The second thing that aggrivated me was how Democratic Issues are defined on the site. Each question/position is couched as being anti-Republican. I'm hard pressed to find many pro-Democrat statements that aren't made in some sort of anti-Republican context.

Unfortunately, what this implies is that the Democrats are perfectly happy to define themselves as "anti-Republicans", and not as a party that exists on its own merits and has its own ideas.

It's this same kind of mentality that cost us dearly in the 2002 midterm elections. We failed to define ourselves as Democrats, and let the Republicans set the rules of the game. We then spent most of the campaign season trying to explain how we weren't the Republicans, but never really explained who we were as Democrats, or what our vision for this country was.

If we continue down this path, we're destined to become the next Whig Party. Thankfully, there's still plenty of time to change that before the 2004 election. And if we want to win, we'll need to do that.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. The Party Needs Money To Compete

and lots of it......

But I agree that we should define ourselves by what we embrace rather than what we oppose........

[sangh0]

2. The DNC represents a wide variety of opinions

and so it's difficult, if not impossible, to describe a "democratic position". No matter what you say, there will be a significant number of Dems who disagree.

If you want to know what a Dem thinks on the issues, then ask a Dem, not the Dem party

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. I Said This A Million Times

The core Democratic issues are:

choice

gay rights

affirmative action

commitment to some kind of safety net

After that we go our own ways, right, left, and center...

[sandnsea]

8. Core Democratic Issues

Labor
Family
Environment
Equality
Opportunity

Your list, I hate to say, is what is wrong with the perception of the Democratic Party.

[diplomats]

3. Hopefully, that will change

when we get a nominee. Right now, we're the anti-Bush party, and that's fine for now because Bush is giving us so much ammo. But I heartily agree that we must have our own ideas so we can answer the question, "So what would YOU do?" about taxes, defense, terrorism, the environment, trade policy, etc.

[im4edwards]

5. excellent point. we do need to lead to win.

the dogs that chase cars never catch them and just wind up tired and disappointed.

The successful dems (national level) have led with their own message. Naturally you have supporters take pot shots at the other guy but you just have to lead.

Re: money grubbing on the web site, thats job 1, money makes the world go round.

[Cocoa]

6. there's a huge demand that the DNC fight the republicans

especially Bush.

Welcome to DU. You'll notice very loud calls for the dems to oppose the republicans vigorously, even put opposition to the republicans ahead of everything else.

I think what you're noticing on that site is that the DNC has picked up on this feeling and is responding to it.

[swinney]

7. DNC

gimmie gimmie gimmie $$$$$$

Useless trying to get info to or from this group.

The commitee is nothig but a money raising machine. Otherwise it is useless.

[sangh0]

9. And aside from protecting us from diseases

vaccines are useless too.

[sandnsea]

10. It takes money

People gripe because the DNC take too much money from corporations then they gripe because they try to set up a system to allow the people to support the party again. Some people just love to hate the Democratic Party, that's what I think.

[jiacinto]

11. DNC and DLC are two different organizations

First of all they are not the same. Secondly they have to "ask for contributions" as they need money. The GOP has no money problems and the Democrats need every cent they can get.

The DLC does not have control over the DNC's web site. They are a totally different organization.

I do agree with you that the Democrats need to state their case, though.