We Dems Think Too Much

It’s true. Not that thinking is a bad thing in and of itself. Being seen as smart is what we all hope for. But in politics, being too smart can actually work against you. The last few presidential elections, I contend, drive this point home for those of us on the Democratic side of the isle.

 

Just try the oft repeated admonition by some Democrats to blue collar voters, “How can they vote against their own self interests?” Intellectual logic to be sure. But this one question reveals an amazing lack of understanding of basic human behavior, regional culture and/or closely held religious and community values. And amazingly enough, very smart Democrats continue to be totally perplexed by the electoral answer that comes back again and again, election after election.

 

Just today I had lunch with two very thoughtful Democratic Party activists. There is little doubt they have all the “facts” right when it comes to predicting how the caucuses will turn out but their conclusions were totally wrong. For example, they honestly believe that Senators Edwards or Obama have a chance of winning the Democratic nomination. You probably do to. But here’s the thing. Money always determines the result in our modern elective process. And more specifically for Democrats, Washington, D.C. money. Bet on it every time.

On the Republican side, bet on their core triad values of religion, capitalism, and national security. And then throw in the money. You’ll pick their candidate every time. My bet is Governor Mitt Romney. Go ahead, test my logic.

 

See here’s the thing. Our Party has lost its blue collar/middle class base to the point where we’ve lost the street smarts of past generations of great Democratic leaders. Leaders like Speaker Tip O’Neil, Congresswoman Pat Schroeder even Governor Pat Brown don’t exist in leadership roles any more. For the last 20 years, rich politicos who chase television coverage rather than deliberative discussion have successfully gotten our attention and sadly our votes.

 

My father-in-law astutely asked one night while watching Senator Barbara Boxer on the nightly news, “How much time does it take for her to get to that studio, do the interview and then back to her office and how is it that she does this almost every day?” It reminded me of a staff comment I heard years before while working on the Hill. The accepted view of then House Member Boxer was “She never met a camera she didn’t love.”

 

What’s Senator Boxer being on TV all the time have to do with us thinking too much? Everything. We get sucked into her rhetoric and never consider the practical truths. People who depend on political leadership for food, education, and jobs, can’t afford to over think. They live in the real world.

 

So fellow Democrats, don’t just rely on being smart. Befriend a hard working person who doesn’t drive a Beemer or live in a rich suburb and ask questions. Then really listen withholding judgment. You might just learn a thing or two. For that matter, me too.