I Cogitate
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A Democratic Saviour?
New
York Attorney General and Democrat Eliot Spitzer has announced
his campaign to run for governor of New York. He'll
face current Empire State Governor George Pataki, a Republican.
This chance to not just present but embody a new living, breathing, bedrock political theme will be critical for the national, regional and local sustenance of the Democrat Party. But it cannot be simply a nip and tuck or more powder here and added gloss there. A backbone transplant of steadfast belief is required.
That is where Spitzer comes in.
He is one who can reform an entity whose 'message,' such as it is, has lost appeal in far too many parts of this country. His first step should be to propose a contract/agreement along the lines of a New New Deal. Granted, most Roosevelt Democrats are either extremely aged or have already passed on but such a phrase invokes the best of the Democratic lineage.
The key is avoidance of simply becoming fodder for late-night television jokesters. By that, the new Democratic creed cannot be a simple stalkinghorse for the same-old, same-old. It must stand resolute for ideas/beliefs/policies, for a new Democratic statecraft.
Spitzer as New York's Attorney General has become the shining star of government-driven economic fairness and reform. Repeat that so-called 'dirty' phrase: government-driven economic fairness and reform. What other politician of late, on any part of the political spectrum, has even come close to being as successful as Spitzer in collaring the corporate bad guys and attempting to eliminate, or at the very least, reduce the rigging of major elements in our economy?
Some may scream--generally, the right, which invented such tactics-- "class warfare, class warfare, you're dividing the country." As if Nixon's 'Southern strategy' was designed to create one big "Kumbaya" sing-along.
Others stress that economic populism is a dead-on-arrival national campaign issue. The John Edwards 'Two Americas' presidential campaign theme was certainly based on an populist economics appeal but seemed aimed more towards not forgetting about the poor and the unfortunate and not necessarily about any financial unfairness burdening the middle class.
Well, far too many voters and non-voters agree on one thing: politicians say and do anything, without real or demonstrated conviction, in pandering for votes.That's where prima facie evidence, such as Spitzer's results against financial institutions, securities companies, insurance companies, environmental polluters and spammers as New York's Attorney General, AND a contract/agreement with the American public, the New New Deal of core Democratic values, comes into play.
The middle class (generally with a high voter turnout) and lower economic class (usually of a lesser voter turnout) constitute a majority of voters in this country. Obviously, there are many political points to appeal to and an equal number of political landmines with voters in these two groups. But economic fairness, being rewarded for playing by the rules, has an instinctual appeal to a majority of voters, besides garnering the votes of some who may even disagree on other substantial issues. It also falls under the umbrella of 'moral values,' a category held in highest reverence in the 2004 presidential election.
George Lakoff, a UC Berkeley linguistics professor, admonishes Democrats to craft their political language by framing issues and therefore, the political debate. His suggestions include discussing environmental concerns under the aegis of 'poison-free communities,' the national budget deficit as a 'baby tax' and lawyers, very hefty Democratic financial contributors, as 'public protection attorneys.'
Lakoff also needs to go even further and create verbal deflection shields that Democrats can employ against the Republican 'God, guns and gays' attack dogs but that's another day and another story.
But each of these parts are critical--an accomplishment-filled resume that dovetails with the message, plus delivery in appropriate lexicon.
Granted, the race for New York's governorship is two years hence and it is a state, not a national contest. But the model is out there. Every Democratic state attorney general, every Democratic governor, even every Democratic District Attorney should be emulating the Spitzer Way. Yes, not every state has the confluence of insurance companies, investment firms and the like that New York does but the opportunities to aid and abet the majority of voters in this country are available for the taking.
Spitzer, in a recent article in 'The New Republic,' quoted President Theodore Roosevelt: "We demand that big business give people a square deal; in return, we insist that, when anyone engaged in big business honestly endeavors to do right, he shall himself be given a square deal."
This country wanted a new direction in 2004. John Kerry was able to get people to take a look but unable to make the sale. His branding of 'at least I'm not George Bush' was unfortunately one of weakness. The Democrats need a message and messenger of strength. Lets' return to and re-energize looking out for the average citizen in a visceral appealing way. The Democratic Way.
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