First things first, no one has to give up their Senate seat to run the Democratic National Committee. Remember that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was a member of Congress during her tenure.
That aside ...
In 2004, in the wake of John Kerry’s devastating loss to George W. Bush, we had a similarly divided party, one that had been riven by primary dissent, with recriminations against the eventual nominee. Many people argued that Howard Dean could’ve beaten Bush. I wasn’t one of those people, even though I’d been a die-hard Dean person. I don’t think Bernie Sanders would’ve fared better last night for reasons I may or may not talk about in the next few days (I doubt it’d be a productive conversation).
But just like in late 2004, I am now focused on the future of our party, and that means, first and foremost, bringing the base together with someone at the helm who is ready for the fight.
I didn’t rally behind Bernie Sanders in the primaries because of his inability to communicate effectively with communities of color. But there was an exception, and that was young people of color. And even on the broader issues of race, Sanders has come a long way in the past year. How could he not, having run through the grinder of a long presidential campaign?
So he has energy, conviction, and an ability to attract millennials of all stripes in a way that honestly still baffles me. But I don’t need to get it to acknowledge its value moving forward.
Incoming Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer will try to get his person into the position. Nancy Pelosi will likely step aside, so likely incoming House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer will try to get his person in there. [Edit: apparently she’s sticking around. Good!] So like 2004-2005, we will have to fight to get a genuine grassroots fighter.
All that said, I understand many of the arguments against Sanders—that he hasn’t previously focused on party building, or that he isn’t the best coalition builder (a key requirement at the DNC). I am angry, and want someone angry leading the party. He’s an outsider, and maybe I DO want someone to blow up the party. But is that the best longer-term approach? So I admit, I may not be in the best frame of mind for this right now.
But there are others who could fit the bill. Elizabeth Warren, obviously. She’d get under Trump’s skin on a daily basis, and could lead the fierce opposition both from inside the Senate, and as party leader. I’d be 100 percent into that. And there’s something valuable in responding to an election based on xenophobia, racism, and misogyny with a strong woman.
And her ability to speak to working-class economic anxiety would be huge given our losses with working-class whites, yet would do so in a way that wouldn’t compromise the core ideals of our true multicultural base.
Van Jones would be amazing if he’d consider giving up what looks to be a sweet, lucrative gig at CNN. As an orator, he has few peers in the party. I still fantasize about him running against Diane Feinstein in 2018. But heck, I’d love to see him representing the party. And as a full-time chair, too.
There may be others, but right now I want an uncompromising fighter who understands the values of our base, of our party, and of our nation. I want a champion who will rebuild the party in all 50 states. I want a hero that will support a whole new generation of new party leaders, candidates, activists and voters.
And I want anger. But that may just be the day-after me speaking.