National Democrats Have Their Work Cut Out for Them
Stan Greenberg and James Carville have released their latest Democracy Corps report. Stan is doing everything he can to give the Democratic Party our version of the “Contract with America” that helped the Newt Gingrich-led Republicans take the Congress 11 years ago. But, as Stan points out, just because the Republicans are sliding doesn’t mean the Democrats are gaining.
Right now, Democrats are not yet the answer for the growing majority seeking change. Democrats have moved into a very strong 6-point lead in the congressional vote, but that is being produced by the Republican slide, not Democratic gains. Right now, the Democrats have hit a ceiling at 48 percent; the party’s image has not improved through the whole course of the Republican slide. Indeed, both national parties are at a half-century low point in public esteem.
Stan goes on to frame the theme and the issues by which Democrats can actually start making converts. He places a high emphasis on a policy proposal that has long been a favorite of “the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party”, namely cancelling any new tax cuts on for those earning over $200,000. So far, even the DLC agrees.
