Now that President Trump has delivered his State of
the Union-style address, my fellow Democrats are settling in for a long
fight. Our new DNC Chairman Tom Perez is leading the charge, promising
to be a “nightmare” for the president and his fellow Republicans.
The reason is clear: Mr. Perez tastes political blood in the water. Trump’s approval rating
is at historic lows, hammered by allegations of Russian collusion, a
contentious immigration ban, and emotional Twitter outbursts.
Yet smart Democrats know that our position with the
American people is just as weak. We hold the fewest number of state
legislatures, governorships, and federal offices than at any point since
the 1920s. And it’s a trend that started well before the 2016 election.
In short, America isn’t buying what Democrats are selling.
The reasons for this are numerous, and they include efforts by Republicans to suppress voters in North Carolina and gerrymander Congressional districts in Wisconsin.
But finger pointing at GOP operatives hides a much more painful truth.
Six weeks ago, the U.S. Senate considered an amendment
that would have allowed Americans to import cheap prescription drugs
from Canada. This common sense solution would have saved families
thousands of dollars – and lives. Not surprisingly, 72 percent of voters
supported the proposal.
Yet the amendment failed, with 14 Democratic Senators rejecting it.
What could explain their vote? Cynics highlight the fact that many of these officials collect large sums of campaign cash
from pharmaceutical giants. Top collectors of drug money include
Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Michael Bennet
(D-Colo.), all of whom voted against the bill.
Fair or not, this leaves voters with a very clear
impression: Democrats are more interested in securing their reelection
than helping sick Americans.
Regrettably, this wouldn’t be the first time we’ve been accused of abandoning principles for profit.
Starting in the mid 1990s, President Clinton and other Democrats embraced free trade deals – first NAFTA and then with China – despite clear warnings about the damage both would cause manufacturing America.
As it turns out, the alarms were well placed: studies have shown that these trade deals have left many communities throughout the U.S. in poverty and deeply mired in unemployment.
Why then were we surprised when these voters turned down Secretary Clinton considering her support for not only the trade deals but also the bankers who benefitted from them?
All told, many Americans have come to view us as hypocrites. And I don’t blame them.
We are Perez’s nightmare.
Which leaves us with a critical question: how can Democrats win back these angry voters?
Contrary to Perez’s recent statements, it’s not about “communicating our affirmative message.” It’s about an apologizing for what we’ve done – or chosen not to do.
Let’s start with trade. For 20 years, my fellow
Democrats have advanced global deals that left too many behind,
particularly in rural and blue collar America. We discardeded our roots
as champions of the working class in exchange for campaign
contributions.
For that, America, we are sorry. We failed you.
While we’re at it, let’s be honest about how we’ve
tackled environmental issues. For 20 years, our important and virtuous
commitment to a healthy planet wasn’t properly balanced with the needs
of workers in places like Appalachia and the Pacific Northwest. In other words, we shut down the coal and timber industries without a plan to safeguard the communities left behind.
For that, we are sorry. Democrats let you down.
Finally, we have failed the country in the realm of national security. For the past 20 years, our repeated mistakes in Iraq, Libya, and Syria have left American families with more death and less stability. These botched conflicts have also pushed refugees – and terrorists – on a chaotic march around the globe.
For that, we are sorry. We have blood on our hands.
Yet apologies ring hollow without a remedy. We have
to repair the harm that we’ve caused in order to inspire a new
beginning. Elected leaders like Rep.
Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Indiana Mayor
Pete Buttigieg are offering intriguing paths forward while Democrats like me are outlining initiatives like “
Our American Oath.” This effort – to be launched in the coming months – promises a new covenant with the American people.
Without question, this approach of apologies and
making amends is horrifying for hyper-partisan Democrats. In some cases,
they (correctly) believe Republicans share equal blame. In other cases,
it’s simply because they hate apologizing. I fully expect this to be
their response.
And so does science.
In a book wonderfully titled, “Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me),” the authors
reveal
that our brains are hardwired to make us believe we are always right,
even if faced with overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Unfortunately,
no one escapes this basic element of human psychology.
But believing we’re perfect takes a toll. In our
personal lives, righteousness causes us to abandon or be abandoned by
the people we cherish the most – family, friends, and partners.
It’s no different in our political lives. Just ask
the voters in rural America and the Rust Belt who stayed home or voted
for Trump in 2016. Or ask the voters who have punished us by reducing
our power to the lowest levels since the 1920s.
All of which leaves the Democratic Party with an
important choice. We can apologize and make amends, or we can walk down
Perez’s path of nightmares.
If we follow Perez, rest assured that we will
continue to lose. Why? The humble majority of this country will grow
ever more exhausted, first by Trump’s fiery antics and then by our
knee-jerk partisanship.
Alternatively, we can choose to be men and women who
inspire integrity and humility. With an apology and better path forward,
we can do something unique in American history: we will show that not
only
can we win an election but that we
deserve to.
We will give America something to vote
for, not against.
Bryan Dean Wright is a former CIA ops officer and member of the
Democratic Party. He contributes on issues of politics, national
security, and the economy. Follow him on Twitter @BryanDeanWright.