We Democrats have something to be immensely proud of, not just because we won, but because we won in the right way. In addition, we won even in the places that we technically lost or may still lose. The candidacy of Beto O’Rourke showed us what can be done through honesty, hard work, a genuine love and caring for people, and a commitment to one’s principles. Although Beto lost his race for the U.S. Senate, his incredible hard work and inspiration led to other wins in Texas. If Beto decided that he might like to run again for a seat in Congress in two years, do you think that he would have trouble finding volunteers?
Beto O’Rourke lost, but I do not know any Democrat who thinks of him as a loser. He is like a silver medalist at the Olympics. Sure, he came in second, but did you see what he could do—how hard people were willing to work to put his vision into play? He visited all of the 254 counties in Texas. How often do politicians do that? Furthermore, isn’t it pretty spectacular that he even came this close to winning in red Texas against an established right winger like Ted Cruz?
Beto O’Rourke inspired far more people losing than Ted Cruz did winning. That was quite an accomplishment. The character of Rocky Balboa, in the film “Rocky”, lost his big fight, but he inspired a generation of people. He inspired them because he fought so hard to better himself, because he genuinely cared about the people in his life, and because he showed great courage.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson did not win his bid for President in 1984, but he paved the way for former President Barack Obama to actually become President. Stacey Abrams may or may not win her run for Governor of Georgia, but even if she does not win, she has inspired African American women everywhere. Think about all of the racism and sexism that Ms. Abrams must have had to endure her whole life, and imagine how much that must have increased after she chose to run for office. Yet she ran anyway, and now she is staying on until the very end. Courage, thy name is woman.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not win her bid to become President, but within weeks of her loss, her candidacy inspired women into planning the Women’s March to be held a few months later. The Women’s March, which became the largest protest march ever in the history of the world, was inspired by a Democrat who ran and lost. This march helped inspire more women than ever to run for office, and it led to about 100 women going to Congress in this, our very successful year. We Democrats have figured out how to turn losing into winning, to turn lemons into lemonade, to be truly inspired not just by our successes, but by our failures.
We won because our candidates comprised a diversity like never before. We did not just have lots of amazingly talented candidates who were women. This year we had gay, bisexual, Native American, transgender, African American, Hispanic, and Muslim candidates. What was also amazing to me was whenever these candidates encountered pushback, they simply ignored it. It was as if these remarkable people had seen successful African American, Latino, and women candidates run and win in the Democratic party before, and that very fact, along with their incredible courage, was enough to get them to begin the fight and to fight on like champions. They let no one get in their way, and they let no one tell them that they could not succeed. They were all Rocky Balboa’s, every single one of them, win or lose.
This year, our candidates were so courageous and so diverse, that by the time of the election, I saw many established Democrats smiling and proudly boasting of our Party’s diversity. Our Party still has so much to do, but think about how far we have come. The Democratic Party actually used to be the party supporting slavery back in the 1800’s. Now, for perhaps the largest share of our Party ever, we cannot get more diverse fast enough. Progress never happens fast enough, but it does happen, and this year we took a mighty step forward.
When Muslim candidates run, that inspires Muslims across the country, especially those who might have otherwise voted another way, to give us a second look. The same is true for all of the diverse people who run. While our candidates have been doing everything to grow our big tent in every direction, the other party has been doing everything to shrink their tent. More and more, they are becoming the party of the old straight White Anglo Saxon Protestant man. The problem is, those people are comprising a smaller and smaller percentage of America, which is why they are so anxious to deport or keep out anyone who is not like them. Instead of embracing diversity, they are literally trying to wall it out. Does anyone seriously think that that is a winning long-term strategy?
This year, we did not just have amazing candidates. The sheer amount of work from the people who supported these candidates was staggering. Democrats were everywhere—knocking on doors, making phone calls, emptying their wallets, and sending out letters. This year, for the first time ever, I got both a handwritten letter and a handwritten postcard reminding me to vote. In addition, wow, did the young people turn out like they said they would. As the other Party’s members, who are dedicated to a horrible vision of the past, are slowly shuffling off their mortal coils, our Party had a draft year of young people that was one for the ages—and these young people are superbly Progressive.
This year, we Democrats flipped more House seats from Republicans than we have in any midterm since the 1970s, and we did it fighting in a bunch of states that were gerrymandered terribly against us, and we did it fighting against a Party comprised of members who act like they are part of a cult. This cult worships their leader, believes he can do no wrong, believes anything he says, and will do almost anything for him. To call what we did “amazing” is possibly an understatement.
What About The Issues That We Supported?
Now, If one looks at what our winning issues were this year, one realizes they were all about helping everyone. We want health care to be available for everyone. We want to protect people with pre-existing conditions because we want health care to be affordable for everyone. We want a decent wage for everyone. We want jobs for everyone. We want to clean up corruption because corruption helps a few at the expense of everyone else. In other words, a corrupt system is not fair to everyone.
Written between the lines of everything that we fight for is this basic understanding: we want life to be good for everyone—including the rich, the poor, African Americans, Asians, Latinos, Native Americans, White people, men, women, and LGBTQ people.
What About The Other Guys?
What about the other guys? How do the leaders and members of the Republican Party feel about various groups of people? I have been paying attention quite carefully to Republican President Donald Trump, the Republicans Party leaders, and their Republican followers for the past few years, and I think I have down what they believe about each group of people, based on their own words and actions. Warning: their ideas are stunningly horrific.
- African Americans: These are people who originated from s—thole countries. We should limit immigration from those countries. Also, we should have no Voting Rights Act protection for these people. Let us also see how many we can deny voting rights.
- Asians: Not White People, so not as good
- Latinos: Some of them will rape your women or join MS-13 and murder you. We should prevent as many of them from entering the country as possible. Also, let's issue a Presidential Executive Order so that Latinos born in this country are not automatically citizens. Make sure they have as few polling places as possible.
- Native Americans: Also not White People, so not as good. Let us see how many of them we can deny voting rights. It is OK to make Pocahontas jokes when they are around.
- White People: They are the best! We need more of these people to come to our country. Do what you can to help these people vote. Make sure that we have plenty of polling places in the areas where White Republicans live.
- Muslims: We need to block some of the countries that these people come from to prevent terrorism.
- Middle Easterners: Lots of terrorists come from their part of the world. We should definitely limit immigration from some of their countries—excluding Saudi Arabia. Fearless Leader makes lots of money from that country.
- LGBTQ People: We should have no legal protection for these people. Make sure to say that anyone has the right to refuse service to these people on acount of “religious beliefs”. Conversion Therapy is a good way to cure these people.
- Rich People: They are the best! Let’s give these guys lots of permanent tax cuts.
- Middle Class People: Let's promise them big tax cuts, then give them tiny, temporary tax cuts. Oh, and let's take away their state tax deductions so that they might actually end up paying more.
- Poor People: These people would not be poor if they were not so lazy. Let us cut as many programs as possible that benefit these people. Oh, and let’s see about getting rid of that evil Minimum Wage law.
When one lays their ideas out in a list like this, it becomes clear that Republicans really do not care equally about everyone. As it turns out, members of the Republican Party may sometimes say that they care about everyone, but their actions and words most of the time say something else.
Conclusion
This year, by supporting our diverse candidates, we, the members of the Democratic Party, have shaped one unmistakable message: we will accept how you were born, no matter who you are. As Martin Luther King Jr. might have put it: we only care about the content of your character, not the color of your skin, where you were born, where you are from, your religion, your sexual orientation, or your sexual identity. We will love you, and take care of you, and work hard for you, and fight for you, no matter how you were born.
We will fight for the benefit of everyone. This is the message of the Democratic Party. This is who we are, and this is why we won, and I could not be prouder of the Democratic Party, and all of you.
Namaste.