The final day of the Democratic Leadership Council’s national conference here in Denver was a blunt reminder that ideas are crucial to political success, but they only matter where there are strong leaders to see them through.
Democrats have struggled with both sides of the equation in recent years and are trying to put their best foot forward on the eve of the 2006 congressional campaigns.
DLC leaders also auditioned for a role in the 2008 presidential primaries by casting an agenda of domestic initiatives designed to benefit America’s suffering middle class.
In the spotlight were Sens. Hillary Clinton and Evan Bayh and Govs. Bill Richardson and Tom Vilsack. They set out a program that would boost access to education and health care and give poor Americans a boost in the workforce.
“A lot of Americans can’t work any harder, borrow any more or save any less,” said Clinton, who helped craft the DLC agenda branded as the American Dream Initiative, which was unveiled Monday. “It’s time for a new direction.”
DLC Democrats tend to be pragmatic centrists, and their braintrust said the focus for 2006 was more on “persuasion than rage.”
Even so, there were plenty of jabs at the ruling party. New Mexico Gov. Richardson pointedly criticized Congress for failing “to address this issue of fuel efficiency.” Clinton accused Republicans of not taking care of America. “They’re bankrupting our country and failing to address the problems,” she said, citing rising gas prices, college and health care costs. Bayh of Indiana called Iraq “a tragic, tragic mess under this administration.”
Still, the DLC Democrats were restrained overall and stayed away from such divisive social themes as gay marriage, abortion and gun control.
Monday’s forum was the first Democratic event to feature so many potential presidential candidates. Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner was also invited but was in Europe.
“These speeches are not just perceived by a lot of people as auditions. These are auditions,” said Denver businessman Rutt Bridges. “People want to see the candidates. What they say and how they say it will help people make up their minds.”
Local officials were anxious to hear from the DLC leadership. City councilman Doug Linkhart said he found the American Dream Initiative interesting, but noted that it would be a chore to pay for domestic programs “without cutting back on the war” in Iraq, on which the party remains divided.
Indeed. The Democrats are crafting an agenda for 2006 that will require some heavy lifting in 2008.
