Dear Dr. Dean, Representative Polisi and Senator Reid:
Karl Rove is trying to turn the Bush domestic spying program into a winner for Republicans. Chris Matthews and other pundits are helping him. Rove has announced the Republican 2006 election strategy, and, surprise, it is basically, "terrorism, terrorism, national security, 911, terrorism, Democrats weak, 911, Republicans strong, terrorism, terrorism". He believes Republicans can ride Americans' fear to more victories in November 2006.
He is right, but if and only if Democrats do not confront Republicans head on regarding national security. Recent polls show that Mr. Bush, while weaker on his ratings for protecting against terrorism, still has positive approval ratings on this one issue. Most polls also show that Americans trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to national security. Polls can be changed, especially when the facts are on our side.
Make no mistake, however, when many Americans go to vote next November, no matter what they may say in the intellectual safety of answering polling questions, emotionally, security will still be the foremost issue on their minds and hearts. Mr. Rove will make sure of it.
Still, if Mr. Rove wants to make the election about national security, I say Democrats should oblige. You must quit being afraid to confront security and trying to change the subject. You can't. The Republicans and the media will not let you.
So, as Mr. Bush once infamously said, "bring it on".
Democrats must destroy the myth that Bush and the Republicans have made us safer. They haven't. They have failed miserably and you must say it:
· As Katrina showed, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is in chaos and completely unprepared to assist Americans if terrorists strike again.
· Our chemical plants, nuclear facilities, railways, ports, airplanes, electrical grids, and trucking industry are still woefully unprotected. They are sitting ducks for an attack because Mr. Bush and the Republicans have refused to make their wealthy buddies in these industries do what it will take to guard against catastrophe.
· The Middle East is chaos.
o Iraq has become a breeding ground for terrorists and their training. It teeters on the brink of civil war. The recently elected government is largely fundamentalist Muslim with close ties to Iran.
o In reaction to Bush policy, fundamentalist Muslims have made real gains in the government of Egypt.
o Hamas, a group Bush labels as terrorists, has taken over the government in Palestine
o A radical fundamentalist now runs Iran
o Terror attacks have gone up around the world.
o Because of Mr. Bush's policies, Al-Qaeda has become an ideology that is growing around the world, drawing more and more people into the ranks of those who wish to harm Americans
Do Americans feel safer? That is the question we should be asking after hitting Bush and the Republicans again and again on their complete national security failures. You must steal national security as an issue from the Republicans.
Of course, then Democrats must respond with their own national security initiatives. You might start by pledging, if given control of Congress, to: investigate and improve DHS; pass legislation to truly safeguard our chemical plants, nuclear facilities, railways, ports, airplanes, electrical grids, and trucking industry; and using congressional "purse strings" to force a change of course in Iraq and by extension, in the Middle East.
Then, steal Freedom as an issue. Republicans and Mr. Bush love to throw that term around. Throw it back at them.
Bush, Rove, the Republicans and many of the pundits seem to believe that most Americans are cowards who will willingly sacrifice our Freedoms to a Unitary Executive who will spy on us with no oversight and label those who disagree unpatriotic.
Make it clear that Democrats do not. Make it clear that Democrats will protect Americans without abusing the powers of Government and while protecting civil liberties. Position the Democratic party as the party that believes in the fundamental courage of Americans.
American was founded on the principal of "Give me liberty or give me death". Without civil liberties, there is no freedom. Ask Americans, "if this is how Bush and the Republicans are going to protect you from the terrorists, who will protect you from Bush and the Republicans?"
As Democrats, make a stand for freedom and security. Make Americans understand that neither one can be had without the other.