Democratic Campaign Strategy - Grow a Backbone

On the first night on Democratic National Convention, First Lady Michelle Obama gave an inspiring and heartfelt speech in support of her husband. Her speech focused on the family values she grew up with and how she is trying to pass those values on to her children. Her speech was well received by those in the Conventional Hall and those watching on TV. Even the right wing pundits on Fox News stated that her speech was impressive. Other speakers on this night also gave great speeches including San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. The night was filled with energy and dare to say it: passion and readiness to fight for what Democrats believed in.

Yet, less than 12 hours after Mrs. Obama's great example of leadership, Democrats once again cowered in the corner and caved on their party platform. And why? Because Sean Hannity did not like something about it. Democrats once again allowed right wing pundits to take control of the Democratic message.

The issues at hand are that the original Democratic platform did not make reference enough to "God" according to Sean Hannity. He questioned former Governor Bill Richardson about this who remarked that the Democratic Party is a party of faith but that faith is individual. Further, if you look at what the Platform stands for (i.e. helping the poor and disadvantaged) that the Platform was driven by faith. Yet, because Sean Hannity made an issue of it, and the Democrats in charge of the message apparently trying to get Sean Hannity to love the Democratic Party, they changed the Platform to include more references to God.

Also changed was the fact that the original Platform did not declare Jerusalem as the Capitol of Israel. Now it does. Why? Because Sean Hannity said it should. Bill Richardson explained that the party Platform was what the policy of the United States is: That the US supports a 2 State Solution. Of course, most people in Israel support a 2 State solution. But that doesn't stop Hannity. He wants to raise the issue. And the Democrats were easily persuaded to change their hard held beliefs they had put in their Platform.

For an instant it looked like Democrats were finally ready to own the fact that they are Democrats and were finally going to capture the message. For about 12 hours they did this. Then they caved, again. Then they allowed the tea party and the likes of Sean Hannity to control their message, again. Democrats once again became jello and asked Republicans to stop hurting them.

Enough is enough. What happened to the Democratic Party? The likes of Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson would slap this current crop of Democrats and tell them to toughen up. Tomorrow night, President Barack Obama makes his acceptance speech. The only question that he needs to answer is whether he is willing to fight for what he believes in and own it: Own the economy, own health care, own his foreign policy, own the fact that he is a true patriot, or whether the President is going to cower in the corner and rely solely on hope. Americans liked in Hope in 2008. In 2012 they want guts. They want someone who is willing to make people mad. They want someone willing to take on everyone because he believes he is right. If a leader isn't willing to do these things, why would anyone follow? Hopefully, President Obama shows that at least he has a backbone. Otherwise, I want to make a trade and put his wife at the top of the ticket.