Our favorite Senate Wingnut, Ted Cruz, appeared on 'Fox and Friends' on January 13, announced he's "very seriously" considering a presidential run, and complained that Republicans have been nominating "mushy middle" candidates:
"Every single time we do that, whether it's Gerald Ford or Bob Dole or John McCain or Mitt Romney, the result over and over again is we lose," said Cruz, referencing Reagan's quote that Republicans need to "paint with bold colors, not pale pastels."
While it's hard to imagine a conservative candidate these days who isn't squarely in RWNJ territory, Cruz's point may be one that should be heeded ... by Democrats.
You see, I'm concerned that the Democrats will be the ones who nominate a "mushy middle" candidate. The midterm elections saw so many Democratic candidates trying desperately to appeal to both sides. They wouldn't speak strongly about what they stood for. They hoped that mudslinging and saying "I'm not as bad as my opponent" would be enough, and it wasn't. It reminds me of 2004. The only positive thing I could really say about John Kerry was, "He's not Bush." Even in the politically-oriented office I work at, they had nothing else to fire people up with. Nothing to increase turnout, nothing about what great improvements he would make, nothing but "He's not Bush". Obviously, it wasn't enough.
Most Democrats wouldn't even say they agreed with Obama, the head of their own party, despite the vast improvements to our economy since he took office. Alison Grimes famously refused to say she had voted for him, even though anyone who wouldn't have voted for her based on that probably wasn't going to vote for her anyway. Kossack PeaceLoveHarmony wrote an excellent diary about what Grimes SHOULD have said. I don't know if it would have made a difference, but her steadfast refusal was just awkward. (Of course, she has every right to not disclose who she voted for, but why would it be a scandal that a Democrat voted for a Democrat?)
In a post-election diary, bobburnett talked about the Democrats' lack of a positive message, and how those who offered a strong one were much likelier to get elected than those who didn't:
Looking forward to 2016, what happened in Colorado serves as an important lesson for Democrats. Winning Democratic candidates must have a succinct positive message.
So, to any Democrat who wants the White House (or any elected position) in 2016, I say this: Speak up. Be progressive. Give us that positive message. Don't just tell us why your opponent is bad; tell us why you're good. Tell us more than, "I'll be better than my opponent". Tell us exactly WHY. Don't shy away from connections to Obama, as so many failed candidates did this past year. Remember: he's been elected twice, and our economy is doing the best it's done in decades. Tell us you're going to create jobs, continue the improvements he made, and keep improving Obamacare. Don't try to stay "middle" enough to please everyone. You'll never be far-right enough for the conservatives, and those who are undecided will not be swayed into voting for someone milquetoast.
You can do it. Be an inspiring leader, not someone trying to stay in the middle and be unoffensive to the right. Your very existence will be offensive to them. Don't fear negative press. It's going to happen no matter what. So say what you truly believe. Say it loud, and say it proud. Stand strong, be progressive, and FIGHT.
We need you.