Appealing to the Mainstream

Bill Clinton won 72 percent of the Hispanic vote in 1996; Kerry got 53 percent. Clinton not only won female voters overall, he also won white women (48 percent to Bob Dole's 43), married women (also 48 percent to 43) and moms (53 percent to 38). Unlike the unreachable evangelicals, these voters are not far removed from the values of the mainstream of the Democratic Party. They voted Democratic on the basis of balanced budgets, a fair immigration policy, expanded educational opportunities and greater protections for their kids from the dangers of tobacco and other marketing.

This perfectly highlights the problem we face. Our party espouses equal rights, education and protection against corporate abuses. Yet, we can't sell our message to those that agree with us. Fundamentally, the public thinks of these issues as "conservative" issues yet the Republican party gets their vote. That is our fault.

The country is begging for leadership and our party is failing our nation.