In a year when the Republican juggernaut appears to be falling apart, nobody seems to know how, or even if, Democrats are going to capitalize on this opportunity. If Democrats do manage to regain a majority in the House of Representatives (and even possibly the Senate), what will the party do with its renewed control?Twelve years ago, Republicans took control of Congress by fashioning a "Contract with America". This "contract" didn't actually promise to accomplish anything, but was an effective pretense at a statement of right-wing principles. (By the way, in a dramatic proof of revisionist history, finding the original "Contract" is extremely difficult; most references available through an internet search show a "Contract" that bears practically no resemblance to the original.)
The problem is, where is the statement of Democratic principles? How can people vote for members of a political party without knowing what that party stands for?
One of the problems Democrats are facing as a result of a lack of clear principles is playing out in Connecticut. Ned Lamont is challenging Joe Lieberman in a Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat. Lamont has become the darling of progressive, grass-roots organizations, and surprisingly received one-third of the votes in the heavily insider-laden state party convention. Meanwhile, the party's old guard is coming to Lieberman's defense.
That defense is highly suspect. Claims that Lieberman votes with the party 90% of the time are irrelevant, since the vast majority of votes are either nonpartisan and non-controversial, or strictly along party lines. The real truth is that the omnibus number of overall votes is no barometer of anything.
Meanwhile, "old guard" Democrats are ignoring a strong democratic principle that should also be just as strong a Democratic principle: There should be open debate on all issues and a real challenge in all elections.
Republicans have managed to stifle debate on the most important issues of our day - how to fight terrorism, when to go to war, the limits of government secrecy, and what freedom really means. Democrats could make a lot of gains, both short- and long-term, merely by proclaiming open debate to be a core principle of the party.
Unfortunately, too many Democrats seem afraid of open debate.
The solution to this problem lies in replacing the old guard, overly politicized Democrats with new, progressive, principled Democrats. We can begin by electing Ned Lamont to the U.S. Senate. His election would serve as a clarion call, forcing Democrats to confront the issues head-on, instead of mumbling excuses.
Then perhaps we can begin the process of recreating the Democratic party around a set of strong principles, rather than merely a weak desire to win elections.
Copyright 2006, Dan Jacoby
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