This election so far is all about Trump: the news revolves around him; voters are either in thrall to him, disappointed, or disgusted by him; MAGA Republicans appeal to the Republican base through their unflinching loyalty to Trump.
That the election is all about Trump sounds like good news for Democrats. Trump's approval rating is in the pits. He has taken so many actions that have hurt his base and people in general, especially economically.
For the last 18 months, Trump has flouted almost every standard that has been set by previous Presidents and the Constitution. Trump has repeatedly taken actions, such as his tariffs and the Iran war, that have increased prices and impacted every American. He even said that he doesn't think about the financial plight of Americans, "not even a little bit," when thinking about the war.
But that doesn't translate to a diminished Trump at the polls. How can that be? It's partly due to his Republican base being in thrall to him and partly because the Democratic Party has not made the case for what they stand for and how they would help the people.
The path to a Democratic victory at the polls lies not in dissing Trump, but in creating a Democratic counter-presence that gives the people a positive reason to vote Democratic.
1. Reaching the Republican base - Despite the economic suffering he has caused his base, they remain true to him. His approval ratings may be low, but that 37% approval will not go lower because that is his core base. Even when farmers were devastated by the effects of his tariffs, they didn't back away from supporting him.
Why? The reason so many people vote for Trump despite that being against their economic interests is that cultural issues are more important to them. That's why Democrats' focusing on how voters' finances and health care have deteriorated under Trump will not have the desired impact. Nor will focusing on Trump's actions that are destructive of our democracy.
The Democratic Party cannot win Republican votes, whether in urban or rural areas, without clarifying—not changing—its position on the cultural issues that are so important to them. They must not allow themselves to be labelled radical leftists by the Republicans.
What are these cultural issues? They are guns, abortion, religion, LGBT rights, American identity. Here is what they must clarify: Democrats are not against people owning guns; they are not pro-abortion; they are not God-less; and they do not promote LGBT life, but just as they defend freedom of speech, they believe that everyone has the right to be who he or she is—that's the American way.
In my article, "Winning the Rural Vote: A New Approach for the Democratic PartyTalking about Guns, Abortion, American Identity, and Religion," I explain how each of these topics can be approached by Democrats in a way that connects with Conservatives and bridges the gap that Republicans have deftly manufactured and Democrats have fallen into.
2. What do Democrats bring to the table? - Besides showing Conservatives they are not radical on cultural issues, Democrats must give Independents and other swing voters—as well as Conservatives—a positive reason to vote Democratic. Even though Independents and some youth and workers who swung to Trump in 2020 are now disappointed or disgusted by his actions, that doesn't mean they will vote Democratic because they feel Democrats are not speaking to them, they haven't heard a message that resonates.
The message I propose would insure not just victory but a sweeping mandate from the people to bring America back to its founding principles and restore government to what the Constitution prescribes—not just as a matter of principle, but as the way to improve people's lives by giving each American the opportunity to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. See my articles, "People Are Hurting:The U.S.Must Return to Our Founding Principles" and "Defining the Democrat v Republican Battle."
Central to this effort is defining what drives Democrats in all their policy positions by referring to a Mission statement such as I have proposed, based on the Declaration of Independence:
“To build a country of greater opportunity where:
- each and every American has a real chance to experience the promises made in the Declaration of Independence: 'that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness' ;
- government meets its responsibility as set forth in the Declaration—‘to secure these rights’; and
- all citizens have a shared responsibility to support the government’s efforts to secure these rights and promote the public good, each according to his ability.”
This should be the litmus test. All policies of the Party should flow from this mission statement and any policy that does not further the mission statement should be dropped. Government should support industry and commerce, insofar as they support this mission. But if industry interests do not further this mission, if they seek power and riches for themselves without benefit to the people, the Party should not support those interests.
Too often, when proposing measures to protect the people in the areas of finance or industry regulation, Democrats have held back somewhat because of the interests of industry. And in some areas, like free trade agreements, they have capitulated to the interests of industry. The result: people have lost faith in the Party.
And they must offer a mea culpa for their neglecting the plight of the blue collar worker. Explaining that after working hard for most of the 20th century to improve the life of workers and strengthen unions, Democrats thought workers' middle-class status was safe. When workers were impacted by globalization they didn't realize the extent of the problem.
This must all be part of the Party's becoming a presence in people's lives—relevant—not just a voice in far-away Washington. It must speak to the people with regularity. See my article, "Can the Democratic Party Still Lead?"
Then there is the attitude of Democratic centrists towards Democratic Socialists. What is their problem? Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani aren't Socialists—they don't believe in government ownership of the means of production—they are socialists only in the sense that they believe that government should be more concerned with the wellbeing of the people. Isn't that what the Declaration is about? That is why they're having success. See my article, "Just What Is a Socialist?"
What we are seeing in the Democratic Party is not a "leftward shift" as claimed by Republican Senate leader Thune and Democratic centrists, but a return by many Democrats to the founding principles of the Declaration of Independence—it's about the people.
The upcoming election— it's less than 100 days away—is the Democrats to loose. And to date, I have not seen the Party do anything to insure a resounding victory at the polls. If they cannot move the American people to vote them back into power and send Trump and MAGA Republicans packing, there is little hope for the Party.
Ronald L. Hirsch is a teacher, legal aid lawyer, survey researcher, nonprofit executive, consultant, composer, author, and volunteer. He is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Chicago Law School and the author of We Still Hold These Truths. Read more of his writing at www.PreservingAmericanValues.com
