Why Democrats Must Change To Win
Mountain Area Democrats - June 30, 2001
By Jim Gibson
Who We Are
The DLC arouse out of the rubble of the 1984 presidential election. Walter Mondale had just been beaten in 49 states and came within 2,500 votes of losing all 50. Republicans controlled the US Senate.
Prominent and innovative national leaders - including then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton and then-Senator Al Gore formed the DLC in 1985 to develop a new progressive message that would further the fundamental principles and values of Democrats, but in a way that was responsive to the challenges of the 1990s, not the 1960s or 1930s.
The DLC embarked on a four-part strategy to change the Party:
Step One was to administer some very-needed political reality therapy. In presidential election after presidential election, it was clear that it was our message that was failing. Democrats were losing the heart of the electorate - middle class people who work hard, play by the rules and expect nothing more than an opportunity to get ahead. Step Two was establishing a philosophy that embraced the Democratic Party’s values but embraced the news times:The promise of America is equal opportunity, not equal outcomes.The purpose of the Democratic Party is to expand opportunity, not government.Private-sector economic growth is the prerequisite to expanding opportunity for everyone.The importance of inclusion cannot be overemphasized.Step Three was to take that philosophy and turn it into a governing agenda based on bold, new ideas. The themes were offering opportunity to all, demanding responsibility from everyone, and promoting a sense of community in America.Step Four was to test-market these ideas with a presidential candidate. The viability of the "New Democrat" message was successfully verified by the election and re-election of Bill Clinton and his successful terms in office.Why We Are Needed
The Democratic Party - and even more importantly the Colorado and the country - face a very serious and historic crisis - the end of traditional liberalism & conservatism.
The Reagan and very short-lived Gingrich eras proved to be unworthy substitutes for the New Deal, because unlike President Franklin Roosevelt, modern conservatives did not develop a useful alternative role for government. As they have in the past, Republicans merely temporarily paralyzed progressive politics.
Large majorities of the electorate believe that too many Democrats want to take the world back to the New Deal and too many Republicans want to take us even farther back, before the Great Depression - to the 19th century.
People have soundly and repeatedly disdained the calls for conservative "trickle down" economics and intolerant social views. And at every opportunity, as recently as 1994 - they reject traditional liberalism's tax-and-spend policies and something-for-nothing, special-interest politics.
Please let me be clear. Colorado does not need or want two Republican parties. In my mind, one is probably too much. But it is foolhardy to think that Democrats can merely rewind tapes from the past and play back the New Deal and Great Society.
While Americans rightly believe that the big-government solutions of 1930s and 1960s will not work today, they strongly believe in the values that formed those New Deal and Great Society policies.
They strongly support the Democratic Party’s enduring values of strengthening the middle-class and helping those less fortunate to become part of the middle-class.
They like John F. Kennedy's message of asking everyone to take personal responsibility and to give something back to their community.
They want Democrats to return to its old Andrew Jackson credo of equal opportunity for all and special privilege for none - or as President Clinton has put it, no more something-for-nothing.
And finally, they agree with Democrats that the public sector does have an important role to play in this society. The public simply wants government to be more much responsive to its customers and the taxpayers who foot the bill.
Where Do We Go From Here
The next Progressive Majority will be built around ideas and values, not interest groups:
Expand Beyond the Democratic BaseMen and WomenMulti-Racial and Multi-EthnicUrban and SuburbanModerates as well as LiberalsWorking Class and the Rising Middle ClassThe best government is the best politics. If we have good ideas that tend to the needs of ordinary Americans in their everyday lives, the politics will take care of itself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Democrats need a healthy debate on how we should translate our values and beliefs in today's circumstances. We need more discussion within our Party, not less.
We must realize Voters want public solutions but fear government will only make the problems worse. The Guide the Ride campaign is only the latest example. President Clinton’s health care proposal is another.
At the same time, they are also rejecting the Republican message of every person for himself and “just get government out of the way.” That narrow view of the world simply leaves real problems festering.
Democrats have a clear opportunity to give voters solutions they can have confidence in, putting the public policy debate back on our terms. Democrats should advocate non-bureaucratic strategies that use market-oriented approaches and give citizens more choices in public services.
That’s a winning formula for both Colorado and the Democratic Party.