Real Democratic Party, please stand up
For too long, Democrats have been afraid to stand up for their core values, being passive while Republicans aggressively went about “demonizing” their party’s fundamental principles, especially on moral and religious values. Although I fundamentally agree, that’s not my assessment. It’s an insight offered up by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who spoke during last week’s National Conference of Editorial Writers annual convention in Pittsburgh. Rendell’s talk was entitled, “Will the Real Democratic Party Please Stand Up?” and the governor, who spent 14 months as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, did not disappoint in his analysis.
By using narrow definitions, Republicans have done a great job of winning over voters in two key areas – religious values and moral values – said Rendell, who noted that polling consistently shows Democrats winning on other issues. But by focusing on wedge issues within those values, the GOP has managed to win over voters, even though the Bible doesn’t specifically address those issues.
“There’s practically nothing in it about abortion or gay marriage,” said Rendell. “(But) what was it that Jesus said to the disciples at the Last Supper … (essentially), when you do it for any one of your own, you do it for me.” Thus, Rendell believes that “we have an obligation” to take care of the poor and the disabled, which are big-time Democratic themes, instead of focusing on GOP-led tax cuts for billionaires like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett at a time when the minimum wage provides an income $4,000 below the federal poverty level.
“Is that moral? Is that consistent with the moral beliefs in the Bible? Of course not. It’s disgraceful,” said Rendell. He added that cuts to veterans benefits and the Women, Infants and Childrens (WIC) program are also inconsistent with moral and religious values, noting, “I thought the Bible said, ‘Feed the hungry.'”
In refreshing candor, Rendell said more Democrats need to stand up and be proud of what they represent, and they should be more passionate about their party’s guiding principles.
“I think the problem is we’re afraid … Everyone’s afraid of losing. (But) if you’re fighting for the principles you believe in, it’s OK to lose,” said Rendell. “It’s fun to believe in something … and not be afraid. We can’t let those wedge issues scare us.”
Rendell said his personal beliefs guide his political philosophy that, “Government exists to try to improve conditions, to try to make people’s lives better.” It’s why he is proud that his administration has emphasized pre-kindergarten education, full-day kindergarten and after-school tutoring programs.
Those things have a cost, but Rendell said he doesn’t mind fighting the battles. “Republicans call it tax-and-spend. I call it investing in the future,” said Rendell. “We need to start investing in this country. That’s what the Democratic Party (has traditionally been) about.”
Democrats should avoid the trap that befell former presidential candidate Al Gore, whose fear of making a mistake left him with such a “wooden” persona that his natural passion never got to surface, said Rendell.
“If Al Gore would have let it rip, he would have been a great, great candidate,” said Rendell, who added that current Democratic officeholders should learn from that experience. “What’s wrong with saying, ‘I voted for the (Iraq) war because I was fooled. I got bad information, just like you.’ We’re walking on eggshells (too much).”
In its best form, said Rendell, politics “can be a little bit of a crusade” if one chooses to make it so. The best philosophy for getting re-elected, he said, is to never raise taxes, visit all natural disasters and attend veterans’ functions. But that’s not exactly a recipe for getting much done.
Discussing the current crop of presidential candidates, Rendell said some have questioned Republican Sen. John McCain’s temperament.
“Show me a person who never loses his temper, and I’ll show you a person who doesn’t care about anything,” said Rendell.
That’s the line that I liked best.
Paul Sunyak is editorial page editor of the Herald-Standard. He can be reached at 724-439-7577 or psunyak @heraldstandard.com