As wrong as the Republicans are about almost everything, they get one thing right: they know how to fight for their beliefs.
Contrary to Democrats' fears of offending the sensibilities of voters by appearing uncompromising or using too strong rhetoric, the average American actually likes a fighting spirit in a politician. It's seen as "populist" and "tough" -- the opposite of "elitist" and "weak." As long as Republicans are seen as more populist and tough while Democrats are seen as more elitist and weak, Republicans will have an inherent psychological advantage in voters' minds to compensate for the ineffectiveness and general repulsiveness of their ideology.
The emergence of two rising stars on the national political stage in recent months demonstrates that to be an "Ass-Kicking Dem" -- i.e. a bold fighter for progressive ideals -- is to be a popular and effective Dem. Freshman Rep. Alan Grayson and newly elected AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka are setting the standard for how Democrats can, and must, overcome their stereotypical "wussy" persona and style. Using unapologetically forceful, populist rhetoric to promote progressive ideas and policies, they are showing the way for Democrats to utterly destroy Republican ideology and political power for many years to come.
As a former Republican, I know what it's like to belong to a party that kicks ass. One of the first things that a member of the Red Team notices after crossing over to the Blue Team -- something that has caused me great frustration over the past several years since I've become a progressive Democrat -- is the fact that Democrats do tend to be "wusses" compared to Republicans when it comes to political rhetoric and willingness to fight hard for their beliefs, values, and policy agenda. The stereotype is actually correct! If I had a nickel for every time I've thought "why can't these Democrats show some backbone like the Republicans always do," I'd be a rich man.
Perhaps this is because Democrats generally believe in peace whereas Republicans believe in war, and this philosophical difference translates into a tendency of Democrats to refrain from no-holds-barred political fighting whereas Republicans seem to revel in it.
So we Dems are operating at a disadvantage, because our instincts are to seek peace, reconciliation, negotiation and compromise rather than to enjoy brutally crushing an opponent. We must learn how to overcome this disadvantage.
I believe the way to overcome it is to focus on passionate truth-telling. There is nothing dishonorable about simply telling the truth -- as harsh and negative as that may be -- about the ideas, values, and policy proposals of the other political party. The reason we can and should be proud of Rep. Alan Grayson for his recent bold rhetoric in the health care debate is because he fought strongly against the Republicans not with dirty tactics, but by presenting facts and statistics, revealing in an intelligent and forceful manner why the American people should embrace progressive Democratic health care reform and should reject Republicans as obstructionists who are hurting people for the sake of their political ideology.
Intelligent argumentation and forceful rhetoric are fully compatible, and Rep. Grayson proves it. Watch this short speech on the House floor for an example:
Similarly, recently elected AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka knows how to combine bold populist-sounding rhetoric with intelligent arguments for progressive values and policies. Here he is in a powerful speech, responding to criticism of Barack Obama during the presidential campaign when Obama said that a lot of working people in America are "angry":
I believe political leaders such as Rep. Alan Grayson and Richard Trumka represent the future of a newly aggressive progressive Democratic Party, a party whose prominent voices are voices of firmness, boldness, strength and passion for an America in which the government works for the people, not powerful corporate interests or failed ideologies.
The Democratic Party has a well-documented difficulty in attracting male voters. I believe this gender gap exists in large part because we are perceived as "weak" whereas Republicans are perceived as "strong" and "fighters." Men are generally attracted to politicians who come across as warriors for their cause, whatever that may be. To close the gender gap, the Democratic Party needs to elevate leaders such as Grayson and Trumka to more prominent roles as spokespersons for our message. Heck, these guys even look like football players -- giving a subtle psychological impression that they will metaphorically tackle the enemies of working people to the turf with a forceful blow. Sad as it is that physical appearance plays a role in who people take seriously as a leader, it does, and we shouldn't underestimate it. Case in point: Dennis Kucinich. Grayson and Trumka, on the other hand, inspire a feeling of confidence and strength on an instinctive, reptilian-brain level. Combined with the intellectual integrity of their arguments and the forcefulness of their rhetoric, that's powerful!
Republicans would piss their pants at the prospect of having to face an "Ass-Kicking Dem" like Grayson or Trumka in a debate, whereas they salivate at the prospect of facing the standard "Wussy Dem" who will always be polite and dignified and will refrain from "telling it like it is" even when Republicans deserve to have the stupidity, immorality and hypocrisy of their ideas and policies thrown back in their faces.
There is a reason why Republicans still are very powerful in this country despite the bankruptcy of their ideology. It's because they know how to fight and they do not hesitate to do so. Democrats need to learn this lesson. To begin transforming our party and our movement from the "wussies" to the "ass-kickers" in the public imagination, we need to look to the bold example of Alan Grayson and Richard Trumka. The reason they are becoming so popular among progressives and have elicited such strong reactions in such a short period of time on the national stage is because they know how to kick ass and they are not afraid to do it.
So let's hear it for the Ass-Kicking Dems! And let's do what we can to make sure that Grayson, Trumka, and others like them become a model for future Democratic leaders to emulate as they rise up the ranks of the party and the progressive movement. This is a sure path to victory long after the charismatic President Obama departs from the political stage, as he eventually will.
UPDATE 1: Thanks for putting my diary on the rec list. My first time there. What an honor!
UPDATE 2: Some commenters have mentioned the gender issue and pointed out that there are plenty of excellent progressive leaders who are women. That's absolutely right! Furthermore, women can come across as "fighters" too. A large part of the appeal of Hillary Clinton in the late stage of the primaries, for example, was that she successfully defined herself as the "fighter" in contrast to Obama the "cerebral" candidate. Rachel Maddow is loved by progressives because she is a fighter. So I don't think one has to be male to kick ass. My point, however, in mentioning that Grayson and Trumka look like linebackers and that this is significant was to highlight the fact that these guys have a powerful appeal to the reptilian part of the brain -- the part that doesn't think but just automatically reacts on an emotional, gut level. It can't be denied that it's easier to come across as a bona fide "ass-kicker" when you look the part. There are different advantages that non-linebacker looking men have, such as the advantage Obama has as a tall and thin man (i.e. this tends to make him look "refined" and "dignified"); and similarly there are advantages women have as candidates, as we move into an age when qualities traditionally labeled as feminine such as compassion are (hopefully!) more equally appreciated.
Since I'm doing an update, here is an another awesome Trumka speech for those who haven't seen it:
I love what he says to politicians who ask for the support of working people at election time but become wishy-washy on the priorities of working people once in office: "If you stab us in the back... don't you dare, don't you dare ask for our support next year whenever you're running." Right on!