From the Great Depression through the 1960s, the Democrats were the party of the middle class. We won by talking about the social safety net, neglected groups and a stronger federal government. In 1980, Ronald Reagan shifted that mantle to the Republicans. The country was focused on crime, taxes and America’s place in the world. By 2005, Americans had new concerns. Technology had created a Brave New World: terrorism, global competition, longer life. Democrats sometimes had a difficult time speaking in a convincing way on these issues. Republicans didn’t have that problem. They figured out specific issues that connected to their deeply held values, defined themselves clearly by those issues and then stood by them unequivocally. In 2004, they did it with eight words: War in Iraq. Cut taxes. No gay marriage. Those eight words sum up the reasons for George W. Bush’s re-election.
“What are our eight words?” I thought.
Biking through New York’s boroughs in 2005, I thought about some old friends, Joe and Eileen Bailey. Though they are imaginary, I frequently talk to them. To me, they represent the hardworking and often-ignored families who are not tuned in to special-interest newsletters or editorial pages, but want a little something more from their government and their leaders.
In 2006, Democrats did much better with people like Joe and Eileen, but only because of Bush’s mistakes. We had our own eight words: No war in Iraq. No corruption. Bad economy. But these eight words did not describe our own vision; they were the negative image of the Republican message. In 2006, they helped us win back Congress. In 2008, we will need to do more to persuade the Baileys to again trust the Democratic Party.
As we head toward the election, the competition between the two parties is very close. As in 1932 and 1980, the electorate is up for grabs. Reagan Republicanism, which the middle class has supported since 1980, is under strain. The average middle-class person is looking to the government once again. Still, it won’t matter if Democrats don’t fill the void. We need our own eight words.
I know what you’re thinking. “Hurry up, Schumer! What are the eight words that will save the Democratic Party?”
The truth is, the eight words are far more elusive than you might imagine.
Believe me, I’ve spent two years trying to find them. Slogans are easy. Empty promises, like “better health care,” are easy. But they don’t stand for anything; they’re typical political b.s. To generate our words, we need concrete ideas that clearly and concisely communicate our values. It’s not yet possible for Democrats to boil down our core ideology into eight words. That’s not a knock on Democrats. It took Republicans years to develop theirs. The eight words are the end result, not the beginning of the process.
In part of my book, “Positively American,” I try to start the process by presenting 11 goals, which I call “The 50 Percent Solution.” Taken together, these ideas could help define what Democrats stand for. In the book, I explain each goal, how we can achieve it and why it is important to the Baileys. For example, Democrats should commit to increasing reading and math scores 50 percent by dramatically increasing federal involvement, and funding, in public schools. We should increase the number of college graduates by 50 percent. We should call for reducing illegal immigration by at least 50 percent and increasing legal immigration. We should cut our dependence on foreign oil by 50 percent, and reduce cancer mortality, abortions and childhood obesity each by 50 percent. We should increase our ability to fight terrorism by 50 percent. Sounds like a lot. It is. Together, we can do it–and more. Families, from Appleby to Bailey to Zutter, deserve no less.
