The move from the DNC to suppress the public viewing regarding its own autopsy report on the last presidential race is remarkable yet to be expected. Resistant to frank assessments, the DNC operates more like a communications shop rather than a political organization committed to building local power for winning elections.
A Climate That Avoids Dissent
Reluctant to break with the prevailing attitude demanding unity, the DNC has stayed within that legacy throughout this past year. Releasing an official autopsy would have indicated that party leaders are interested to promote public discourse about the strategic failures that enabled the former president to become president again. Instead, the committee is acting as if there is little to understand following the stunning loss from the last cycle.
"Here’s our North Star: does this help us win? Should the answer be negative, it is an unnecessary diversion from the core mission," a rationale which was presented to justify concealing the report.
Key Issues an Analysis Would Have Explored
A genuine analysis of substance would not dodge a series of difficult topics. Among them are:
- Voter Alienation: The loss among millions of voters who supported the Democratic ticket during the previous election was decisive in the close recent race.
- The Insistence to Seek Re-election: The unwavering choice of a party leader to run again, coupled with a last-minute exit, is viewed as denying the party's base of a competitive nomination process.
- Losing Touch With Everyday Americans: While facing economic anxiety, the campaign is criticized for bowing to corporate donors' interests without successfully attempting to confront the role of big business.
- A Gaza Effect: An unwillingness to reconsider an approach concerning a major international conflict allegedly caused alienating many voters, especially among youth voters, Arab-Americans, Muslim voters.
- A Decline in Youth Backing: Research indicates a major decrease in Democratic support from the youth electorate.
A Record Shunning Scrutiny
The decision to withhold fits a pattern of sidestepping uncomfortable facts. It recalls an episode in which nearly all Democratic officeholder in Congress supported an incumbent's decision for running for re-election right up until a catastrophic public debate performance compelled an exit.
Concurrently, large majorities of Democratic voters were continually telling pollsters that they opposed that candidate to run again.
Financial Issues
A thorough autopsy might also probe questions regarding financial allocations, such as how much money were directed to party strategists and media firms over the course of an electoral effort which expended a colossal war chest over a few months.
A Larger Implication
At its core, the blockage surrounding this report highlights an allegiance to the established hierarchy that oversaw an unsuccessful presidential campaign. The message to ordinary supporters – including millions of dedicated activists – is that they do not be trusted to see the lessons the insiders say they discovered from hundreds of interviews based on feedback from all states.
A party unwilling to critically review its own failings finds it difficult to break free from the pattern which was so beneficial to their opponents.
