They need to remember this.
It's not about the war in Iraq.
It's not about the stale economy, or the deficit, the gutting of national programs, or the incompetence. It's not about civil rights, or immigration, or health care, or any of the other tired memes and distractions being tossed around. It's not about liberal vs conservative. It's bigger than all of that.
Why does the average American dislike politics, as a rule? Why do they hate political campaigns? Why do they dislike campaign commercials? Why is the whole field of politics generally looked down upon, with such disdain and scorn?
Well, I've thought about this, and my personal opinion is...
It's all about the trust. More specifically, it's about lack of trust, and breach of trust.
If a politician comes out and promises something, they'd darn well better do it. Otherwise, they lose our trust (if they ever had it in the first place).
If a politician says they're honest, and then takes bribes, indulges in cronyism, lies, or practices deceit, we learn not to trust them. (Okay, this part is about the war in Iraq.)
Politics has been so chock-full of people who say one thing, and then do another, so visibly and for so long, that people don't believe them, don't trust them, and don't like them. As an entire class of occupation, I can only think of one that's comparably scorned, and that's lawyers.
(Don't get me wrong. I've got good friends who are lawyers. I'm generalizing.)
Getting the money out of politics, getting rid of corruption, cronyism, liars, and people in government who don't act in the best interests of Americans... well, that's a pretty solid platform. I can't think of very many people who don't want that, and who aren't fed up with the patently obvious corruption and lying in Washington, and in politics in general. This is something we ALL have in common!
You'd have steep opposition from many other politicians, but if you were able to act, demonstrably and publicly on that platform, you'd prove yourself to be more trustworthy (or at least less scorned).
Say what you mean... mean what you say. Don't be a damn hypocrite. Visibly prove it to the electorate. Keep it up. Don't put up with anything less on your own staff, in your own party. Be the personification of integrity. Don't be someone who says he's a person of integrity, but shows himself to be something else altogether. Show the American public that you respect them enough to be honest and straightforward with them.
And you'll be amazed where that can get you, your party, and America in general.
Other principles matter, too; truth, fairness, and justice. But you won't get those if you can't develop a relationship of trust with the electorate.
The Democratic Party has the opportunity to seize upon the concepts of truth, fairness, justice, and integrity. They now have the chance to show the public that they tell the truth, they're not corrupt, they don't break the law, they treat people fairly, and that they're worth the trust they've been given. They have the chance to re-brand the Democratic Party as the group committed to driving corruption out of Washington, D.C. - but in a nonpartisan manner. If Democratic officials are found to be corrupt, they must get the same treatment as anyone else found to be corrupt. The rule of law must apply to all.
It can happen. It needs to be finessed. The approach must be fair and impartial. But driving the obscene quantities of money out of politics needs to happen, for the long-term health of the American people, not just for the self-interest of the Democratic Party.