What the Democrats need to do at their Convention

What the Democrats need to do at their Convention
by Carol Swain, Professor of Law and Political Science, Vanderbilt University

August 22, 2008

If they hope to win the White House in November and retain control of the Congress, the Democrats must emerge from their convention with a party platform that adheres to traditional values while addressing the concerns and worries of Wal-Mart shoppers who fret about the rising costs of flour, milk, and sugar. Obama’s slippage in the polls and inability to break away from Senator McCain suggest that the Democratic Party faces gargantuan problems in the days and weeks ahead. Many of its problems will not be resolved by a well orchestrated convention. Democrats must emerge from their convention with a ticket that unites their party and answers unspoken questions about whether Senator Obama is truly qualified to serve in the highest office in the land. By all accounts Obama’s record is thin. On this issue, Senator Obama’s choice of a running mate matter more for him, an African American, than it would for a white candidate with similar credentials. Despite much progress in America, polls still show that race matters. To allay fears, if anything, a black candidate needs to be over-qualified for the job.

Obama has wisely addressed his inexperience by choosing a running mate that inspires a measure of confidence. By choosing a middle-aged white male with more creditable credentials, he has purchased the cover he needs to aggressively seek the support of disaffected Republicans, Independents, and Reagan Democrats who question his readiness for the job.

Democrats must convince evangelical Christians that God is pro-choice on abortion and gay marriage. This will be a harder sell for Bible-believing Christians who have rejected the liberal theocratic notion that God’s word changes to meet the needs of a more enlightened society. The Republicans will portray Obama and the Democrats as light-weights on biblical knowledge and practice.

Democrats must avoid high profile negative incidents and confrontations at the convention that might be captured on camera and played endlessly on cable television. This will require that party leaders keep a tight rein on protesters. It would not serve the party’s interests well if the headlines are dominated by negative images that reinforce the worst stereotypes about groups of people that rest somewhat uneasily under the broad tent of its inclusive umbrella.

This is a task made more difficult by Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean’s recent slip of the tongue in which he referred to the Republicans as the “white party” while making the argument that his party is the best one for minorities. Dean’s comment came in the midst of national headlines publicizing Census projections that white Americans are headed for minority status much sooner than the Bureau had originally projected. Instead of their minority status occurring around the year 2050, it was now expected to happen almost a decade sooner.

What Democrats need is an orderly convention, a strong Populist Party platform and message, and a credible ticket. A successful Democratic convention will go along way towards helping the Party regain some of the loss momentum that now surrounds the historic candidacy of Senator Barack Obama.