In America: “Deciding To Win” Report Empowers Democratic Party’s Rise Through New Political Strategy
The Republican and Democratic Party have dominated the political atmosphere for the majority of this country’s existence. To stay in power, each party needs voters’ support. To do this, they must stand for the beliefs that best match voters' wants and needs. The battle between the Republican and Democratic Parties has been continuous; in the country’s existence, there have been 60 presidential elections, the Republican Party winning 24 times and the Democratic Party winning 20 times. WelcomePAC, a Centrist Democrat organization, believes they understand why the Democratic Party lost the most recent election and looks to change the tide. In their report, “Deciding to Win,” the organization creates solutions for how the Democratic Party can change in order to establish itself once more in the evolving political sphere. Although WelcomePAC’s intentions veer towards supporting American needs, there’s reason to believe these actions are just another way for the party to pursue its own desire for power and control.
WelcomePAC’s “Deciding To Win” Report
In late October, the political action committee WelcomePAC released its report where it begins by pinpointing where the Democratic Party began to regress. Through meta-analysis, authors of the “Deciding to Win” report determined the Democratic Party’s agenda was shaped and heavily influenced by lobbyists, staffers, donors, advocacy groups, and elected representatives. WelcomePAC claims these influences drew the party away from the concerns of the American people. As a result, Democratic representatives’ focus on party loyalty over public interest has been a consequence for the party’s popularity causing the Democratic Party to lose voters over the last two decades. In order to renew the party’s dominance, the report strategizes how the Democratic Party can modernize and popularize itself through its campaigns and communication with voters.
Both political parties have become more polarized since the 2012 election. According to voters, the Democratic Party has moved to the left drastically in policy decisions. Cosponsorships in legislation would point to the party acting unified in these left-minded policy decisions. The Republican Party too has become more polarized on certain issues as well. However, according to voters, the Republican Party has acted “centered-minded” on more issues than the Democratic Party in the last twenty years.
The report recommends that the Democratic Party becomes modernized in positions through advocating for popular economic policies and establishing the belief that the party shares values with voters.
“In order to take back Congress and the presidency, Democrats need to understand the political and strategic landscape we face. Deciding to Win aims to provide the most comprehensive account to date of why Democrats lost and what our party needs to do to win again.”
To gain more support, the report suggests the Democratic Party should develop an agenda that appeals to popular stances, such as: economic programs that are centered on lowering costs, growing the economy, creating jobs, expanding social safety net and drug price negotiation, raising minimum wage, taxing the wealthy, and embracing rhetoric that calls out the political and economic impact that lobbyists, corporations, and the ultra-wealthy have.
According to the report, the Democratic Party’s attention towards unpopular issues made voters feel unheard. Issues like climate change, energy production, identity and culture issues, democracy, abortion, a disregard for immigration policy and public safety, and unpopular economic positions (student loan forgiveness, electric vehicle subsidies, and Medicare for All). The report takes note that the political rhetoric used by the Democratic Party should become less extreme to support voter perception of candidates.
What Are The True Intentions Behind The Incentive?
WelcomePAC's aim to promote Moderate Democrat candidates comes from their organization’s beliefs. The “Deciding to Win” report looks to discover the area in the political spectrum where the Democratic Party can obtain its political dominance once more and keep its morality without sacrificing its popularity.
On Welcome PAC’s homepage, the organization discusses its “Mission and Strategy.” It supports Democrat candidates campaigning aggressively as moderates in areas where voters identify as independent or center-right. The organization’s “Win the Middle Campaign” claims it wants to win majorities with leaders that represent the middle to reduce polarization and support well-governance. It looks towards having the Democratic Party compete all throughout the United States, including places the party would consider “safe Republican seats.” The political action committee has used direct action projects in several swing states to promote the election of Centralist-Democratic representatives.
Centrist decision-making by representatives could create party reforms and encourage political diversity. WelcomePAC explains that American voters’ reject political extremism in the two-party system. This is exemplified by how voters have responded to the Democratic Party’s polarization. It's important for the government to focus on the political identity of the United States. The partisanship in American politics does not represent nor support voters.
Supporting moderate views would be beneficial for the well-being of the United States political atmosphere. However, it doesn’t resolve the issue causing the extremism experienced in the government and American politics. 25% of Americans say neither party represents the interests of people like them even somewhat well, while only 9% say both parties represent the interests of people like them well.
The Republican and Democratic Party continuously fight over this group of voters. Independent and leaning voters make up approximately a third of the voting population. By appealing to the middle through modernism and centralistic campaigning and communication, WelcomePAC sees an opportunity for the Democratic Party to win votes.
This focus for establishing the Democratic Party’s power raises concern for the genuineness of developing less polarized values in the government. Does WelcomePAC really want to support the needs and wants of Americans? Or is this initiative a strategic plan for the Democratic party to obtain and control power once again?
