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A Solution for the Democrats
National Review Online ^ | November 7, 2002 | Dinesh D’Souza

Posted on 11/07/2002 6:36:33 PM PST by John Lenin

November 7, 2002, 8:45 a.m.
A Solution for the Democrats

How to win next time.

By Dinesh D’Souza

These critics are right. The Democrats could improve their political fortunes by unequivocally embracing the three central principles of the political Left: anti-Americanism, economic piracy, and moral degeneracy.

At first glance, this may not seem like a winning political program. But consider: Anti-Americanism is quite a popular notion these days. Lots of people hate America, and some of those people live in America. The anti-Americans blame American foreign policy for causing terrorism and other evils in the world. They detest American capitalism and American culture.

A newly assertive Democratic party could embrace this anti-American vision. It could go beyond opposing President Bush's Iraq policy to opposing all efforts to fight terrorism. Indeed it could declare America itself to be a terrorist country and seek to define all U.S. military action as "state-sponsored terrorism."

How would such a policy be sustained politically? Of course it would not be enough to win the votes of America-haters in this country. It seems that there are many millions of America-haters in other countries, such as France, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen. The Democrats should encourage America-haters all over the world to become American citizens. Failing this, they should work to loosen eligibility requirements so that anti-American aliens could at least vote for Democratic candidates in presidential elections.

Second, the Democrats should openly advocate the economic looting of one class of citizens in order to benefit another class of citizens. Ordinarily this is called theft, but in politics it is called "redistribution" or better still "compassion." Again, in ordinary language people who are robbed are called "victims," but in politics they are called "greedy" for wanting to hold on to what is theirs.

Now it may seem that the Democratic party has already perfected the art of using the government for the purpose of legal plunder. True, since the New Deal the Democrats have been the party of economic redistribution. By and large, Democrats have shown no interest in how to create a pie; their sole focus has been on how to carve up the pie.

But Democrats in the past few decades have been hampered by the need to seem economically responsible, and thus the party has not embraced the Left-wing program of blatantly seizing citizens' asserts and earnings. Why stop with a measly prescription-drug benefit for the elderly? The Democrats could abandon their past timidity and go for it all: free health care for seniors, unlimited scholarships for anyone who wants to go to college, no time limits on unemployment benefits, no work requirements for welfare, federal subsidies for aspiring artists to produce anti-Bush sculptures and songs, and so on.

This Democratic approach would be based on the political wisdom embodied in George Bernard Shaw's maxim, "Any government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's support." The secret, of course, is to make sure that the beneficiaries of this state-sponsored robbery (potential Democratic voters) outnumber those who are robbed (potential Republican voters).

Finally, the Democrats could become the party of moral degeneracy. In recent years the Democrats have not embraced moral degeneracy outright. They have contented themselves with hiding behind the slogan of "liberty." If accused of encouraging pornography, the Democrats have said, "No, we are for liberty of expression." Charged with supporting abortion-on-demand, the Democrats insist, "No, we are the party that gives women freedom over their own bodies." Caught distributing sex kits and homosexual instruction manuals to young people, the Democrats protest, "We are merely attempting to give people autonomy and freedom of choice."

But what is the need for this coyness? The Democrats should stop hiding behind "freedom of choice" and become blatant advocates for divorce, illegitimacy, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, and pornography. Indeed the Democrats could become the Party of the Seven Deadly Sins. The political advantage of this approach is that the Seven Deadly Sins are immensely popular. Imagine the political opportunities if all vices were associated with the Democratic party!

Yes, right now President Bush and the Republicans are riding high. But just wait until 2004, when the party of fighting terrorism, promoting economic growth, and fostering traditional moral values, meets its match in a party that stands for anti-Americanism, economic plunder, and moral degeneracy.


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To: John Lenin
Great article.

D'Sousa's implied sarcasm isn't too far removed from the reality that Democrats are living, considering how utterly bankrupt they are....These clowns are paying a HEAVY price for adopting and promoting such hollow, unprincipled and morally-relative stances...This garbage doesn't sell to any self-respecting voter...8 years running and they've yet to figure it out.

What happened on Tuesday night was the logical result of a party who hoped and prayed to win by default because the foundations neccesary for victory require real conviction and a sense of purpose.

Their arrogance now insists that they must move their party even further to the left to stay viable....It's only "logical", right?

21 posted on 11/07/2002 7:07:52 PM PST by eric_da_grate
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To: John Lenin; Kevin Curry; Roscoe

If anyone thinks doing so would improve their political fortunes, they ought to consider what it got the Libertarians.

22 posted on 11/07/2002 7:09:50 PM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: John Lenin
I was thinking about this today. If the Dems had toosed clinton overboard like the criminal he is, Algore would have become President, would have run as an incumbent and probably won, and they would not have suffered the embarrassment of Bonior and McDermott, or the Wellstone Memorial DNC Convention, or the embarassment the clintons bring on a regular basis.

They would probably still hold the Senate, and may have gained the House.

If they had jettisoned clinton, they might still have a soul, but they did not, and they are reaping what they sowed...

23 posted on 11/07/2002 7:14:36 PM PST by copycat
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To: John Lenin
Has Dinesh been lurking over at DU? This is exactly the point they are making over there: win power by demonstrating how much you despise the things that made this nation great.
24 posted on 11/07/2002 7:16:18 PM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: Cultural Jihad
If the liberal dems would ease up on taxes and the Second Amendment, most libertarians would embrace the liberal dems like long lost lovers.
25 posted on 11/07/2002 7:18:21 PM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: cajungirl
I love this guy, whatever he writes is right on target.

I don't know if you've ever had the pleasure of hearing Mr. D'Souza speak or not but I have and I HIGHLY recommend it if you ever have the chance.

He's even better live.

MKM

26 posted on 11/07/2002 7:19:45 PM PST by mykdsmom
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To: John Lenin
Bump---Right on!!!
27 posted on 11/07/2002 7:21:25 PM PST by BobFromNJ
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To: Kevin Curry
If they elect Pelosi leader, the lights are going out in the RAT party.
28 posted on 11/07/2002 7:22:31 PM PST by John Lenin
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To: VadeRetro
I remember something one of my conservative friends told one of my liberal friends trying to make them feel better about Paul Wellstone. "Look, you may have lost a senator that you cared for, but you gained a voter that will be there forever". Yesterday, same kid "The democrats message fell on deaf ears, this is actually an improvement, usually it falls on dead ears".
29 posted on 11/07/2002 7:23:49 PM PST by Sonny M
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To: Revolting cat!
You're right -- it does sound kind of FR'ish, doesn't it? I would love to see a corner turned where Democrats are being slagged even in mainstream publications. Not just criticized, but ridiculed and derided. I think it'd be really healthy for the whole nation, like a big pent-up exhalation.
30 posted on 11/07/2002 7:24:30 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: reformed_democrat
Rod the Bod

The guy's father was a Serb and a life long Republican. Cannot understand how Rod can be a dimocrat after what the evil one did to his homeland.

31 posted on 11/07/2002 7:25:54 PM PST by Western Phil
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To: John Lenin
If they elect Pelosi leader, the lights are going out in the RAT party.

There's no Law which says that there has to be two viable political parties: one well-grounded upon successful conservative moral values and Reality, and another mired in ideology and self-hatred.

32 posted on 11/07/2002 7:26:04 PM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: Sonny M
"The democrats message fell on deaf ears, this is actually an improvement, usually it falls on dead ears".

They don't bury the dead too deeply in Louisiana. Bet the ambient-temperature types will be voting Democrat in droves there next month.

33 posted on 11/07/2002 7:29:40 PM PST by VadeRetro
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To: Kevin Curry
This is exactly the point they are making over there: win power by demonstrating how much you despise the things that made this nation great.

And they're probably plotting their revolution while they sit in a leather EZ chair in front of a 60" color TV watching their hero Joshua Barlett, munching on bonbons--They better hope that the great people of this nation never tire of saving these idiots from themselves.

34 posted on 11/07/2002 7:34:34 PM PST by DaBroasta
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To: Cultural Jihad
This Democratic approach would be based on the political wisdom embodied in George Bernard Shaw's maxim, "Any government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's support." The secret, of course, is to make sure that the beneficiaries of this state-sponsored robbery (potential Democratic voters) outnumber those who are robbed (potential Republican voters).

When they say "keep em dumb and on the plantation" , they really mean it.
35 posted on 11/07/2002 7:35:39 PM PST by John Lenin
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To: John Lenin
bttt
36 posted on 11/07/2002 7:41:27 PM PST by Liz
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To: John Lenin
It seems to becoming clearer and clearer that this election cycle has grievously wounded the Democrat Party. There is panic, rage, and fear in the air on their side of the river. Some Democrats are timidly suggesting that the Democrats ought to temper their pro-abortion zealotry, maybe ease up on attacking gun owners etc. They are being shouted down fiercely and and instantly. The overall reaction of the Democrats appears to be shaping up as a hard lurch left. If that happens, they'll lose three or four more Senate seats, a dozen House seats, and the presidency in 2004. People forget that Clinton won by moving a bit to the center and co-opting just enough of the conservative issues to pass himself as a moderate. It was cunning bamboozlery, and it worked.

The Democrats are fresh out of cunning bammboozlers of Clinton's quality. They are what they seem: raw, nasty, morally dissolute and yet weirdly smug and self-righteous. They have aborted their children, embraced grotesque marginal issues such as gay marriage, and are heavily dependent on buying patronage from certain well defined minority groups. Thay are losers hell-bent on showing everyone just how serious they are at being losers.

37 posted on 11/07/2002 7:45:04 PM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: Kevin Curry
I agree, Pelosi and Hillary are blood sisters, in more ways than one ....
38 posted on 11/07/2002 7:51:52 PM PST by John Lenin
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To: Kevin Curry
Well reasoned; clearly stated... bravo!
39 posted on 11/07/2002 7:52:21 PM PST by doc11355
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To: Western Phil
The guy's father was a Serb and a life long Republican.

I thought Rod's commercials played on his Polish background. Don't know much about his father, but his father-in-law, Dick Mell, is a Chicago Alderman and one of Daley's boys. Rod has clintonian problems ("I smoked pot, but I can't remember if I inhaled," and a string of girlfriends), so his father-in-law first sent him to Springfield to get him out of Chicago, then to DC to get him out of Springfield.

I guess the easiest path to power was through the Alderman, so Rod did what he thought necessary. Looks like it paid off for him.

40 posted on 11/07/2002 8:02:40 PM PST by reformed_democrat
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