Here’s the political money question.
As a national party, how can the Democrats win upcoming elections and sweep the Republicans out of office?
This debate has raged here and elsewhere through countless diaries, articles, symposiums, C-Span discussions and blabber head cable news gab-a-thons. The conclusions?
- “Message. We need a strong, national defense message.”
- “Democratic economic values.”
- “Progressive social agenda.”
- “Fight dirty and don’t let them frame the argument.”
I’ve heard and read them all. I’m sure as a dkos denizen, you have as well. All valid points, these, but an effective campaign theme is short and to the point…one sentence…better yet, one phrase…best of all, one word. An effective campaign theme has the potential to slam everyone in this country right in the gut. It hits hard, logically and emotionally.
Recently, that theme has screamed out at us from all fronts, and, I believe, it is THE winner…and it’s the theme Democrats can run on and win with on the local, state and national level.
May I have the envelope, please? The winner is:
It’s the CORRUPTION, Stupid.
To quote Merriam-Webster’s on-line dictionary:
CORRUPTION
Pronunciation: k&-‘r&p-sh&n
Function: noun
1 a : impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle : DEPRAVITY b : DECAY, DECOMPOSITION c : inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (as bribery) d : a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct
2 archaic : an agency or influence that corrupts
3 chiefly dialect : PUS
Sounds to me like a solid definition of today’s Republican Party. Everywhere that there exists a Republican majority, it seems there also exists Republican Corruption…Washington, Ohio, Florida, Texas, California…and it’s on the local level, as well. Just this morning, Jeff Seeman points out a great case in the Stark County Auditor’s office. It’s how this latest version of the Republican Party governs.
If you want to see it at work, look at the details of the Energy Bill…or Texas redistricting legislation…or any EPA report…or the Iraqi War no-bid contract process…or the smearing of Paul O’Neill, Richard Clarke, Joe Wilson, Valerie Plame…or the SOTU’s 16 words…or the paid journalists to push propaganda….or…or…or….
All of it screams CORRUPTION. When Republican controlled government is this corrupt, the Democrats lose. If the label of corruption sticks at election time, the Democrats will win.
