| Beyond building a relationship with people who did not vote Democratic in 2004, the Democrats must make certain that potential candidates have enough visibility over the next three years so that they become known entities and aren’t forced fed to the electorate in the typical media blitz which has become normal for our current political process
I suspect the Democrats if they listen closely will find that many people who voted against them did not really understand their candidate or their policies. In this case it should be no surprise. The first time most of the people heard anything about John Kerry and John Edwards was less than a year ago. Most people did not have time to get to know them other than through campaign advertising which as we all know is not exactly a great way to understand the real person. Perhaps instead of voters being to blame, the problem is a little closer to home.
Since John and John were unknown products with the Democratic brand behind them certain assumptions were made. John Kerry hailed from the Massachusetts division of the company which, in spite of whatever might be the truth, has always been viewed as the liberal part of the Democratic company. John Edwards, full of passion and energy, was also of all things a trial lawyer. His folksy North Carolina style connected with the voters on a certain level, but he was still a lawyer without a legislative record .
Beyond building a relationship with people who did not vote Democratic in 2004, the Democrats must make certain that potential candidates have enough visibility over the next three years so that they become known entities and aren’t forced fed to the electorate in the typical media blitz which has become normal for our current political process.
Voting for someone who has become known for his record on standing up to budget deficits, is a whole lot easier than convincing the public that someone from Massachusetts is a fiscal conservative. A strong public record is the best anti-dote for the type of misinformation that unfortunately characterized so much of this campaign. My favorite was the completely inaccurate rumor that John Edwards was responsible for the flu vaccine shortage because of a judgment he had won against a flu vaccine manufacturer.
This brings me to the greatest challenge for the Democratic party. Just as they reinvent themselves, they must reinvent their brand. If in truth, the Democrats stand for balanced budgets, their records need to show that. If they are against nation building, stand up for the belief. If they believe we need more international cooperation, do everything they can to make that happen.
Currently there are far too many things that make the Republicans and Democrats more alike than different. In sales we talk about the elevator sales pitch. If you cannot differentiate your product in an elevator ride with a customer, then in this day and age of over saturated communications, it is likely the customer will never take the time to understand the difference unless disaster strikes the customer and they are forced to consider a change from their comfort zone.
There are plenty of things which I hope a changed process will bring to the front of our electoral consciousness. Chief among them for me is the unbelievable influence that money has on American politics in spite of recent legislation. Unless you have seen this in action, it is really hard to appreciate the depths to which it has taken our government. In my most recent corporate iteration, I spent the last four years selling to our government.
For three years, there was one key politician that I needed to meet. I met with his chief(s) of staff a number of times, but the meeting with this key individual always eluded me. Finally just before I left my previous company and shortly after I was stood up one last time, I got the straight scoop from someone who had finally corned him at cocktail party.
The reason we could not meet was that my company had not donated money to him. It mattered not that my company had a policy to donate to neither party. What mattered was that he did not have any money from us There was one small concession, I did start getting weekly notes suggesting that I could have breakfast with him and a few other monied interests for a personal $1,000 donation or $2,500 if I wanted to bring someone. This is the new political math of the United States.
Maybe I am dreaming but my one hope is that the Democratic disaster of 2004 will change the process enough so that potential candidates and politicians will have a discussion with the electorate starting now. The issues I am concerned about cannot wait. With that renewed dialogue may we become a country where the best ideas make it into government policy instead of the ones with the most money behind them.
Now that is something to fight for now and vote for next time.
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