At 21 years old I walked into the voting booth back in 2008 to cast my first vote for President. After 8 years of the Bush administration's failure on a lot of fronts I was energized to vote for a defined change of course to this country. The Democratic party platform as well as the powerful rhetoric being used by Democratic candidates across the country had me 'fired up and ready to go'. The promise to work towards a better country where healthcare was a right, LGBT people moved closer to equality, and the job creation engine began again to repair our broken economy would have a better chance. The joy I felt at seeing the Democratic party win such solid majorities in the House and Senate gave me hope that the change I sought would be closer then ever.
Reality can sometimes be difficult to contend with because our hopes and expectations might not always turn out the way we wished. Don't Ask Don't Tell still remains the law of the land at the midterms. The Employee Free Choice Act still languishes without the push to finish that either. These are vital issues to our nation's promise to be a country that treats people with dignity and respect both inside and outside of the work environment. This has caused strong emotions for me on a personal level as I feel too often politicians defer civil rights issues out of fear of those voters who have such bigotry against various groups. There is a fundamental difference on civil rights espoused in rhetoric by the party's, but we need to close the gap between rhetoric and actions over time. Whether immigration reform or repealing the discriminatory the Defense of Marriage Act the party must move towards making good on these promises.
The hope and positive energy that the Obama campaign in conjunction with our Democratic campaigns across the country created back in 2008 is still present on some level. However, the economy still has not recovered for many people on main street leaving many of us disillusioned with the Democratic party as well. The Democrats must focus on reducing the unemployment rate through job creation, letting the Bush tax cuts expire for the most wealthy, and close corporate tax loop holes with the promise of reducing the amount of jobs going overseas. These are bread and butter issues that will resonate from the more liberal northeast to the swing region where I live in the upper midwest greatly. The Democrats can and should win in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
On a personal level I have been very critical of Democratic inaction on LGBT civil rights issues that seem like such no-brainers: passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell seem so basic. Yet the Democratic leadership has faltered on such issues in this session of Congress for whatever their reasoning. That is not right to the LGBT community who helped them to get where they are now from our diligence back in 2008, and neither is it right in the moral sense for what they say they stand for. The lack of leadership is a real problem because it has demoralized and angered many voters who would otherwise vote Democratic in an election. This is likely why even some wonderful Democrats are trailing to right wing members of the "Teapublican" party.
The messaging of the Democratic party should include highlighting the real differences between how and what policies they would implement if Democrats are allowed to hold both houses of Congress. It would then give the voters a real idea of what they would take us back to if they hand the majority in Congress back to right wing/tea party/Republican party which are essentially the same. Without a positive message to prove why voters should vote for the Democrats, and not just vote against the far right Republican candidates we lose that energy that carried us to victory in 2008. People need to feel like they are voting for someone who will genuinely fight for good policies that benefit their community socially and economically.
The reality is that despite the profound and justified disappointments many of us feel we can and must recognize what will happen if decent Democrats lose on November 2nd. If we stay home or vote 3rd party in races where solid, progressive Democrats are running we lose a voice in the House or Senate that would fight for the majority of policies we care most about. Trust me, to those of you disaffected liberals out there, I empathize with your pain because I have been very torn as a liberal over some policies I have not agreed with. However, if we don't elect people like Giannoulias, Boxer, and Gillibrand (amongst many others) then we lose our ability to affect change by having less progressive advocates who will be there for the most part on social and fiscal issues.
There has to be at least someone on the ballot who you know will be able to make a positive difference on the local, state, or national level you could vote for. I've learned a lot about politics in the last couple of years since President Obama came to power, and it has made me realize nothing is easy or simple in Washington D.C. There is a lot of political games, obstruction from the Republican party, and internal dissent that often has divided the Democratic party when we needed unity to get more done. All of you have core principles and issues that mean the most to you, and I hope the reality is that you have decent Democrats to vote and advocate for where you live. This is not just about keeping the far right tea party Republicans from power. It's about finding and then electing decent people who fight for average folks, civil rights, and a stronger economy that starts making things again which spurs job creation.
Whatever issues motivate you let them be the drive to get better Democrats elected at the local, state, and national level. We will all be better off for it because we will have stood up for the great Democrats who we are proud of that are either running for reelection or hoping to get elected for the first time. The reality I hope to see on November 3rd 2010 is that we still have Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid. Otherwise, the reality will be that everything we worked for in 2008 will become even less likely if the Democrats lose the House, Senate, or both chambers. It will be our votes, energy, and advocacy that will surprise the media in November when so many of these great Democrats on the ballot in many states emerge victorious.
Get out there. Speak out. And vote for better Democrats.