The key to unhinging the Republican hold on the Red States and transforming the political landscape into fertile ground for future Democratic majorities lies in the Party's ability to portray itself as being true to its values and convictions. Given the overwhelming anti-war sentiment, both among the Party base and members of Congress who (for whatever reason) supported the authorization of force, the time is now to issue a Democratic apology for allowing the Bush Administration to carry out this war on the basis of information that was flimsy at best and fabricated at worst.
To: The Democratic Leadership
From: Adem Staffer
Re: A Winning Strategy
Date: November 8, 2005
The key to unhinging the Republican hold on the Red States and transforming the political landscape into fertile ground for future Democratic majorities lies in the Party's ability to portray itself as being true to its values and convictions. Given the overwhelming anti-war sentiment, both among the Party base and members of Congress who (for whatever reason) supported the authorization of force, the time is now to issue a Democratic apology for allowing the Bush Administration to carry out this war on the basis of information that was flimsy at best and fabricated at worst.
With the current political climate reaching the boiling point and beyond, the President's poll numbers declining to historic lows, the credibility of the Bush Administration nearly nonexistent, and the Iraq War casting a cloud over any positive news coming out of the federal government (if there is any), Democrats are in position to retake the initiative politically and begin what will be a slow march to the White House and to majorities in both houses of Congress. There has been much speculation as to why Democrats have been unable to take greater advantage of the Republicans eroding bond with the American people. While it is clear that we still need to make greater inroads into the Red States, and that the Party faces a significant challenge reframing its values message, it is also very clear that the American people's perception of Democrats is that they are political opportunists and do not have the courage of their convictions.
Out greatest dilemma and what has become our "Achilles Heel", is the fact that such a large portion of the Party supported the authorization of force, but now criticize the justification, planning, and execution of the Iraq War. We have been able to make convincing and sound arguments about the misleading use of intelligence, and have more recently been able to plant the seed of doubt in the American public over the Administrations intentions. We have been able to show flaws in the Administration's rationale and we have been able to highlight a pattern of misleading--If not blatantly untrue--statements that convinced the public that the invasion of Iraq was necessary. Yet with all the progress we have made, we are able to gain ground only to lose it each time the Bush Administration successfully changes the media's agenda.
While Senators Reid and Durbin's evoking of Rule 21 in the Senate successfully grabbed the media's attention over the past week, there is a lot of time between today and possible Bush Administration convictions, and even before Phase II of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report is issued (in which the outcome we cannot control). We must drive a permanent wedge between our Party and a Republican Party whose strategy is to never admit fallibility, which is consistently perceived by the American people as being disconnected with reality. The Democratic Party must issue a Party-wide apology for its role in the lead up to the Iraq War.
The American people, faced with the indictment of the House Majority Leader, the investigation of stock sales by the Senate Majority Leader, the indictment of the Vice President's Chief of Staff, and the investigation of the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, want truth and honesty more than ever before. One of , and perhaps the most damaging aspect of Senator Kerry's failed run for the Presidency was that he was perceived as disagreeing with the war, but having voted for it because he made a political calculation during an election. Senator Kerry tried to explain his position, but his vote against the $87 billion solidified what the public perceived--that Senator Kerry was a political opportunist. As the Party nominee and thus the Party's poster boy, the brand of political opportunism and lack of conviction spread like a virus and tainted the whole Party.
That can all change with a single press conference issuing an apology to the American people. This apology would not be to force Senators like Senators Lieberman, Clinton, or Schumer to indicate public regret for their vote. It would not be an apology for the vote. It would be apology for failing to probe the question of war more carefully. The apology would be for failing to give greater weight to the caveats in intelligence reports that called into question the validity of the information that was used to justify the war. The Democratic apology would read this way:
"The Democratic Party would like to issue an apology to the American people, not because some of us voted to authorize the war, but because we failed in our obligation to stand as the last line of dissent and protection for the American people's interest. Many of our Party member's felt compelled to support the war resolution because they believed what we now know is flawed intelligence. Others felt compelled by statements made by the Bush Administration. Still others believe that their vote was correct given the information they had at that time, but one thing we can all agree on is that the Party could and should have done more--to ask harder questions, to probe deeper into the information we were given, and to more vigorously debate an issue that has meant the difference between life and death for so many American sons and daughters. Ultimately, we believe that each member made the best decision he or she could, but we know now that we did not take this Administration to task to the degree that meets our Constitutional responsibility--and for that we beg the forgiveness of the American people, and we pledge as a Party, as your representatives, and as citizens of our great country, that we will never again allow important information to slip through the cracks when decisions that can impact American lives need to be made. In the future, we will leave no stone unturned because we understand that the American government can never live up to the standard and quality of the American people, if the people cannot trust the government and rest assured that it is acting in truth and in good faith. We commit today to raising the bar for honesty, forthrightness, and transparency with respect to our relationship with the American people."
In today's political climate, the most powerful weapon that Democrats have in the fight to change the policy agenda for the future is candor. If we apologize from our hearts, the American people will not only appreciate it, but they will find in us the honesty, integrity, and trust that we've lost over the past decade. Such a statement, while not forcing individual members to apologize for their vote, will indicate clearly that this Party realizes that the trust between government and the American people was broken in the lead up to war. It will also show that the Democratic Party is humbled by this experience, and that we recognize something that the Bush Administration and the current Republican Party will never admit--that we have made a mistake. And to the American people, realizing and admitting that we have made a mistake is the first step towards correcting problems, mending trust, and making this country stronger.