t r u t h o u t - responds to to the DLC report; "Why Gore Lost, And How Democrats Can Come Back"
AN AUTHORITATIVE AND UNYIELDING VOICE
t r u t h o u t - 2/11/01 | A few nights ago I sat watching a documentary about the life, vision and struggle of Cesar Chavez to end slavery, not in 1865 but in 1965.
The program documented the desperate efforts of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers to combat a ruthless California Grape Growers cartel. Their pilgrimage to justice impeded by racism, threats and violence from police and courts alike. The drama even included a carefully staged photo-op with then Republican Governor Ronald Regan sitting down in front of news cameras for a delicious bowl of fresh California grapes in an attempt to break the international California Grape Boycott, a boycott that would ultimately triumph bringing a small measure of justice for the poorest of the poor.
In marked contrast to Ronald Regan's willingness to thwart progress was then Senator and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy's determination to aid Cesar Chavez in achieving it. Their relationship ended in the Ambassador Hotel on the night of June 5, 1968. Bobby thanked Cesar for his friendship and once again acknowledged the meaning of the struggle. He then made his closing remarks and began to leave the stage and head for his room. At that moment an authoritative and unyielding voice can clearly be heard telling him instead to change course and go through the pantry.
Why now open these old wounds? Do decades old events have any real bearing on our lives today? Yes of course. Freedom is never granted, it is always won. The dark days of our recent past are not gone if they are forgotten. It is certainly less painful to forget, to rely on a customized version of what we believe the future will hold. It is I believe however far wiser to bear in mind the inscription above the entrance to the National Archive building in Washington "The past is prologue to the future," - indeed.
THE FAILURE OF 2000
The greatest failure of campaign 2000 and perhaps the last half century of American politics was the failure of the democratic party to protect the rights of it's own voters in Florida, from a virulent new strain of the same old Jim Crow virus. The failure of the DLC, is lacking the courage to say it.
CURIOUS DEMOGRAPHICS
The report's demographic reassessment of the democratic party base was, to say the least curious. In winning more votes than any other democratic campaign in history the Gore campaign clearly demonstrated an understanding of how to reach out to a wide and diverse demographic base, while remaining true to democratic values. However one aspect of the demographic analysis any self respecting democrat could not help but cringe at was that new found attention be paid to the newly affluent. Not to worry, under young Mr. Bush's fiscal guidance of that's not likely to be a big growth segment.
THE LOSS IS A CROSS TO BEAR
The DLC report was constructed on the "Gore lost" premise, a position sharply rebuked by newly elected chair of the Democratic National Committee Terry McAuliffe, not to mention the vast majority of democratic voters. The "loss" premise, is a fundamentally false premise therefore an enormous cross to bear for those who base their position on it. The real question is can any political strategy constructed with such a false premise at it's core not ultimately fail?
Ample time and money where clearly spent constructing the DLC report, with custom commissioned polls as the focal point. There was however at least one question the DLC's pollsters where either unable or unwilling to ask. So I'll ask now : ask this of the American people; 'Was justice done on December 12, 2000?', and when they answer, listen very carefully.
Marc Ash - t r u t h o u t
To access the DLC report : http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=132&subid=193&contentid=2906
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