It’s the base, stupid.
Every election is now a base election. It really is quite simple. In the U.S. voter turnout is low and variable (from very low to very, very low). In mid-term elections Democrats struggle to get their supporters to vote. If turnout is going to be in the low 40s, appealing to the middle, to independents or moderates, however one wishes to describe them, is not the most important task—most will not vote and many of those who do vote will not vote Democratic in any particular election. The most important strategy is to motivate the base.
This is what Republicans have accomplished by demonizing the Muslim, socialist, black dictator president. The charges are absurd and the obstruction irresponsible. But throwing red meat to one’s supporters, especially those with a less than steadfast commitment to voting, is what must be done to mobilize the base. Running a tsk-tsk campaign against the irresponsible Republicans is not a winning strategy. Trying to get the Republicans to compromise and cooperate in government is naïve (regrettably President Obama has had a bad learning curve on this one). Democrats have to call them out for their irresponsible and dangerous behavior with specifics.
They support corporations who are shipping jobs overseas. Here are examples. They lied about health care reform. Ask them in debates what they think of the “death panels” deception. Attack them for lying about costs. Attack them for opposing a minimum wage increase. And do that again. Describe what it’s like to live on the minimum wage. Explain to working-class people again and again how addressing climate change as an opportunity for creating decent jobs will put people back to work. Attack candidates who
Women and gays cannot be the base. Many women are not primarily interested in reproductive freedom. Some candidates in this cycle made this the priority issue. That is crazy.
Black and Latino voters are a huge part of the base. Do you think black folks in this country don’t understand how racism has motivated the Republican base? But Democrats are afraid to say it in public. Obama is afraid to call it out, except at a Correspondents’ Dinner. It’s about the base. Let them know that Democrats get it—that America is still a racist country and that many white folks are voting primarily on this basis. If we are going to defend ourselves against racism, people of color have got to turn out and they will in greater numbers if the issue is presented in black and white.
In other words, be unafraid of progressive values, principles and policies. Be more like Elizabeth Warren, who is not afraid to tell it like it is. The Republicans outsource jobs and make money off it. Mitt Romney is a vulture capitalist. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. When Republicans scream class warfare, say, damn right! Oh noes! This wlll turn off the middle, and the middle class because it sounds Marxist and everyone thinks they are middle class or soon will be. No, it’s about turning out the base.
Pryor, Udall and Hagen deserved to lose. And forget about Grimes. (Do you think Ashley Judd would have refused to say she voted for Obama?) They didn’t stand up for their party and the president.
In a choice between a Republican and a timid Democrat trying to be Republican lite, the Republican will seem stronger and more honest. And the Republican candidate will motivate the base to get out and vote.
Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Al Franken, and others constitute the viable future of the Democratic Party.