One size does not fit all in politics. Forget our differences.Emphasize common ground. -- Prepare now for 2006.
Op-Ed from 12-08-04 The New York Times:
It would be wise for the Democratic national and state party leaders who are gathering in Orlando, Fla., this weekend to analyze the 2004 election to heed my daddy's advice in Louisiana: "The Democratic Party ain't dead yet, just gone fishing."
The next chairman of the Democratic National Committee must not only find the bait to lure in more voters, but also learn to fish in a bigger stream. Beginning Friday, as party officials consider who should run this fishing expedition, state leaders will undoubtedly tell senior national party officials that Democrats can't keep writing off the heartland and expect to become a majority party again.
Whoever becomes the new chairman cannot go back to business as usual, and must build on Terry McAuliffe's success in recruiting grassroots activists and raising money. But this time we need more than a mechanic; we need a carpenter to create a new brand and model.
Democrats in 2004 met their goals in enlarging the electorate, turning out voters from their base, and finding and persuading swing or independent voters. But Republicans actually exceeded their goals. Democrats should follow the lead of the Republicans' political guru, Karl Rove, who saw the 2002 midterm Congressional elections as an opportunity for a dry run of his strategies for 2004, by using the 2006 elections to experiment with messages and turnout methods.
Democrats also need to think long term. Reinventing the wheel every two years, as we do now, puts our activists at a disadvantage. If we're going to have a chance in 2008, we must start updating voter files, working monthly with our volunteers and cultivating promising local and statewide candidates.
As sad as I am about our losses this year, I know Democrats can regain the majority if we abandon cookie-cutter campaigns - one size does not fit all in politics. And clearly, we need to communicate with those who enjoy fishing.
Donna Brazile, an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee, was the campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000.
It would be wise for the Democratic national and state party leaders who are gathering in Orlando, Fla., this weekend to analyze the 2004 election to heed my daddy's advice in Louisiana: "The Democratic Party ain't dead yet, just gone fishing."
The next chairman of the Democratic National Committee must not only find the bait to lure in more voters, but also learn to fish in a bigger stream. Beginning Friday, as party officials consider who should run this fishing expedition, state leaders will undoubtedly tell senior national party officials that Democrats can't keep writing off the heartland and expect to become a majority party again.
Whoever becomes the new chairman cannot go back to business as usual, and must build on Terry McAuliffe's success in recruiting grassroots activists and raising money. But this time we need more than a mechanic; we need a carpenter to create a new brand and model.
Democrats in 2004 met their goals in enlarging the electorate, turning out voters from their base, and finding and persuading swing or independent voters. But Republicans actually exceeded their goals. Democrats should follow the lead of the Republicans' political guru, Karl Rove, who saw the 2002 midterm Congressional elections as an opportunity for a dry run of his strategies for 2004, by using the 2006 elections to experiment with messages and turnout methods.
Democrats also need to think long term. Reinventing the wheel every two years, as we do now, puts our activists at a disadvantage. If we're going to have a chance in 2008, we must start updating voter files, working monthly with our volunteers and cultivating promising local and statewide candidates.
As sad as I am about our losses this year, I know Democrats can regain the majority if we abandon cookie-cutter campaigns - one size does not fit all in politics. And clearly, we need to communicate with those who enjoy fishing.
Donna Brazile, an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee, was the campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 6:08 AM
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