Yesterday, with the news that the Democratic leadership had agreed to send an Iraq Supplemental bill with no timelines to the president, views among the netroots were despondent, at best. Not only does it seem that the Democratic leadership is caving to an unpopular president, on an unpopular issue, but it seems that netroots "favorites" like Jim Webb and Jon Tester have caved to Republican talking points on "supporting the troops."
While the majority of netroots progressives remain committed to the cause, many seem to have come to the conclusion that it’s a good time to take a break from politics, or to get out entirely. Some have decided that there’s no hope, ever, for changing the Democratic Party.
Perhaps, then, this is as good a time as any to remember what the late Senator Paul Wellstone might have done in this situation.
To start, I’d like to say that, frankly, it’s understandable for people to be upset about what has just happened on Iraq. I’m upset myself. Neither I, nor anyone else, should expect blind loyalty to a political party, in everything that they do. Such an attitude is dangerous for a country, and, in many ways, is responsible for the mess that we’re in today. It is understandable to take some time to lick our wounds. And, it is especially understandable for us to make our displeasure known to elected Democrats.
That said, in politics, setbacks are inevitable. Even when controlling congress, we will not see victories every day. The Democratic grassroots have been lingering near death for a long time. The DLC has had disproportionate influence in the party for a long time. The timidity of the past cannot be overcome in a day, or a week, or a year. It will be a long-term effort.
Yet, on Wednesday, as I sat back and read many of the comments and diaries on DailyKos, I began to wonder about how many progressives, deep down, really understand that fact. It seems as though, with many of us, the second we suffer a setback – be it in an election, or on an issue – we simply decide to go home, hide under our bed, and never come out again.
The truth of the matter is that giving up is a poor way to get results. If conservatives had been willing to be cowed into going home and giving up after their first defeat, there would have been no right-wing take over of the Republican Party, no Reagan Revolution, no GOP takeover of Congress. The Republican Party did not start out under the control of the right wing. Rather, the right wing had to slowly take control, over time, by running people for party positions, grooming the right candidates, and making sure that conservative activists obtained a growing, and increasingly influential, voice within their party. This takeover did not happen without bumps. But, instead of crying and going home after having their nose bloodied – even by the Republican leadership – movement conservatives just got angrier, and even more committed to the task at hand.
At times like this, I begin to wonder whether that’s the real difference between progressives and conservatives. Perhaps the truth is that, with conservatives, defeat just makes them angry, and willing to walk through hell itself to change things. Progressives, meanwhile, have the exact opposite reaction – the most counterproductive reaction you can possibly have when trying to change a party, or a nation. They just give up.
From an Open Thread on DailyKos, yesterday:
I have to admit that this was the last straw for me. I will not support ANY candidates for ANY office for a while, and may just try and ignore politics all together.
I realize I'm painting with a broad brush, but damn it I spent some time and money last year to help get some people into office, and the party just proved to me they aren't worth supporting.
Do I really need to say why this is wrong? Do I really need to say why this isn’t going to change things? In politics, you’re going to face defeat. That doesn’t mean you stop supporting candidates. It doesn’t mean that you give up. It means you get mad. And, it means that you harness that anger by working harder. If you’re someone who has never voted, it means that it’s time to start. If your political involvement has only been voting, it means it’s time to work for candidates. If you’re someone who works for candidates, it means it’s time to consider running for a position within your local party. If you’re someone who holds a position within your local party, it means that it’s time to consider running for elected political office yourself.
The only way to avoid capitulation such as this in the future is to work harder to make progressives a true political force in the Democratic Party. But, that’s not going to happen overnight. And, it’s not going to happen by "giving up."
The late Senator Wellstone was someone who understood that real change can only happen with concentrated effort, over time. Senator Wellstone was not someone who would have "given up" after this most recent setback. Yet, even while most netroots progressives claim Senator Wellstone as a "hero," let’s look at how his statements contrast with some of the netroots statements that we’ve seen recently:
Netroots
Who Cares?
If they don't do the bidding of the people who elect them? (on a diary about recruiting Dems to run against Republican Senators without challengers)
The reason people are contemplating abandoning Democratic politicians is that they aren't representing Democratic values.
It's a waste of time.
You can't change their minds without huge piles of cash. (on why we shouldn’t write our elected officials about the Iraq Supplimental bill)
This is what we get for six long years of hard work. I've had enough.
I fucking give up. I'm sick of dickless Democrats.
Paul Wellstone
"The future will not belong to those who sit on the sidelines. The future will not belong to cynics. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
"The only way to change is to vote. People are responsible." (Speech delivered to an undated conference on rural poverty and strategies for social change.")
"We can and must move U.S. politics forward by means of committed participation." (Letter to DFL party activists in support of his campaign for Democratic National Committee member, April 24, 1984)
"In the last analysis, politics is not predictions and politics is not observations. Politics is what we do. Politics is what we do, politics is what we create, by what we work for, by what we hope for and what we dare to imagine." (Frequently used quote)
"We can remake the world daily." (Speech delivered to conference on rural poverty and strategies for social change; undated.)
I write this not to attack the entire netroots community, as I realize that there are, in fact, many people who have argued against giving up. I also realize that many people are just blowing off some steam. And, that, I suppose, is good.
I do write this, however, to remind those of you who are genuinely discouraged about why it is we’re involved in politics in the first place, as well as about the fact that real change will only occur by committing ourselves to a long term attempt at remaking the Democratic Party.
Senator Paul Wellstone would have spoken out against the decision that the Democratic leadership has made on Iraq. But he would not have given up. He would not have given up on ending the war. He would not have given up on politics. Nor would he have given up on the Democratic Party. Rather, he would have viewed this as an opportunity, not only to fight harder for his beliefs, but also to fight harder to remake the country, and the Democratic Party, in a better image.
Is Senator Wellstone really your hero? Do you really believe in his words?
If so, the best thing we can do to honor the memory of Senator Wellstone is to remember not only the things that he fought for, but also his energy and commitment to his cause – and try to replicate that commitment in our own lives, even when things seem to be at their darkest.
In the words of Senator Wellstone:
"I think we can do better. That is what Robert Kennedy always said. I think we can do better too. Won't you join me in the effort?"
I, too, think we can do better. I think we can do better as a nation. And, I think, with time, and focus, we can do better with the Democratic Party.
Won’t you join me in the effort?
Wellstone quotes obtained from ThinkExist.com and WellstoneAction!