This decision by the DNC to suppress the publication regarding its internal post-election analysis concerning the last presidential race is stunning however not surprising. Averse to frank assessments, the Democrats' governing body behaves closer to a PR firm rather than a political organization focused on cultivating grassroots capacities capable of prevailing at the polls.
An Environment of Conformity
Unwilling to depart from the prevailing attitude of conformity, the committee has stayed within the influence of the previous administration all through this past year. Releasing the findings could have demonstrated whether party leaders are interested to foster open debate regarding the missteps that paved the way for the former president to win re-election. Instead, the DNC is proceeding under the pretense that there is little to understand following the tragic debacle from the last cycle.
"Here’s our North Star: is this good for winning elections? If not, it becomes a sideline issue from the core mission," a rationale that has been offered to justify concealing the report.
Critical Problems an Analysis Might Have Explored
An autopsy report of substance would confront certain uncomfortable matters. Among them are:
- Voter Disengagement: The loss of a significant portion of the electorate who supported the Democratic ticket during the previous election became a critical factor in the narrowly decided recent race.
- A Insistence to Run: The unwavering decision of a party leader to stay in the race, coupled with an extremely delayed exit, is viewed as robbing Democratic voters the chance for a genuine choice.
- Losing Touch With the Working-Class Base: During a time of economic anxiety, the electoral effort reportedly accommodating powerful financial backers without successfully attempting to challenge the effects of big business.
- A Foreign Policy Impact: The refusal to reconsider an approach on a ongoing war reportedly led to losing significant blocs, notably among youth voters, Arab-Americans, Muslim voters.
- A Decline in Young Voter Support: Extensive evidence demonstrates a huge drop-off in votes for the candidate among voters aged 18-29.
A Record of Evasion
The decision to withhold fits a longstanding habit of evading uncomfortable facts. It recalls an episode in which nearly all Democratic officeholder in Congress supported an incumbent's decision for running for re-election right up until a catastrophic public debate performance led to a change.
Concurrently, a significant majority of Democratic voters were repeatedly informing pollsters that they opposed the incumbent to seek re-election.
Financial Questions
A thorough report might also investigate questions about campaign spending, including the amounts flowed to party strategists as well as ad buyers over the course of a campaign that managed to spend a staggering war chest in a short period.
The Underlying Implication
Ultimately, the secrecy of the official autopsy points to a submission toward the established hierarchy that oversaw an unsuccessful national race. The message to ordinary supporters – which includes millions of loyal volunteers – appears to be that they do not be trusted to know what the leadership claim to have learned based on an analysis drawing from feedback from all states.
A political entity unable to critically review where it went wrong finds it difficult to break free from the cycle which was so beneficial to the rival party.
