Election 2002 and the Future of the Democratic Party
by Clifford E. Wilson, Chair
Election Night 2002 was a great one for Pennsylvanians as we elected a dynamic Governor who over the next eight years will undoubtedly address and resolve some of the outstanding problems facing our state. Every Democratic party activist can take pride in the Rendell victory and their contribution to it. His victory was due in large measure to a popularity and a persona that transcended party and appealed to a broad spectrum of the electorate looking for someone who could manage this state in what are believed to be some troubling times ahead.
The results on the rest of the ballot throughout this state and across the nation were bad news for Democrats and sad news for America. The capture of the Senate by the Republicans, the increase in their control over the House, and the new perception of a mandated President can only cause more division in our body politic and less attention to the real problems that face so many working men and women in our country. Be assured the right-wing Republicans will now ride rampant claiming their greatest victory since 1994 (remember Gingrich and the Contract On America).
It was a sad night to see some truly fine Senators defeated and to learn that our Senate would not be improved by the return of Walter Mondale. Republicans gained in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. And here in Pennsylvania, Republicans picked up seats in the State House. In Delaware County, the status quo was maintained. Our Democratic State Representatives Kirkland, Vitali, Donatucci and Waters were re-elected as was Congressman Brady and State Senator Anthony Williams. Our challengers to the flock of Republican incumbents were unsuccessful. Sara Petrosky garnered 48% of the vote in a contest that ran the incumbent ragged; in the 26th Senate District, Sean Crumlish, did ten percentage points better than our 1998 and 1994 candidates -- but the hoped for coattails weren't there to pull them or others in.
Why? Why no coattails? Why no victory nationwide? Because today we are a culture that practices a politics of image and perception. And the Democratic Party in this county, this state and this country has no image and the perception is we stand for nothing and are incapable of governing. Our base of supporters are not energized because our candidates too often listen to the consultants and contributors who say "run to the center," "don't offend this group or that group". And unlike the Republicans who have organized a grass roots movement across the country that is essentially conservative and enthused, our candidates listen to those so-called experts who say we can buy what we need. Well you can buy TV ads, you can buy fancy literature and massive amounts of postage and you can hire telephone banks and consultants. You can't buy enthusiasm and commitment. You can't buy the kind of grass roots workers who lit dropped their precincts 6 times in 1992 for Greg Vitali (while he rang every bell 3 times). You can't buy the kind of commitment I saw on the Sunday night before the election when I attended a meeting of volunteers in Concord Township.
The Democratic Party must begin to decide what it is we stand for. We must begin to water our grass roots. We must convince the voters that we can be pro-labor without appearing to be in the pocket of unions. We must make voters understand that when we take positions that are those of a particular group or organized constituency it is not because we cater to that voting bloc but because we believe the position we espouse is in the best interests of society as a whole.
We are the party of Jefferson, Jackson, Wilson, FDR, Truman and JFK.
We are the party of the people not the corporate robber barons. And that is the image I believe we must again present to people in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and the United States. And, as a county political party organization, we must end the preoccupation with minutiae (like who gets which color watchers certificate for their precinct) and become a party that encourages dialogue and discussion and lobbying for the kind of proposals that will improve the quality of life of the people of our county. That we believe government can do positive things for all the people not just take care of politicians.