Burgess column: Dems wonder, 'What Do We Have to Do?'

Having ended the “forever war” in Afghanistan, and passed a monumental bill that will improve the lives of most Americans — including folks in Ohio — Democrats lost ground in Ohio and the nation in the recent election.

If that isn’t enough, they’re taking a beating in the press and the polls. Democratic strategists are shaking their heads, asking what they have to do to gain the trust and votes of more Americans.

And they get conflicting advice: Be more progressive, like Bernie and “The Squad.” Be more moderate — or conservative — like Senator Manchin of West Virginia.

But from where I sit — which I mostly do these days, being retired from teaching and working in a couple dozen campaigns from ’52 to 2020 — I’d say it’s not so much what the Democrats are not doing, but how they’re not selling much of anything. Part of their problem is the media, where some hosts don’t understand the actual issues, and others want controversy at almost any price — “if it bleeds it leads” still dominates our electronic media.

Compare the Dems of today to FDR, who sold his New Deal programs with regular “fireside chats” by radio to the American people. First Lady Eleanor had a daily newspaper column. Roosevelt was elected four times in a tumultuous era.

Indulge this old timer. Early in my political education — 1952 — Eisenhower was running for President, but Democrats had won five straight Presidential elections. So, Ike’s theme was, “It’s time for a change!” Good slogan. Popular candidate, he won. Meanwhile, in my high school in Michigan (yes, that state up north), my friend Don decided to run for student council secretary—a job previously held exclusively by girls. (I was campaign manager and chair of our “Reform School Party”). Our theme was, “It’s time for a change!” So, during his speech to the student body, he shouted those words, pulled out a diaper and waved it in the air. Crass? Yes, but he won, as Trump would say, bigly.

Later, Don Riegle became the first Republican from Flint elected to Congress in decades. To help serve his constituents—and attract favorable attention—Don went around his district—outside of supermarkets—and set up “shop,” just listening to citizen concerns. The press followed. Later, he switched parties and was elected Senator as a Democrat. He literally listened to the people, and they knew it. He helped pass some good laws, and never lost an election.

Another story. Years later, while working with Ohio’s Franklin County Democratic Party, we faced long odds to maintain a majority on Council. We hit on an idea, while watching a Chamber of Commerce TV commercial —“Columbus, we’re making it great!” sang the dancers. Using still photos of our council members, we ran our own version of the commercial, featuring our council members saying, “We made it great!” Corny? But effective. Anyway, we won.

One other example, in current time. Democrats have just elected Aftab Pureval as mayor of Cincinnati. In his previous election to Clerk of Courts, recognizing that his Asian name, Aftab, could be a liability, he developed commercials playing off the popular goose commercials for Aflac. The fun commercials helped a lot in getting his career in high gear.

Democrats need to find out what voters are concerned about and talk about those concerns -- in interesting ways — with ideas and programs for meeting them.

The bill just passed by majority Democrats and signed by the Democratic President provides them with that opportunity. Dem strategists need to ditch language like the “bold” ideas they’re always talking about—how often do Ohioan’s say “bold”?--and talk about the actual problems and hopes of people in Ohio and the nation.

The Infrastructure and Jobs Act has money for roads, bridges, passenger rail, safe water, the power grid, broadband internet, and more. Most Ohioans will benefit. Hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created nationally.

Democratic leaders, and Republicans who want to help, should start by listening to voters—reaching out to wherever they are, in person where safely possible, or by electronics--as to what they need and how they want the money spent—to make a better life for everyone.

Jack Burgess is a retired teacher of American & Global Studies who’s also worked in government, politics, and labor relations.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Burgess column: Dems wonder, 'What Do We Have to Do?'