For anyone who has paid even scant attention to the news media lately regarding the upcoming mid-term elections, everyone should be aware that this is an especially pivotal election cycle. The consensus speculation is that this year will see the Democrats gain control in either one or both chambers of Congress in much the same way as the Republicans did in 1994. This is due to numerous polls showing that election races are tightening, approval ratings for the Bush administration are dropping and an increasing number of people are beginning to question the decision to go into Iraq and the subsequent deterioration of stability there.
The closeness of this election is largely due to President Bush himself, who has been weathering a difficult second term and has had to serve as the figurehead of the Republican Party during a particularly tumultuous and scandal-ridden period. From Jack Abramoff to Mark Foley, gaffe after gaffe has called into question the integrity and efficacy of the Republicans, resulting in a breakdown of their machine as individual candidates try to distance themselves from the appearance of impropriety.
The implications of the erosion of Republican support have changed the very nature and importance of the election itself. Previously, the elections were a struggle over the control of Congress, with the ability of the administration to achieve its goals on the line. Now, the race has changed into a referendum on not only the Bush administration, but also the Republican Party itself.
One of the telltale signs of this occurrence is quite noticeable even among local elections. For instance, Governor Doyle has run ads highlighting Mark Green's record in Congress and made a point of emphasizing Mr. Green's concurrence in views with George Bush. While in years past, an ad highlighting a candidate's support of a two-term president would have been run by the candidate himself, the political climate has changed so much that his opponent now uses this support as a weapon.
The magnitude of this type of attack is not solely limited to Wisconsin politics, either. According to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, there are 89 different commercials nationwide for Democratic House candidates featuring President Bush. "No other issue is that dominant," says DCCC spokesman Bill Burton.
While the initial reaction of Democratic candidates might be to continue criticizing the policies of the Bush administration and the stagnant and ineffective nature of Congress, this might not represent the most opportune strategy. Over the past few years, the Democrats have been quick to point out the mistakes of the Bush administration and the Republican Party, but have often been remiss in offering any constructive alternatives with which to proceed. Though this strategy can be used to place the opposition in a bad light, it does nothing to suggest why the Democrats could possibly produce anything better.
For the Democrats to be able to take control of Congress, it is not enough to simply abide by a reactive strategy comprised mainly of criticisms, because that has done little to counter the Republicans in the last few elections. The necessary step for the Democrats is to step out of the Republican's shadow by presenting a comprehensive platform that can act as an acceptable and viable policy alternative. Rather than place emphasis on highlighting the deficiencies of the Republican Party and the Bush administration, Democrats should instead try to increase the electorate's awareness of their platform. That way, people will have actual alternatives to vote for as opposed to just voting for the other party. If the Democrats want to take control of Congress and be the leading party in the United States, it's time that they stood up and started acting like it.
Mike Skelly ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in finance and political science.
