any thoughts on this?
Dear Friends,
Throughout this extraordinary Democratic nominating contest, the
DLC has been hard at work preparing for the crucial battle ahead:
to capture the hearts and minds of the forgotten middle class with
a bold reform agenda. If we want to turn the country around and
build a lasting majority, we must have the courage and
determinationto win the fight for the vital center.
We’ve been gratified this election year to see both Democratic
candidates embrace themes that New Democrats brought to our
party’s lexicon – opportunity, responsibility, and a brand of
politics which looks beyond party and toward real solutions.
But our party still has a long way to go.
We’re confident that Democrats will go into the coming election
strong and united. The more important question is whether we can
unite Americans from across party lines behind a set of ideas
bold enough to break the gridlock in Washington and solve the
country’s most pressing problems. If Democrats embrace serious
answers and real reform, we will not just win elections –
we will forge an enduring politics of common purpose.
In the last two presidential elections, Democrats did a
spectacular job of turning out our base, but failed to do enough
to persuade swing voters to join our cause. The 2008 election
will be all about persuasion. With no incumbent on the ballot
and widespread disenchantment with America’s direction, we have
an excellent opportunity to win the argument. But to do so,
Democrats must show how we can solve the country’s problems,
and demonstrate why we don’t fit the labels Republicans have
been trying to pin on us for the last 40 years.
Between now and the Democratic National Convention in Denver,
the DLC will showcase the key elements of the sweeping growth,
security, and reform agenda our party needs to lead the country.
We have unveiled several of these ideas in major newspapers in
recent weeks:
-
In the Chicago Tribune, Harold Ford and Al From proposed a
21st Century G.I. Bill to endow a tax-free college education fund
for every newborn U.S. child, with one condition: a year of
civilian or military service by the age of 25.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped_0321_gi_newmar21,0,6204315.story -
In the Wall Street Journal, Will Marshall outlined a bipartisan
plan to rein in record deficits by taking entitlement spending
off auto-pilot.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120968465450161133.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries -
In the Washington Post, Bruce Reed and Marc Dunkelman spelled out
a plan to end partisan gerrymandering that will hold Congress
accountable for results – and according to a new DLC study,
increase potential turnout by more than 10 million votes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/27/AR2008042701210.html
In the weeks to come, we will release an education reform plan to
take the place of No Child Left Behind; an economic plan to
increase growth, expand trade, and raise incomes; and a new
patriotism agenda to rebuild the military, overhaul homeland
security, and give every American the chance to give something
back.
We also are about to release a new study on swing voters – who
they are, what they care about, and how to win their lasting
support. This report will be must-reading as the political world
gears up for the general election.
In order to win new voters and make good on our new ideas,
we’re also working to groom the next generation of
New Democratic leaders:
-
Next month, in Chicago, between 300 and 400 up-and-coming elected
officials will meet at the DLC’s 2008 National Conversation, the
largest gathering of progressive, elected leaders apart from the
Democratic National Convention.
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=85&subid=108&contentid=254591 -
We will soon inaugurate our second class of DLC Fellows – the
nation’s most promising progressive leaders.
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=450017&subid=900179&contentid=254586 -
To shine a spotlight on the country’s biggest challenges – and
what rising stars in Congress want to do about them – we’ve
launched a major new project with the House Democratic Caucus
called Congress Debates. The first debate, on the economy, took
place last month at George Washington University, with
Rep. Rahm Emanuel leading a team of four House Democrats against
Rep. Adam Putnam and three other House Republicans. Last week, we
held the second debate on health care at Cincinnati Children’s
Hospital. The next debate on energy policy will be held in July.
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=126&subid=900096&contentid=254629 -
To help Democrats in Congress, the DLC recently published the
first two segments of a four-part series helping progressives to
understand and frame debates over tough issues like immigration
and fiscal responsibility. In addition, we have prepared new
editions of our State and Local Playbook and Congressional Agenda. -
In an effort to focus the 2008 campaign on solutions – rather
than fundraising and mudslinging – Ideas Primary has provided a
forum for dozens of ideas from leaders and elected officials
across the country. We will soon release The Best of Ideas Primary,
a compilation of new ideas that can help shape the fall campaign.
http://www.ideasprimary.com/ -
Finally, DLC Chairman Harold Ford now has an ideal perch from
which to share our new ideas and political analysis, as a regular
political commentator on MSNBC.
More than 20 years ago, we founded the DLC to breathe new life
into progressive government and do right by the forgotten middle
class. These days, it can be lonely standing up for principles –
like expanding trade – that are an essential part of living up
to our party’s historic responsibility to help every American
have the opportunity to get ahead. But after eight years of an
administration that has polarized politics instead of solving
problems, our mission is more timely than ever.
As always, we look forward to your comments and feedback.
Cheers,
Al From
Founder and CEO
Democratic Leadership Council
Bruce Reed
President
Democratic Leadership Council