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Political |
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Are the Democrats out of touch? Are Democrats
out of touch with the backbone of America--the middle class? Are
Democrats out of touch with the mainstream of their party? Are they out
of touch with American values? Have Democrats forgotten that “it is
the economy stupid?” During this primary season campaign, Howard
Dean, a liberal, is now the front-runner in the primary process. He is
raising the most money, he received the endorsement of Al Gore, and he
is leading the polls. His candidacy represents a polarization of the
Democratic Party—to the left. The moderate and conservative Democratic
Presidential candidates are “strapped for cash.” A Presidential
Campaign on the “rocks” is a campaign having trouble raising money. Democratic Presidential candidates Joe
Lieberman, Richard Gephardt, and John Kerry are having financial
difficulties, a sign that these campaigns may stall in the future. These
financial difficulties are a bad sign for moderate to conservative
Democrats, and for the Democratic Party. These financial difficulties
are a clear sign that next November may be a Bush v. Dean contest—a
prospect that makes Republicans happy, very happy. Republicans are gleeful over a Bush v. Dean
Campaign. Republicans are cheering over reports that Lieberman is asking
his campaign staff to postpone a paycheck in January. Republicans are
celebrating John Kerry’s loan of $850,000 to his campaign and reports
he is taking out a second mortgage on his home to give his campaign more
money. Republicans are joyful that Richard Gephardt is asking senior
staff members of his campaign to take a pay cut. Republicans know all of
this means Dean is leading the pack, all of this means the Republicans
have a liberal to defeat in November. Howard Dean is winning because Democrats are
mad, the liberal base of the party is mad—the base wants to beat
George Bush. Unfortunately, the base does not recognize that this
Country will not elect a liberal “tax and spend” Democrat. Traditionally, the base of a political party
controls who wins the primary—conservative candidates like Bill
Clinton have successfully won the base, but this time the loss to George
Bush does not sit well with liberals. They are, therefore, polarized on
the issues--choosing one of their own to run against Bush, losing
contact with the conservatives and moderates of the party,
conservatives, and moderates, who may vote for Bush over Dean. The
Democrats are losing contact with candidates who may develop a winning
formula... the ability to pull swing Republicans to vote for a
Democratic candidate. On such candidate, who may appeal to moderate to
liberal Republicans, is General Wesley Clark. A sign of Clark’s
growing popularity is his unusual success in fund raising. After coming
in late in the game, his campaign is raising stunning amounts of money.
Clark’s campaign is hoping to raise 10 to 12 million dollars in the
October-December quarter, a fund raising effort that may push Clark into
a front-runner category. Clark’s recent fundraising success is drawing
attention, but with the base of the Democratic Party “mad” at George
Bush, the base may not recognize there are Democratic Candidates with a
better “shot at beating Bush.” Candidates like Clark appeal to the
moderate and conservative Democrat. Clark may pull moderate to liberal
Republicans in the November elections—something Dean will not be able
to do. If the Democratic Party wants to win against
Bush, the Democrats need a candidate who appeals to liberal to moderate
republicans, and moderate to conservative Democrats. Howard Dean does
not have this appeal; Dean is a representation that the hard line
Democrats are out of touch. Dean, on Thursday of this week, made a clear
statement of where he was headed as a candidate. Dean said, “It’s
time to take the country back, the country of FDR, Harry Truman, and
Bill Clinton. These Washington Democrats failed and backed away from the
fight. We need new leadership in this country and we need new leadership
in this party.” Dean’s statement clearly shows his liberalism,
of his efforts to polarize the base of the party; of his desire to
abandon the economic policies established by Presidents such a Bill
Clinton--who used conservative economic principles to whittle away at
the deficit; a deficit that plagued this country for years. Dean’s statement shows he will return to the
failed tax and spend policies of many of his predecessors. Dean does not
get it…. “It’s the economy stupid”--people ultimately
“vote their pocket books.” Dean’s current goal is to win the Primary at
any cost…a cost that will haunt him in the November elections.
Dean’s efforts are to polarize the liberal base of the Democratic
Party, espousing liberalism during the process. This effort may win him
the primary, but cost him the general election. Maybe Democrats need to bring Bill Clinton
back…or at least listen to him by supporting the candidate he
endorsed…General Wesley Clark. Most important, Democrats, like Dean, need to
remember, “It’s the economy stupid.”
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