Leadership, the war and 2004

With all the news of war the mid-term elections seem so long ago. Perhaps it is not easy to recall that Terry McAuliffe, Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair, said defeating Jeb Bush was his No. 1 priority. McAuliffe said Dem-ocrats were going to “take back the House” and hold the Senate. None of this proved true and McAuliffe still has his job.

What does this have to do with the war? Everything.

The DNC has no message. They provide no leadership. They seriously misjudge their own party base. They actually believe Democrats would and will get votes by supporting Bush on Iraq.

If the Democrats can’t get a clue and a spine on behalf of their own party they should at least do it for America. Democracy mandates strong and vibrant checks and balance, created by real opposition. Which we do not have, in any way shape or form. It is a democratic responsibility of the opposing party to be a strong, effective, indefatigable opponent when they are in opposition – as they Democrats surely are now. Our Democratic leadership has not only let “average” Democrats down – they have let America down.

Many times since June 2002, I have started to write a piece for the Bangor Daily News. Every attempt sounded bitter, angry and disenfranchised so I stopped. This piece may be no more successful because I am embittered. Not because I, along with five others, lost the 2002 U.S. congressional Democratic primary. But because of what is happening in America today and what is not happening within the Democratic Party.

It’s not as if President Bush hasn’t given the Democrats some serious collateral damage to run against; from a three-hundred billion deficit to an unpopular, illegal and stubbornly unilateral attack war on Iraq. Global warming is happening but our participation in Kyoto is not. Our attorney general believes he is on a mission from God to save Americans from naked breast and abortions. Fetuses can now receive health care, women cannot. Education is cut from the budget while more money is spent on the war. And on and on.

Apparently, under Terry McAuliffe’s direction, the Democratic leadership thinks none of these issues are important for “average” Democratic voters. So the Democrats never came out swinging either in 2000, 2002, or as of yet, in the run up to 2004. And so, insulted and irate, many Democrats sent a mid-term message back to McAuliffe by not voting at all. Passive resistance, to be sure, but there is a very important message in this high no-response rate. Many Democrats were too disgusted with our “leadership” to vote. And so they didn’t.

It’s not as if the voices aren’t there. Our leadership chooses not to listen. There has been a hue and cry from the average Democrat for a serious opposition – ever since Florida. The largest anti-war protests ever are now occurring across the country but the DNC seems to think this has little to do with them.

Instead our leadership lets polls and Beltway pundits craft their message. They spend their time drinking champagne at Georgetown fundraisers rather than beer at little league baseball games. Our leaders have no vision, no courage, no chutzpah and little desire to listen to the “average” voter. One of the most telling examples of the Democratic deficit was when two positions suddenly came open in the mid-term elections – New Jersey and Minnesota – and the Democrats had to rely on two old, 75 and 78, white, male, former senators. This is the state of the Democratic Party. No depth. No farm league. No grass roots.

The leadership is so pre-occupied preaching to the choir they fail to notice the parsonage has departed and taken to the streets. The midterm results, the largest historical loss in the country, and the massive anti-war protests say loud and clear, “Hello! We are not behind you. We are out in front of you.” And I thought leadership was supposed to lead.

Are we going to shake up our leadership? Are we going to demand a change? Will McAuliffe, the DNC leader who has governed these losses and continues to manage the Democratic Party, have the decency to do the right thing and step down?

The Democratic Party is in desperate need of intelligent, inspiring, courageous political leadership. Introspection, humility, and re-generation is desperately needed – now. The mid-term elections and the anti-war protests are a wake-up call – Terry McAuliffe ain’t it. 2004 is just around the corner. Are we going to demand a change or let the Republicans set the agenda for the next decade?

Lori Handrahan, Ph.D. ran for Congress in her home district, Maine Two, in the 2002 Democratic primary. She is currently an assistant professor at American University’s School of International Service. She can be reached at L.M.Handrahan@lse.ac.uk.