New Democrat Update

THE NEW UNITY AGENDA

The more ethnically and culturally diverse Colorado becomes, the harder we must all work to affirm our common civic culture. That includes the values of tolerance and respect that transcend race, gender and sexual orientation, even as we try to expose racism, sexism and other injustices.

Productive public discussion on fighting discrimination and nurturing a common civic culture has virtually disappeared. Both the right and left go through periods of either divisive debates driven by false solutions from their respective extremes or unhealthy silence. The discussion often deteriorates into political camps more focused on their own self-interests rather than a needed debate on principle.

State Rep. Michael Garcia (D-Aurora) proposed a constitutional amendment that refocuses the debate on the noble principles of the 1960s civil rights movement. The proposal would have prohibited state and local governments from discriminating or granting preferences based on race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality age, sex, religion or creed.

This breath of fresh air could have been the start of a new, badly-needed and overdue consensus. Garcia's initiative has the potential to move the debate away from the historical baggage and reaffirms the basic principles of American democracy, challenging both sides of today's unfortunate debate.

Unfortunately, neither Republican or Democratic legislators were willing to move forward. While strong on the anti-discrimination front, most of Garcia's Democratic colleagues blink at any mention of preference reform. Republicans love to demagogue preferences but do little about genuine discrimination. Both sides of the aisle killed the measure in the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee.

Democrats duck opening up the "preferences-discrimination" debate because they sense that their support among middle-class whites is already so tenuous. They also worry that discussing discrimination might be confused with racism (or one of the other ism's), endangering support from minorities. Because preferences remain potent symbols of our party's commitment to equality, many Democrats use the "race card" to mobilize and drum up political support from minority communities.

Even more destructively, some on the left engage in "identity politics," a divisive ideology that makes race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc. the primary lenses through which people view themselves and society. They portray American civic culture as an elite trick or imposition upon minorities on behalf of an oppressive "Eurocentric," patriarchal, or capitalist agenda, stirring up victimization and separatist sentiment.

Because it has had such little success in attracting support from minorities, the GOP engages in its own brand of identity politics. As a way to capture the votes of white Democrats, Republicans often use the perception of whites' diminished status and exploit sometimes legitimate concerns about illegal immigration and preferences. Finally, the religious right prevents Republican legislators from supporting any anti-discrimination policies based on sexual orientation.

The State Capitol gridlock is out of touch with the voters. The public has come to a consensus - "equal opportunity for all and special privileges for none."

Almost all voters want to end discrimination (which now increasingly includes equal employment and housing for gays and lesbians) and are even willing to take an extra step - make investments to help disadvantaged people get to the starting line. In fact, most go along with initiatives like special training programs and financial assistance for those less fortunate, when the purpose is to help those who are willing to help themselves.

At the same time, most people, including many women and people of color, strongly dislike preferences that predetermine the results of the competition. There is very little support for "rigging the outcome of the race."

The silence and demagoguery on both sides contribute to white perceptions that minorities are responsible for their own situation. Minorities counter that discrimination is a main reason for their dilemma and want government to do more. These strains unhealthily shape political coalitions, driving a penetrating wedge through former alliances of middle-income white and other voters.

Those Democrats, who advocate sitting on the sidelines, must recognize four very important realities:

Our party must take the initiative on breaking the gridlock because a multiracial and multiethnic coalition is necessary to develop a sustainable, pragmatic, progressive agenda

As long as identity politics is played as a zero-sum game in which one side's gain is another's loss, genuine progress will always be doomed

As the coming decades bring new diversity within diversity, the idea of minorities as a homogenous community with shared principles will be called into further question. We are already seeing different outlooks from Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans - all grouped under a single category as Hispanic

As more minorities enter the middle class, they are becoming more concerned with political issues that have no relation to ethnicity. For example, when asked in national surveys with what group they most identify, Latinos answer "working families," not an ethnic classification

Finally, because Democrats are more credible on discrimination issues, the lack of support for initiatives like Garcia's is a huge missed opportunity. In a Colorado DLC poll a few years ago, almost half of unaffiliated voters, along with a strong plurality of Republicans and the middle class, saw Democrats as the party that works more effectively at easing racial tensions.

To make progress, rather than insisting on group entitlements, Democrats must recognize that rights inhere in individuals, not groups. All citizens must be entitled to no more or less than the equal protection of the laws. Government's responsibility is to assure equal opportunity defined as the chance to compete on fair terms, not a guarantee of equal results. While respecting diversity, we must insist that what we have in common as Americans is much more important than how we differ.

A progressive agenda for the 21st century must also include initiatives that emphasize full employment, empowerment, self-sufficiency and personal safety for all of us. Dr. Martin Luther King said that full equality will arrive only when the civil rights campaign becomes one with a movement that provides all Americans with meaningful education and a decent living wage. We succeed only when all of us - African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, whites, women and others - prosper.

The battle for equality was never about enhancing the power of particular groups or making a problem go away so whites as a group could feel comfortable. It must become, once again, a common effort based on shared values that transcend group identities.

A NATIONAL CONVERSATION

Be sure to attend the sixth annual Democratic Leadership Council’s 2002 National Conversation on July 28-30 at the Hilton New York, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, in New York City. The Conversation assembles and showcases the expanding ranks of New Democrat elected officials from around the country who are solving problems at all levels. On a first-come, first-serve basis, the DLC helps elected officials with travel expenses.

Add your voice and help build an agenda rooted in progressive ideas, mainstream values, and new approaches to governing. For more information, contact Jim Gibson at 303-936-4681 or email him.