Howard Dean, Democratic National Committee Chairman, said in San Francisco this week that Republicans are "pretty much a monolithic party. They all behave the same. They all look the same. It's pretty much a white Christian party." Howard Dean went on further to say that the "Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people....We're (the Democrats) more welcoming to different folks, because that's the type of people we are..."
I wish I could agree with Howard and say it's that simple. Problem is, as can be seen from the 2004 presidential election, it was the Republican party that appealed to more of the "different" people. It was the Republican party that attracted more of those voters, such as Spanish and Afican-American, who traditionally supported the Democratic candidates. More and more minority folk seem to be accepting the Republican party. If the Democratic party had so many of the "different" kinds of people, maybe George Bush would not be President today.
For whatever reason, the Republican party was better able to sell their wares in the 2004 election. The "different" people apparantely bought what the Republicans were selling. Did the Republicans do such a good sales job, or did the Democrats simply not sell their position well enough?
I am not sure what it is going to take for the Democrats to really reach out to the "different" people. But maybe the Democrats need to push the values that matter most to Americans in a stronger manner. Maybe the Democrats need to push those values such as jobs, health care, equality for all people, family (however different they may be), and the idea that we all can be one America, despite our differences. Maybe the Democrats need to stop being so apologetic for their message and "preach it" despite offending.....For that I give Howard Dean credit.
1 comment:
That's good, Justin. (That you're not a Rep.)
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