Yesterday I published an article on Medium arguing that the focus on who should be president is missing a key question. Who will end up controlling the Senate and House as well as the Presidency?
The Democrats selection process needs to consider which candidates will help it to not only win the presidency but also win for that president a congress that will support and not obstruct the plans and ambitions of their presidential choice.
The article is below in full and may also be viewed here: https://medium.com/@enetwal/why-democrats-need-to-pick-a-moderate-despite-the-appeal-of-sanders-and-warren-and-their-fdbd11720f39
While many on the far left would love to see a Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren as the nominee, pragmatists interested in both winning the election, stopping Trump and actually getting something done are a bit more reserved. Remember that Obama Care was passed in that brief interlude when Obama had control of both houses of Congress.
Why Democrats Need to Pick A Moderate — Despite The Appeal of Sanders and Warren and Their Platforms.
Go Boldly.
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Bernie Sanders demonstrated that a bold agenda appealed to many on the left of the Democratic Party during the last presidential election cycle.
Not only did he establish a strong following, but he also managed to build a base of support that remains active in the party. These newly engaged forces have made their mark throughout the nation, and in many cases, they have displaced long-serving Democratic officeholders.
Even more fundamentally, many of the ideas and promises of his campaign have reprised themselves this cycle not only in Bernie’s campaign but also Warren’s and others.
And why not? There is a lot of appeal to dramatic reform on behalf of everyday people. Especially so, when the proposed costs are paid for by the undertaxed privileged. God knows the tax policies of the current administration have been designed to benefit the wealthy at the expense of the everyday working stiff.
If the rich can have Uncle Santa gift them with trillions in benefits, why shouldn’t you and I expect similar benefits once we have control?
The fact that the wealthiest folks in the nation pay less percentage-wise than the average worker is a recipe for mass action on behalf of the majority. The level of economic disparity is unsustainable and will disrupt the nation’s domestic tranquility unless addressed.
The nation’s economic growth and prosperity are an essential element of national policy and will always be an inherent part of the quad annual political debate. The relevant question being which is the best measuring stick for the economy.
Today’s administration believes the essential measure is economic growth, often measured by the gross national product. Thus its promise that GNP would grow as a result of the massive corporate tax cuts championed by Trump. Instead, at best, the economy on Trump’s watch has barely met Obama’s best numbers, and the national debt has mushroomed.
Economic growth is essential, but more so, is the overall wellbeing of the people as a whole. To be fair, participation in the workforce has improved.
Now, we Democrats will point out that that growth is continuing at the general pace of improvement that started during Obama’s terms and is at least partially a continuation of that pre-established trend.
Despite the improved job picture, the primary benefits of economic growth are not going to the workers but mostly to the wealthy.
So why not go for the gold? Why not demand revolutionary changes to the economy and to who benefits from the nation’s output? We owe it to each other and our posterity that we make changes that will return a more significant share of the nation’s wealth to all of us.
And yet, that does not mean we should support Sanders or Warren in their quest to move the needle this year dramatically. Not because their proposals are without good intentions, they have a solid case to be made in terms of economic equity.
It is hard to argue we should accept half a loaf rather than going for the prize, but I suggest at least two reasons why we should demur.
These two reasons are for lack of better terms, Policy Shock, and Winning.
Policy Shock
For those of us who have found President Trump’s radical policy shifts on International Alliances, The Climate Accord, The Iran Deal, Trade Wars, and so many other moral calamities upsetting. We need to consider the whiplash the general public will feel once we regain control of the government again. It is idealistic to think our best ideas will be implemented smoothly, no matter the administrative skill of our next Democratic president. Complex systems like our complicated health care system will not quickly transform itself overnight or even in four years. As President Trump discovered, health care is complicated. As surprised as he was, I wonder if those advocating a one payer system imagine they will be more successful. Hasn’t anyone told you that health care is complicated?
I mention health care because this one issue is the most significant single issue-defining camps within the party. Most other issues such as women’s, climate, international relations, minority, gays, minimum wage, etc. are subject to minor variations from candidate to candidate. Each of these is important. Important enough to be part of our platform, and should we be successful with them, we can count on the American people’s support this election and the next.
After years of do-nothing Congressional action, Americans will relish and reward a political party that brings back rational thought, honesty, and progress. Setting the stage for future modifications that may be more aggressive than those we may hope for today. But of course, that depends on whether we can win the coming election.
Winning
And here is the main point of this little screed. Victory is not about winning the presidency, although that is required. It is also about keeping control of the House and winning the Senate.
A Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren with Mitch McConnel in charge of the Senate is a dismal prescription guaranteeing frustration for the American people and a continuing decline in America’s posture in the world. And even if we can defeat Mitch personally, lacking a majority in both the Senate and the House is a fate I do not relish.
The strategy we as a party need to be focused on is not just who is our next president, but how we can best retake control of the House, Senate, and the Presidency. Anything less is not acceptable.
And so as I look at the practical realities of the situation, I reflect on the last congressional elections. Yes, well-motivated people on the left did succeed in replacing centrist Democrats, yeah for your team, but those gains did not move the needle in terms of the party passing legislation.
Our success in the House came from swing districts. Districts can revert in the coming year. Be it due to our underestimating Trump’s ability to get re-elected or continued Russian success meddling on his behalf.
The Senate is still an uphill battle. To prevail on any of our issues, we need to win it as well as the Presidency. It may not seem fair or right, but smaller red states still get their two votes in the Senate. We need to elect candidates in those states and cannot do that if their citizens are afraid of our party’s most progressive ideas. Heck, they are hard-pressed to agree and support the moderate portion of our party.
With luck, however, we can win this year, even in red states. That is thanks to Donald Trump and his rude, ignorant, and undisciplined behavior.
The best long term strategy is to support a moderate candidate for president this year. Be it Biden or my personal favorite Amy Klobuchar or even a Mayor Pete. Let’s get them elected and win for them a House and Senate that can finally get some robust Democratic policies implemented.
A successful Democratic term making real progress will be amply rewarded in future elections when a more progressive strategy may become possible. But that will only happen once we prove to the American people that we can govern pragmatically and gain their trust and support.
Winning is not about electing the next president; it is about winning control of the government, both houses and the presidency. Anything less will be a failure, and America cannot afford another failure.