Viewpoint: What’s left of the Democratic Party?
David Daniels
People are asking what’s left for Democrats following the election. I can answer that question. Democrats still have self-dignity.
Democrats remain the major political party able to distinguish truth from lies, respect checks and balances, separation of powers, and limits to executive authority and ambition. I still have pride in associating with the party willing to address climate change, support collective bargaining rights, struggle over the genocide of innocent Palestinians, support Ukrainian independence, talk about racism, and protect reproductive health, gay and lesbian folk, and civil rights.
Trump orchestrated numerous conspiracies to overturn the 2020 election and instigate violent insurrection. He stole a trove of top-secret documents and obstructed the investigation into this theft. He unleashed a barrage of lies that any intelligent person would take offense at, such as immigrants eating people’s pets. Democrats (and true Republicans) can take pride in calling out these crimes and challenging these false narratives.
I hold Kamala Harris and Joe Biden blameless in the election outcome. They are both relatively respectable people. I did not vote for either during the 2020 primary, as I preferred other voices within the party. But compared to the vulgarity of right-wing politics, Harris and Biden stand as true patriots.
Trump won the election, but not through any fault of Democrats. Trump voters made a moral choice to ignore a felony conviction, two impeachments, violent insurrection, tax fraud, adultery, multiple sexual assaults, threats of violence, and innumerable instances of conspiracy, vulgarity, and dementia. The Trump faction splintered off from true Republicans like Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney, distinguishing themselves as a party without shame or moral compass.
Before the deep polarization and disintegration of American society, there existed something called the “Fairness Doctrine” that required media companies provide access to opposing viewpoints. But the Fairness Doctrine, along with restrictions against monopolizing media markets, was abolished by republicans.
As a result, right-wing media like Fox News spin outlandish conspiracies, newspapers are throttled by billionaire owners, and social media influencers, with help from foreign actors, promote disinformation.
Having waged campaigns of divisiveness and hatred, Republicans now request unity, as do centrist Democrats fearing Trump’s vengeance. But authentic Democrats have no intention of unifying behind fascism. Quite the opposite.
We will continue to hold Truth to Power and continue to challenge the lies and abuses of authoritarian malfeasance. Democrats shall continue to be the party for expanding access to health care, improving public education, protecting the elderly, and helping struggling families. This party isn’t over.