While I sipped my coffee during my Sunday ritual - a big fat cup of coffee with two eggs over-easy, four pieces of bacon, and two pieces of white toast - I learned that the Democratic Party actually compiled a party platform. Even more, the so-called “platform’s” release party is scheduled for the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO – Aug. 25-28, 2008.
When I began to read Michael Kinsley’s opinion article titled, “Learning to Read Democrat,” in the Sunday edition of the New York Times, I got a little excited. I thought to myself, “The Dems finally got their act together and finally came out with a strong platform that people could actually understand”? You mean to tell me the Dems finally realized that hardly anyone understands who they are and what they stand for? You mean to tell me that they’re finally going to define who they are for themselves and not let the GOP do it for them?
Guess again. The “Decoder Ring” box printed above the article should’ve given me a clue.
Instead of learning from their mistakes, the Democratic Party decided to sit on the fence and take both sides of any issue, like immigration, health care, education, without actually taking a position. Better yet, by sitting on the fence, the Democratic Party simply echoed what’s already been said instead of creating concrete solutions. (Awwh, the ole Democratic Party, how much they love to keep people in the dark.)
The biggest beef I have with their new platform is their so-called “position” on immigration. Apparently, the Democratic big-wigs want “tough, practical, and humane immigration reform.” I’m not sure what this means. It looks like I need to be part of the “in” crowd, or own that decoder ring to actually understand what they’re saying.
Are they talking to immigrant rights folks or protectionists, like an anti-immigrant rights group, called the Minutemen, with direct ties to white supremacists. Why else would they wave confederate flags?
Right now the Democratic Party reminds me of the, “Why can’t we all just get along,” kid. But guess what, the world doesn’t work that way. You have to choose a side to get anything done; you can’t just sit in the middle. If you like to ride the fence, you must believe in some sort of utopia. You -being Democratic fence-riders – must believe it’s actually possible to stop people from fighting each other – that it’s possible to end all wars forever.
And yes, I know the majority of Americans say they’re moderate. I know the majority of Americans don’t like to hear political extremist views, but Americans also don’t like fence riders without a backbone. And making a decision doesn’t mean you’re an ideological extremist.
People don’t want to hear Democrats and Republicans bickering over some policy or law; they just want you to solve the problem. Which means, the majority of Americans want you to make a concrete decision with a create solution. They want you to get off the fence and stand for what you say you believe in.
Remember, when Abraham Lincoln spoke out against slavery, not everyone agreed with him. In fact, his position against slavery, (along with many other reasons) angered southern states so much that they pulled out from the union to create their own nation – the Confederate States of America. But Lincoln, along with many women and men who fought to preserve what it means to be American for decades – stood high and tall to protect America’s future. And when Lyndon B. Johnson decided to sign the 1964 Civil Rights Act, he knew he’d lost the south, and he was right. Large numbers of southern voters switched to the Republican Party. Since, the Democrat Party has only won 2 out of 8 presidential elections.
Democrats, just like Lincoln and Johnson stood up for what they knew was right (even though Lincoln was a Republican, he was a courageous man), be confident and stand for what you believe in.
We’re all waiting…