Like many, I received a DailyKos e-mail alert last week warning of proposals by some democrats to trim Social Security benefits. The self destructive streak of democrats never ceases to amaze me. Such proposals are not only bad public policy, they are sheer dumb politics. It reminds me of the old DC adage that "the first thing democrats do when they are organizing a firing squad is to stand in a circle."
If democrats are looking for a proven model out of the wilderness and back into the majority in the House, they need only look across the aisle. It was the republicans who four years ago, and again two years ago, took the "shellacking" in the polls. Where are they now?
When the GOP was routed in successive elections, did their leadership conclude that the voters had rejected core republican values? Did they reach across the aisle in the spirit of compromise to embrace the newly elected democratic majority’s priorities? Hell no. They rededicated themselves to their core principals of limited government and low taxes. Are there no lessons in this for the democrats?
If Nancy Pelosi wants to wield the gavel again, she and her fellow democrats need to rededicate themselves to, and clearly articulate, their core values. Thus attacks on Social Security by democrats is not only bad for seniors and those that hope to become seniors, it undermines the central pillar of the democrats case for electing them – that government can, and should, do things, even big things, in the public interest. Like Social Security. Like health care reform.
Yet it seems some democrats are allowing John Boehner to interpret the most recent election for them through the prism of his ideology. His case has some currency with the voters. Republicans have been effective for more than thirty years in creating a narrative of what they believe government is for. Any republican can tell you: "Government exists to get out of the way of the private sector," or "The government that governs best, governs least," and the oldie but goodie from Ronald Reagan, "Government is the problem, not the solution."
For three decades, republican politicians have been largely on-message (writing it on their palms if they have to) repeating the narrative and promising voters less government, lower taxes, and balanced budgets. Trust me, it is lost on no republican strategist here in Washington, that when Bush (41) went off script and broke his "read my lips" pledge, he did not get re-elected. And while the republican narrative does not have the benefit of being true, and the balanced budgets and economic growth promised by republicans have proven as elusive and the weapons of mass destruction, it still plays in Peoria.
Perhaps because a lie repeated often enough begins to take on an air of truth. More likely, because democrats of failed to offer voters an alternative. Many voters, perhaps most, do not believe that the federal government works for average citizens. They believe that government only serves the special interests that fund political campaigns. They know that with republican politicians they get lies and a $500 tax break. What do they get with the democrats? So why not take the 500 bucks?
This brings me back to the central question. What do we think government is for?
What is the democratic narrative?
Let me offer a suggestion to my fellow democrats. Attacking our most significant accomplishments – either Social Security or the recently passed healthcare reform, ain’t it. The hand-wringing self doubt of some democrats in Congress and, if press reports are correct, some in the White House, appeals to absolutely nobody. As Bob Marley put it: Get up, Stand up!
The historic accomplishments of the last Congress were not felt broadly or quickly enough to overcome the dismal economy in an off-year election. But unlike republicans, democrats have a record to run on. We need to stand up for the programs and principals that built the Democratic Party and Nancy Pelosi should break out the long knives for any in her caucus who is not on board. I’d suggest a firing squad but....