The decision from the Democratic National Committee to block the public viewing regarding its internal post-election analysis concerning the last presidential race seems shocking but not surprising. Opposed to frank assessments, the Democrats' governing body operates closer to a publicity machine rather than an electoral entity devoted to building a volunteer base for winning elections.
A Climate That Avoids Dissent
Unwilling to break with the party establishment's culture of conformity, the DNC has continued within that legacy throughout this past year. Making public an official autopsy might have shown whether party leaders truly desire to promote public discourse regarding the errors which allowed Donald Trump to become president again. Yet, the leadership is moving forward under the pretense that there are no lessons to be learned from the stunning loss from the last cycle.
"Here’s our North Star: does this help us win? If not, it’s a distraction from our fundamental goal," an explanation which was presented to justify concealing the document.
Major Failures an Autopsy Could Have Addressed
An autopsy report with any value would tackle head-on a series of difficult topics. Among them are:
- Voter Alienation: The loss of a significant portion of the electorate who supported the party's candidate during the previous election was decisive in the close recent race.
- The Insistence to Seek Re-election: The unwavering insistence of a party leader to seek re-election, alongside a very late exit, has been criticized as robbing the party's base the chance for open primaries.
- Abandoning the Working-Class Base: While facing economic anxiety, the electoral effort is criticized for bowing to elite contributors and not managing to challenge the effects of big business.
- A Foreign Policy Factor: The refusal to adjust an approach regarding a ongoing war reportedly led to losing key demographic groups, particularly with youth voters, Arab American communities, and Muslim Americans.
- Eroding Youth Allegiance: Research shows a major decline in Democratic support from voters aged 18-29.
A Pattern of Evasion
This refusal aligns with a pattern of evading uncomfortable facts. It recalls a situation in which the vast majority of elected Democrat in Washington went along with an incumbent's decision for seeking another term right up until a catastrophic televised debate led to a reversal.
Meanwhile, overwhelming numbers of Democratic voters were consistently telling pollsters of their opposition to that candidate to seek re-election.
Financial Issues
A substantive report could examine matters regarding where money went, including the amounts flowed to insider consultants and ad buyers during a campaign that burned through a staggering war chest during the general election.
A Broader Implication
At its core, the secrecy surrounding this report highlights a deference to the existing power structure who engineered a disastrous presidential campaign. The signal to ordinary supporters – which includes countless dedicated activists – is that they do not have a right to understand the lessons the insiders say they discovered from hundreds of interviews based on feedback from all states.
An organization unable to publicly examine its mistakes finds it difficult to climb out of the rut which was so advantageous to the winning candidate.
