Democrats: New Generation or New Direction?
April 26, 2012 - by
Justin Guillory’s op-ed in the N&O – “Embrace the future, North Carolina Democrats” – struck a theme you hear a lot these days from young Democrats:
“The major upheaval in the Democratic ranks provides a unique window of opportunity for the party to turn over a new page and choose its next generation of leadership….
“Democrats need a fresh start in the midst of an unfamiliar political landscape. Today’s Democrats seem stuck in a rut. The same old politicians, with the same old ideas and the same old politics. Politically, it’s got them in a bind and they need to break out.”
Having been younger once, I agree. A party always needs new leaders and new ideas. Being older now, I have couple of questions:
First, is he talking about the candidates for Governor? Certainly, they don’t seem to excite him.
Second, is the goal just younger faces? Or an ideological shift – to the left?
There’s a different critique I hear from other Democrats – generally, older Democrats. They’re afraid the party is going to lurch left. And become anti-business.
They believe the party’s success for decades was built on a coalition of progressive activists and moderate business leaders. Yes, it was sometimes uncomfortable. But it won elections, and it led to, as Guillory acknowledges, “big thoughts and bold action.”
What divides Democrats today isn’t so much age as disagreement over this question: Is the old formula still right, or is there a new, winning formula that entails moving left, moving away from business and energizing new voters?
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats
Democrats: New Generation or New Direction?
April 26, 2012/
Justin Guillory’s op-ed in the N&O – “Embrace the future, North Carolina Democrats” – struck a theme you hear a lot these days from young Democrats:
“The major upheaval in the Democratic ranks provides a unique window of opportunity for the party to turn over a new page and choose its next generation of leadership….
“Democrats need a fresh start in the midst of an unfamiliar political landscape. Today’s Democrats seem stuck in a rut. The same old politicians, with the same old ideas and the same old politics. Politically, it’s got them in a bind and they need to break out.”
Having been younger once, I agree. A party always needs new leaders and new ideas. Being older now, I have couple of questions:
First, is he talking about the candidates for Governor? Certainly, they don’t seem to excite him.
Second, is the goal just younger faces? Or an ideological shift – to the left?
There’s a different critique I hear from other Democrats – generally, older Democrats. They’re afraid the party is going to lurch left. And become anti-business.
They believe the party’s success for decades was built on a coalition of progressive activists and moderate business leaders. Yes, it was sometimes uncomfortable. But it won elections, and it led to, as Guillory acknowledges, “big thoughts and bold action.”
What divides Democrats today isn’t so much age as disagreement over this question: Is the old formula still right, or is there a new, winning formula that entails moving left, moving away from business and energizing new voters?
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats