I cant think of a way to reach out to religious bigots that doesnt compromise everything I stand for and I want the Democratic party to stand for. So where are we going to get the extra few percent we need to win elections? To me the answer is clear:
- Write off the theocratic states of the south - They are too far out of reach and I dont want to compromise with them anyway
- Do everything we can to win Hispanics in the Southwest in the long run. Ask Bill Richardson what to do and then do it.
These voters are naturals for a traditional democratic message - New immigrants care more about bread and butter economics than fat and happy southerners do, and they tend Democratic anyway. Even better, the demographics are moving our way over the long term - Hispanics are the fastest growing population group we have.
3. Stop being quite so big a tent. There are a few issues which, it pains me to say, we must give up on for the time being if we want to win. We must adopt a "new federalist" attitude toward hot button religious issues if we are to avoid getting demagogued in every goddam election. What does this mean? It means if they want to ban gay marriage in Alabama we dont stand in their way, but they should stay out of ours too. It means if they want to ban abortion in red states, go ahead, but leave us blues alone (de facto this has happened already). You want guns in red states? Go get them, but dont tell us what to do either.
This idea will piss a lot of people off. But let me be clear. I am NOT saying that we do an about face on any of these issues. I have no doubt what the right and moral thing to do is. But I AM saying that, tactically, we may need to give them a rest for the moment. I myself hate to think we have to do this, but I hate even more having the Republicans run the US for the rest of my life. If not pushing these issues openly is what it takes to win, then that is what we will have to do. Once we win we can come back to them, but we will NEVER win on them if we dont win.
What ARE our core issues? I think economic and social justice are at the heart of what democrats are for. A minimum wage. Health care for everyone. An end to corporate cronyism. An end to imperialist adventures abroad.
And we need a new realization that elections for President really are a lot like student coucil elections. If we have to nominate a figurehead who fits people's notion of a TV president then lets do it for God's sake. Martin Sheen for President!!!!!!!!