By Judith Schwartz. Read more from Judith at www.raisethebar.com.
I believe the Democrats have better values than the Republican Leadership and I know they have better plans, so why does it seem like we are often at a disadvantage in the public consciousness? I would like to tell you about an amazing week where the universe gave me many gifts and my politics merged with my life. I walked away with some new insights and more hope that I can contribute to a better political outcome for my country.
A few weeks ago, I went to the first day of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. While the Blue Angels practiced overhead in anticipation of Fleet Week exhibitions; Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Elvis Costello, and Emmylou Harris sang songs calling for peace and justice. Warren Hellman, an investment banker, philanthropist, and the financial benefactor of the festival, declared there was “war in the air and peace on the ground.” (He was waving my novel, Doublethink, as he said it, which was quite a thrill even though my husband and I were the only ones who knew what book he was holding in his hand.) There was a warm sense of community among the audience, which that day probably numbered about 50,000.
The next day, I went to the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) trade show in Oakland as a member of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association. I was looking for a distributor who would work with me (as a one-title press) because it’s the only way one can realistically sell to bookstores and online entities like Powells.com. In the process, I met Averel Roberts Wilson who was exhibiting a wonderful set of provocative political calendars which can be found at Blue Funk Productions. We realized we were kindred spirits using our creative energies to express our dismay at what is happening to our country and trying to do something about it. I am delighted that she invited me to be a presence on this blog.
That night I heard Cindy Sheehan and Amy Goodman of Democracy Now speak at an event in Palo Alto sponsored by the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center. There were the anti-war, anti-administration sentiments expressed that I would have expected but I was amazed at the level of applause when Goodman talked about Democrats acting from a place of timidity instead of courage. The sentiment was that the Democratic Party leadership needs to understand that we are tired of the Republican lite approach that seems to give us the “lesser of two evils.” Even though it’s safe to say that all of us present were clear that the two parties are not the same, her frustration resonated with the crowd.
The following day, it was back to the Bluegrass Festival. With 200,000 people and music on five stages it felt less like a cohesive community, though the music was still awesome. Again the themes of peace and justice resonated through the songs. I felt very fortunate to be living in the Bay Area.
A few days later, I again drove up to SF when Averel called me about an event at her home for the Commonweal Institute. This progressive think tank was founded in 2001 by Dr. Kate Forrest and her late husband, Leonard Salle. The staff, board, and advisory board are a very impressive group and they are committed to building a progressive infrastructure, as the conservatives have done, so we are not so dependent on individual candidates being able to rally the troops. I felt totally at home and look forward to helping advance their efforts. They were generous and supportive about what I’ve been trying to accomplish and it was very encouraging.
Geoff Nunberg (who you probably know from Fresh Air) was one of the speakers and his words about the necessity of building a successful narrative for voters really hit home to me. He talked about the success of Reagan’s “Morning in America” narrative and the way people instinctively felt they understood what he meant—without requiring an in-depth understanding of the policy positions. Same thing for our current President’s “Compassionate Conservative” and “I’m a uniter not a divider” storylines. We now know they weren’t really true but with it GW created an impression that captured swing voters’ imaginations.
So the next day, when I had a chance to see Senator Evan Bayh in a small group setting at a friend’s office, I was listening carefully for Bayh’s narrative. I had met him on a previous occasion at a larger function a few months ago and he has a lot to commend him: he’s intelligent, thorough, well-informed. He projects an air of competence and calm. He’s had success in getting mid-west Republicans in his home state of Indiana to vote for him repeatedly as Governor and as Senator. Bayh is working hard on behalf of other Democrats to build his standing within the Party. His delivery style is very similar to California State Controller Steve Westly’s (Westly also came to listen to Bayh) and while the Senator was much smoother than last time, it’s good there is time to continue to hone his skills. A young man who works for Bayh’s All America PAC was very enthusiastic about the Senator’s incredible integrity.
I thought most of his answers were on the mark and his reasoning sound though I guess I hit a nerve when I asked the last question of the day. I referenced the Amy Goodman experience and the yearning I’ve heard expressed in the blogosphere for an inspiring vision that is more clearly differentiated from the Republicans. My sense is that Senator Bayh, like most of the Democratic Leadership, genuinely believes that the distinctions are clear and obvious, which they are to anyone who is reading these words. However, intention is not the same as results.
As we try to reach the independents and apolitical types who do not analyze and evaluate policy positions and who cannot discern the differences, I believe we need a more compelling narrative NOT policy shifts to the right. The narrative a given candidate uses must be in sync with his or her personality as well as the best ideals from our (small d) democratic tradition. The primary season gives us an opportunity to test, compare, and refine those narratives. My fantasy is that the Democratic hopefuls will put the country’s well-being ahead of personal ambition and refrain from viciously attacking each other but instead figure out what speaks to the public.
I believe emphasizing those ideals will inspire our base to do far more than careful, timid words that try to avoid offending anyone AND are far more likely to reach independents and disillusioned Republicans and Libertarians (a growing segment of the population.) I think the way to win back the Congress and the White House is not to descend into the nasty realms of fear and distrust but rather to appeal to our collective best selves.
I’ll close with a link to a speech by JFK that ayawisgi, a blogger on the Daily Kos referenced this week. It still resonates with power and wisdom for us today as it did when JFK gave us the narrative of shared service that called upon Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.”
Cross-posted on Liberty and Justice For All, The Democratic Daily, and the Daily Kos.
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