Let's Turn the Feckless Democratic Party Into a Conscious One and Win Some Elections
Issue 60
I am not a Democrat because I believe the party, as an organization, is — and has been — almost criminally feckless. It repeatedly seems to me like one missed opportunity after another, decade after decade, when it comes to “communications” and “messaging,” which everyone knows is everything. As usual, anything I have to opine about how the Democrats could be more effective with their communications overall, nationally and down-ballot to dog catcher, is rooted in conscious politics practice — things we would and would not do and say from that perspective, nothing more, nothing less.
Today we stipulate that the two-party system America long-ago defaulted into is not a healthy one. Both dominant parties work together to make ballot access for other types of candidates and parties practically impossible; both parties prioritize corporate interests over constituent interests; one party, The Republican Party, is now openly anti-democratic and cannot thus be trusted to govern — anywhere — according to established law, rules, and norms. Still, the two parties are all we have today and, as such, I believe Democrats must add to their “razor thin” majorities on the federal level to say nothing of the necessity of winning in the states, counties, and localities until we have two functioning parties committed to America as a democratic, constitutional republic. I’m not alone and not a genius for saying so.
But the issue is not whether some Democrats and allies get it right from time to time, it’s about the party itself getting it right all the time.
But if I were a voter who regularly got my political news from mainstream sources as tens of millions of us do, I would think it’s a fait accompli that when the 2022 midterm elections come around next year, Democrats will: lose control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will be its speaker; lose the control of the U.S. Senate and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will be its majority leader; be powerless to win much of anything in most states (except maybe New York and California) and localities because of their extreme disadvantage when it comes to the decennial practice of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts based on updated census data. Words, phrases, ideas, and beliefs like “slim majority” and “Republicans have the advantage” and “history shows” and “the president’s party always loses seats” have been drummed into my psyche. I repeatedly hear “74 million.” I repeatedly hear “stolen election” and “rigged” and I don’t ever directly consume right-wing media. I know how often I hear this rhetoric because I know how often I’ve reacted forcefully to the egregious, conscious politics malpractice that allows this to go on, virtually unchecked. It’s just plain stupid.
Engaging the law of attraction in a productive, conscious manner would have Democrats pounding into people’s minds what they want voters to be thinking and talking about. Because intentions matter they would offer shiny, clear visions for policies they want to enact and because beliefs matter, they would make sure that citizens believe winning midterms is possible for the party in power.
On Friday I heard Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) emphasize that the progressive caucus is focused on talking about what’s in the infrastructure bill instead of what it will cost. He is not alone in consciously moving the conversation to focus on what’s wanted, which is great. But the issue is not whether some Democrats and allies get it right from time to time, it’s about the party itself getting it right all the time. Having nationalized, ongoing expressions of key points that the entire party supports — regardless of where any individuals are on the liberal to conservative spectrum — is what Democrats would do if they were being more conscious about things. It creates context, a background from which everyone operates. That means every single time a Democrat or ally is talking into a camera, microphone, or addressing followers on social media, they are repeating one or more of the core ideas that they need to get across between now and November, 2022. For one example:
As she opens an event on Instagram Live, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) mentions that Republicans are overrepresented in the U.S. Senate and goes on with the show on another subject.
The next day, Sen. Warren (D-MA) reminds her audience that Republicans are overrepresented in the U.S. Senate, just throwing it out there like so much pixie dust as a live interview gets underway.
Sen. Sinema — yes her — blurts out from the elevator she’s run into for refuge that Republicans are overrepresented in the U.S. Senate as the doors glide shut.
Rep. Torres (D-NY), when asked about Sen. Sinema later that day, delights in pointing out that the Democratic party’s tent is large enough for a wide range of liberal-to-conservative (a strength if one party is to govern for a while). Also, he says, Democrats are grossly underrepresented in the Senate.
Add, say, a dozen other high-profile examples just like this and put them into one week. The law of attraction is always on and now far more people are thinking and talking about how Republicans are overrepresented in the U.S. Senate. Nobody’s attacking anybody they’re just pointing out a fact. With voters’ attention on the problem, the solution appears in the form of, I don’t know, electing more Democrats to the senate? Period? Fair is fair, after all, and fair is an American ethos.
Now just imagine that “overrepresentation” is one of a dozen, simple messages that Democrats and allies drive home between now and November, 2022 whenever they are talking into cameras and microphones and addressing their audiences on social media. For example:
The 2022 midterm election is a massive opportunity for Democrats
Republicans have radically packed the federal judiciary
The Republican party is anti-democratic
Democrats win when they vote
The president’s party can — and should — gain seats in the 2022 midterm election
Democrats have delivered for [mix and match: women; children; etc.]
Democrats will deliver on [mix and match: police reform; voting rights; etc.]
Democrats value [mix and match: families; children; women; fairness; etc.]
Etc.
Imagine that this is what citizens hear — repeatedly — from a wide array of Democratic and allied voices over the course of the next year. It’s not that complicated, or am I missing something?
RIGHT! Planting the seeds of consciousness. Please stop playing the victim and come at us with solutions or what you want to change. I heard a very whiny quote this morning from Biden and paired with this morning's read of your piece it has me thinking and hoping for a better approach.