Newt Gingrich Got One Thing Right - Although His Content Was All Wrong

Back from vacation. Nothing like a tropical week away from the U.S. to recharge, reenergize, and relearn that I’m still a really bad surfer.

Being away did give me some time to noodle over why, IMHO, even with all the bad things Republicans are doing and supporting, Dems are still losing the greater messaging battle. Why - even if we make great gains in the next election cycle - it will be primarily because Trump and gang are evil and not because Dems have re-established themselves within most voters Circle of Trust.

In between trying not to kill myself on a longboard and eating the most delicious fruit and fresh fish tacos, I had a thought. Dangerous, I know.

First, let me say this post is about strategy, not tactics. Tactically, every Dem should vote against anything that is not a Dem priority or acceptable to them morally and ethically. Against every Trump nominee that needs to be confirmed. Against any bill that supports Republican priorities. Also, as I’ve previously mentioned, use humor, ridicule and derision to respond to Trump and his cronies. And as much as possible, play on our home field when it comes to issues.

On to strategy.

It’s easy to forget - and most people don’t even know (because, ignorance of history) - that Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America enabled the Republican party to regain control of Congress in 1994 for the first time in over 40 years. It was simple to understand but also contained enough detail to catch people’s attention. It actually had a few good ideas and many really bad ones. the key is - IT WORKED!

To political junkies and insiders, the Contract With America might have seemed… cheesy. But we need to remember that a HUGE portion of the voting population just does not pay regular attention to politics. Bluntly, most of them are barely informed at best and ignorant at worst. Highlighting a seemingly ”bold” initiative like the Contract raised not just the profile of the policies the Republicans wanted to enact, it raised the profile of the entire party in a way that resonated - the pierced the Circle of Trust.

We need to do that.

This made me think that we need an even bolder initiative in that vein. That there is opportunity in the current disorder and distrust in our society. Stanford economist Paul Romer in 2004 said “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” which was echoed by Rahm Emmanuel (credit where credit is due) who said in 2008 that “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that [is] it's an opportunity to do things that you think you could not before.” That we need to lead by telling the public that our country has changed considerably since its founding 250 years ago. That we all need to understand now is the time to update and re-invent the American democratic experiment. 

This new initiative should be something that, like the Contract with America, is easy to understand, written in plain straight-forward language, recognizes that “government” is not working for most people (both in perception and actuality), and opens the door for Democrats to reenter voters’ Circle of Trust.

And that took me way back to FDR and his Second Bill of Rights, which he proposed in 1944. It was focused mainly on economics, and included the following:

• Employment (right to work)

• An adequate income for food, shelter, and recreation

• Farmers' rights to a fair income

• Freedom from unfair competition and monopolies

• Decent housing

• Adequate medical care

• Social security

• Education

Of course, these ideas will need to be updated. As I mentioned above, it should begin with an unambiguously clear statement that Democrats recognize that government is not working for most people, but the answer is not the rampant corruption and forceful government intrusion into people’s lives championed by Republicans and Trump.

It should include a strong anti-corruption component and a strong program for reducing inequality and the influence of corporations and billionaires in American society.

It should also include a strong immigration component that reflects the need for secure/controlled borders while also emphasizing the need for higher legal immigration limits AND consequences for corporate/C-Sute lawbreakers who knowingly hire undocumented workers to perform what is basically slave labor.

And, yes, to borrow from Gingrich’s Contract with America, it should include congressional reforms (a few possible examples: ban on stock trading, removal of congressional pensions, ensuring all laws that pertain to “regular folks” also pertain to congress, maybe even public financing of campaigns to remove big/dark money from politics) to show the American people that Dems “get it”.

Bernie Sanders even had his own 21st Century Bill of Rights during his Presidential campaign in 2020. Way to go Bernie!

Smarter minds than mine can figure out what to include. But one thing is certain - this needs to be done NOW.

Risky? Of course. Nothing is gained by playing it “safe”. In fact, I’d argue that Schumer, Jeffries and gang have lost the script (if they ever even had it). Now is not the time for moderation:

Now is a time - maybe THE time - for bold initiatives that are not based on poll-driven “political pandering”. Now is the time to lead with clear and easily understandable initiatives, ideas and reforms that recognize the tipping point at which our nation is currently teetering.

Democrats need to let people know - in words and deeds - that they “get it”. So simple to say and yet, for some reason, so hard for our current elected leaders to acknowledge.