The Replacements Have Something To Tell You About Politics
Sun Apr 08, 2007 at 10:42:16 PM PDT
Note: Thanks for the rescue, Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse!
Recently, as the 2008 elections apparently draw near (note: they ain't that near), the same old story and debates over how to approach undecided and even conservative voters disaffected with this President are flaring up. Not only on a site such as this one, but in conversations with people in my life, and certainly with the Talking Head Class.
I try to be pragmatic. I certainly would not chase away any voters who've been led astray--or led themselves astray, no matter how long--who have had a genuine epiphany. This is why I appreciate David Brock, for example, although others will never accept the work he now does. If you've voted Republican in the last 5 presidential elections, but just can't take it any more and see what you want in the Democratic Party--whether it was the war, Katrina, anti-lower/middle class policies that turned you off the GOP--welcome aboard.
So, that's pragmatism for you.
But when you're "attracting" new voters, regardless of their past, and you've been selling Coke the whole time, you don't freak out and start selling Sprite. (more)
This is the difference between pragmatism and foolishness, if you ask me. I have no purity test when it comes to new potential voters who have become fed up with Republicanism. People who have had a genuine change of heart--not only in politics, but in other areas of life--are often some incredibly thoughtful and influential of people. As a Jewish kid, I could try to talk to people flirting with neo-Nazism into why that's a mistake, why they're wrong about people like me and other minority groups. But, despite the fact my stomach might do backflips, sometimes the former skinhead who finally woke up and now talks to kids going down that horrible path is simply the most effective and powerful tool available. I may never understand how they could have led their prior life for a moment, it may disgust me, but in "fighting the good fight" I could use their help.
Another example: In addition to the fact that I'm against the death penalty, this kind of influence was the most important argument given for not executing Tookie Williams. Listen, the guy did it. He committed one of the most callous and despicable crimes imaginable, and nothing he ever did or could do to try to redeem himself would bring back the innocent people he killed in cold blood. But his books for young people trying to guide them away from the path he took--and in fact, in terms of gangs, the path he friggin' founded--is more effective than anything a squeakly clean suburban kid like me could do talking about "education" and "breaking the cycle of violence."
Sometimes, former Republicans or conservatives, with their conservative track record and bona fides in order, who have finally seen American conservatism for what it is are really important allies. On a personal level, I can still hold my grudges for what they may have helped make possible, but pragmatically speaking, they can be really vital to winning converts in a true sense. Plus, I do actually believe in forgiveness and the idea that people can change, as old fashioned as that may be.
But that's one thing. Trying to change the central issues of the Democratic Party in order to appeal to the semi-mythical people who both hate the Republicans but want a Party that stands for almost everything the Republicans do is what gets Democrats into deep shit all the time.
Again, back to pragmatism: I understand the sort of Democratic congressperson from a relatively non-urban South Carolina or Oklahoma or Colorado district is not going to believe all the same things my congressman in Massachusetts does. And I'm okay with that. Again, this isn't about a purity test; not every person in every district has to sign on to literally every issue I believe in. With only two parties, broad coalitions with some occasionally stark differences of opinion on certain issues are inevitable.
But "trying to appeal" to your opposition's voters is a failed strategy. Not a failing strategy, as this is most certainly in the past tense. It just doesn't work. It's been proven already. While there are plenty of Democrats who go duck hunting, when a Democratic candidate who clearly has nothing to do with that stuff puts on the camo and grabs a rifle for the first time in their lives, everyone knows it's bullshit. The people it's supposedly "appealing" to know, and the people already in their corner know. While policy should always come first as far as voting goes, nobody likes a phoney. Well, unless they can really pull it off (cough cough, Connecticut Bushes).
But that's just image. On to substance. Whether it's on civil rights for all Americans, the separation between Church & State (which in no way necessitates hostility towards religion), or not abandoning the poor for a couple extra votes, some things cannot be changed.
This is where The Replacements come in. Took me long enough. The ol' Mats. I'm a bit of a music dork, and Paul Westerberg & Company are among my favorites of all time. Actually, I'll get to it in a second.
Okay, confession time. I am not a Democrat. I have always been and will always be an independent. It's something of a family tradition. On my paternal side, at least, I've never had a family member enroll in a party. Of course, we almost exclusively vote Democratic. We're good Northeastern Jewish unaffiliated social liberals, economic "moderates".
But I'm unaffiliated for this reason: I don't view party politics like sports teams. I don't root for the uniform regardless of who's playing in them. The Democrats have to always earn my vote. Of course, I won't lie, there are times when the Republican alternative is so frightening I might vote for that reason. But I'm from Mass., so even on the national level, if the Democrat hasn't at all earned my vote, I may actually abstain without causing too much damage.
In an effort to win your oppposition's voters--something at least a sizeable percentage of Democrats have done too often--you can lose me. You can lose the people who are voting for you. You can make so many concessions that the people you take for granted end up being turned off politics altogether.
Okay, here's where the Replacements come in. As I said, I truly adore them. I love cigarette-stained vocals in general (I'm looking in your direction, Jeff Tweedy), and Paul Westerberg has a great punk voice.
One of my favorite Replacements song is--cliche, cliche--"Bastards of Young."
There is a line in the last verse of that song that goes thusly:
The ones who love us best are the ones we'll lay to rest
And visit their graves on holidays at best
The ones who love us least are the ones we'll die to please
If it's any consolation, I don't begin to understand them
Democratic Party, don't you dare do that. You've flirted with it before. Not all of you, of course. Probably not even most of you. But enough to undercut their own party platform by distancing themselves from it and embracing big chunks of their opposition's platform. There are times where I'm so desperate I even swallow it, to my great personal shame. But I can't take it anymore. I won't turn to the dark side, of course, but when it is actually suggested that you portray yourself as conservative as Republicans--or ocassionaly more conservative--I simply can't abide by that.
I'll give a personal example, as no one on here knows who I am. It's a bit painful, but it helps illustrate the 'Mats lyrics above from "Bastards of Young."
I have two parents. Surprise, surprise. I have a father who would do anything for me. He's kind, considerate, giving, generous, understanding, and loving. He's always been that way. I have a mother who's got severe bipolar disorder. And probably some kind of personality disorder as well, although that's never been diagnosed. She's cruel, selfish, inconsiderate, mean spirited, and would never help anyone over herself. She'd take your most painful moment and use to to twist your heart in knots in order to get you to do something. They've been divorced forever, so they get to be separate entities here.
When I as younger, I would do anything to please my mother. I would never call her on anything, let her get away with cruel and despicable, even literally criminal behavior. I would get angry at the victims of her behavior if they so much as snapped at her. I placated, calmed, and submitted to her all the time. I always considered how she would react to this or that. And after all of that, she never really loved me. Not really, anyway. (Note: some of this has nothing to do with bipolar disorder, it has more to do with her other issues). And I would never stop tap dancing for her, until recently, where the state of things finally dawned on me.
And if my dad sneezed in the wrong direction, when I was younger, I would give him a hard time. He was good, he was always there for me, he was responsible. So I took him for granted. Luckily I've outgrown that. But I took him for granted, because his love for me was guaranteed and genuine.
Democratic Party, don't try to get my mom to love you. It's not going to happen. Don't obsess over the "ones who love us least." It's really early for the 2008 presidential election. And we've got some great candidates, most of whom don't seem like they'd do that, though history seems to indicate anything's possible. But there is governing to be done before then, anyway. And any actions taken or not taken out of the fear of losing votes of people who are NEVER GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU has to be put to bed forever.
If people want to come to the Party, great. If it takes talking in a different or more effective way, fine. If they don't agree with literally everything I believe in, that's the reality of a two party system and I'm okay with it. But don't change the fundamentals of what you believe for the "ones who love us least." It makes no sense.
And now, I suppose, "it's all over but the shouting." Get it?
What do you think?
Note: I hope all the night owls and insomniacs like my diary. I write my very few diaries so late at night not many see them, but I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read.
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