If Democrats ever want to regain the glory days of what seems like centuries ago, we must be competitive in the rural areas of the South. If we continue to concede the South, then we will continue as a minority party longer than any of us would like. Democrats must overcome the desire to only reach out to the Northeast and West-Coast base, and not be afraid to stand up against interest groups in our own party. It is time for the Democratic establishment to open up and invite elected Democrats from red states, who may disagree with national Democrats on issues such as gay rights, abortion, and gun control, to sit with labor leaders, trial lawyers, and civil rights groups and us how to win there.

Democrats should not adopt the agenda of social conservatives, but we need to do a better job of opening up and accepting social conservatives into our own party. Most Americans are not religious right-wingers, but most Americans are religious. Democrats need to do a better job of listening and speaking to them in their terms. As Congressman Arthur Davis once said “The party of tolerance cannot make religion the one value it cannot tolerate.”

We need to be strong on national security by developing our own strategy against the war on terrorism, and prevent the Republicans from portraying us as the antiwar party.

As Democrats we need a plan to recruit Democratic business leaders and speak on issues such as: lowering health care cost, simplifying the tax code, and increasing tax breaks for small businesses.

Democrats must begin pushing for tax reform. We must continue to oppose the Republican tax breaks for the wealthiest of Americans, while calling for increases in tax breaks for middle-class families. Democrats must also find a way to make the tax code in America less complex.

We need to lead, in the family values debate. We need to discuss ideas on how to give parents more tools to protect their children and enable parents to spend more time with their families.

Finally, we must push for budget reform. It’s time for Democrats to fight for budget reforms, including reinstating budget controls and paying down the national deficit.

These are the issues that Democrats should address in 2006. By reaching out to small business owners, strengthening our stance on National Security, leading the family values debate, and pushing for budget reforms, Democrats will win over independents and conservative Democrats, we have lost in the past. The DLC has said, “The test for Democrats is to convince the voters that they will defend their country, share their values, and champion their economic interests.” Clearly, if we continue to lose two out of three we will never win again.


 

R. Justin Day is the Executive Director of the Florida Mainstream Democrats.  Originally from St. Cloud, Florida he has lived in Tallahassee since 2001.  R. Justin Day is a graduate of FSU with a B.A. in Int'l Affairs and worked previously as the Trip Director the Betty Castor for US Senate Campaign.