Reply #122: Interesting take. [View All]

[mattclearing]

I think the Democratic Party has the potential to be a party that is truthful and rightfully critical of the Republicans in office right now. There are quite a few Democrats who are squeamish about criticising the President and outright challenging his authority. Many of them speak out at the risk of losing their seats later this year and ensuring that the Republican Party further dominates the process. So it's understandable, if not laudable, that they mute their criticism.

And some of them genuinely support the President.

These people need to be challenged from within the Party. They are not getting it done. Paul Hackett showed that you don't have to play nice to get results. He made an outstanding showing in his congressional race that no one expected because he spoke truth forcefully and refused to be defined by Republican spin. There's a lesson in that for us all.

I believe this Party can be the vehicle for change, but if we abandon it, we ensure that it won't be, and there isn't another vehicle suited to the task at hand. Besides, we already have half the party, and most of the donors. We need to continue to encourage an aggressive stance against the Republicans and find people who aren't afraid to speak uncomfortable truths.