In an era where Democrats are perceived to be the party of the "coastal elite," it is vital that we have an introspective look as to why many believe that. We really have to take a look in the mirror and ask ourselves "How the hell did we get here?"
What was once the umbrella party of the working-class — the small business owner, the single mom, the factory worker — has been on the power decline, and, if we want to change the tides, we have to make some serious changes. We need to get back to our roots...our grassroots.
To help with this, I have compiled some of my favorite quotes that I firmly believe are the basis of our party.
1. "All Politics is Local," Tip O'Neill
This quote is, first and foremost, how to win elections. O'Neil was one of the most brilliant political minds in the Democratic Party, so ignoring his words would be the worst possible action for any Democrat seeking to win. He was strongly for FDR's New Deal policies and was seen as a champion for the working American — so, really, he was the ideal Democrat. O'Neil was born in 1912, so he had lived through some of the best and worst days of the party, meaning he knew exactly what was needed to win.
2. "It's the Economy, Stupid," James Carville
This has always been my favorite quote because, while simple, it is entirely true. In fact, many contribute Bill Clinton's presidential win to popularizing the saying. For the average American, what really matters is the wellbeing of their family. They want to be sure their family is educated, healthy, and has food on the table. A stable economy is essential for all of these things, and, again these represent ideals in the Democratic Party; strong public education, universal healthcare, and a wage high enough to live on.
3. "Every election is determined by the people who show up," Larry J. Sabato
Larry J. Sabato is the creator of Sabato's Crystal Ball, a newsletter that makes electoral predictions and makes political analyses. This quote is so important because it reaffirms that, at the end of the day, elections are won by voter turnout. It does not matter how much money you spend or how many ads you put out if you aren't encouraging people to get out and vote. At the core of every election is the voter, and they should be the focus of any campaign.
4. "We need to remake the Democratic party. We need to remake America," Al Gore
Democrats have gone from controlling congress for decades to being in a constant struggle. To expand on how to remake the party, the Huffington Post has an excellent article. It includes things like honoring our core principles of opportunity, responsibility, and community.
5. "No poll can equal the day-to-day visits of the men and women of the Democratic Party," Richard J. Daley
This is one of my favorite quotes, and I really have to take it to heart because I am guilty of being data-driven rather than people-driven. The best campaigns are where we build local grassroots communities. Think Bill Clinton where he won in some of the most rural and red states...he even won Kentucky. Think Barack Obama in the primaries where his grassroots efforts pushed him over the finish line. People will always be more important than a number in a database. While polls and statistics definitely help a campaign, we have to remember that there are real, complex, thinking people behind those numbers.
6. "The beauty of the Democratic Party is in the mix," Nancy Pelosi
Democrats are the party of diversity, and, if we want to win, there is no way we can turn our back on that. There can't be two parties controlled solely by the same group, so we have to embrace that we are the party of people who aren't all the same. Like Hillary Clinton's campaign slogan says, we are Stronger Together.
7. "Democracy isn’t a spectator sport," Barack Obama
I can't stress this enough. Voters should be the main focus, and increasing voter turnout should be our biggest priority. We have to work to make sure everyone can vote — voter id laws, felon disenfranchisement, etc., have to be our biggest opponents. Statistics show that Democrats do best under large voter turnout, and we have to ensure everyone wants to vote and can vote. We need to stress that our system doesn't work when you sit at home. Our great democracy is only has strong as our voter turnout.
8. "The basic job of any campaign is to translate grassroots energy into turnout," Jon Ossoff
Grassroots energy and turnout has to be our main focus. You cannot expect to win solely based on saying "I am not Donald Trump," when no matter how much that would sway me to vote for you. The communities we build not only have to be excited for the campaign, but has to be even more excited to get to the polls and bring their friends.
9. "Enthusiasm — real grassroots enthusiasm — trumps money, trumps endorsements, trumps everything," Eric Garcetti
I know it sounds redundant, but this has to be our main strategy. We have won special elections that we weren't expecting to win, and it's thanks to the spirit and dedication of voters. Many campaigns that are doing the best, like Beto O'Rourke and Connor Lamb, have no PAC putting money into their campaign. Beto actually out-raised Ted Cruz by small donations by people like you and me. Citizens United has really got to go, and Democrats have to lead by example if we want to really be seen as the party of the people.
10. "Our labor unions...have raised wages, shortened hours and provided supplemental benefits. Through collective bargaining...they have brought justice and democracy to the shop floor," John F. Kennedy
Democrats used to be synonymous with unions. The blue collar worker was always a Democrat, and that is how we stayed in power for so long. We can get back to that without abandoning our dedication to equality for all by making sure every person knows that the Democratic Party is the party of the working man. We are not owned by the Koch Brothers or Robert Mercer. We are the voice of every American, not just the super wealthy.