Posted on 05/27/2005 7:15:37 PM PDT by CHARLITE
A prominent Democratic Party pollster Thursday said the reason members of his party have lost major elections in recent years is because they have not "run with conviction."
Stanley Greenberg, who currently heads his own research firm, previously conducted polling and offered advice to then-President Bill Clinton, then-Vice President Al Gore, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and South African President Nelson Mandela.
Greenberg conceded that the biggest current weakness among Democratic candidates is that they "do not know what they stand for, they don't know their policy direction, they don't know their underlying values, they don't know who they fight for."
Greenberg said those failings are not rooted in "bad communication," but in the fact that Democratic candidates "have not in fact run with conviction in election after election.
"Who can handle terrorism is nothing compared to who has clarity of ideas," Greenberg said. He was speaking at a press conference sponsored by the liberal group Campaign for America's Future.
However, Greenberg said there is reason for Democrats to be optimistic because Republicans, he said, are out of touch with the current mood of the country. The GOP does not understand "the reality of people's lives, the priorities that they want," he said.
Greenberg cited his recent polling which indicated that President Bush and the GOP have lost much of their support since the November election because of such issues as the Iraq War, the economy and Bush's Social Security reform proposal.
"So we are watching a period in which the president is falling personally, the conservative revolution has trouble on every front," Greenberg said. "The county is waiting for the Democrats."
Democrats are on the verge of a major political comeback if they can borrow a page from the Republican Party, Greenberg asserted.
"I believe if an election were held tomorrow, this would produce an election of significant Democratic gains. But they (the Democrats) will only get half the gains that are possible until they also advance their values and their ideas as part of this battle," Greenberg said.
He also said Democrats have the potential of executing the kind of political victory that Republicans enjoyed in the 1990s.
"To me the model is 1993-94. The Republicans had run against the Congress in previous elections, they had run as outsiders, [for] term limits. They were identified as bringing down the arrogant Democratic Congress," Greenberg said. The 1994 Republican landslide ushered in the first GOP-controlled U.S. House in 40 years. Republicans also took over the Senate at the mid-way point of Clinton's first term.
According to Greenberg, the 1994 GOP had a "reform agenda" that was "anti-Washington" and "opposed Clinton initiatives.
"People understood the beliefs behind [the Republican Party]," Greenberg said.
But if Democrats are to pull off such a feat, they will have to work on their image, Greenberg cautioned.
"The Democrats are not seen as reformers. They are not trying to stop lobbying. They are not the ones leading campaign finance reform. The Democrats need to be reformers and they need to be clear about their ideas and battling the special interests and corporate interests that control Washington," Greenberg said.
He added that Democrats suffered at the polls during the 2002 mid-term elections because they offered only a "minimalist agenda" and were "not unified to oppose Bush's agenda."
The 2004 presidential race came down to a "personal choice between George Bush and John Kerry, [in] which [Republicans] were able to portray [Kerry] as irresolute, weak, flip-flopper, not able to stand up for America, lacking principles," Greenberg said.
Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway praised Greenberg's analysis regarding the Democrats' lack of conviction.
"He's right, I second that emotion," Conway told Cybercast News Service. "Rather than trying to inflict revisionist history, Greenberg is reading the election results most cogently," Conway said.
"They (the Democrats) got beat, and they got beat because the other team had a more clear message and a more well-stocked arsenal of messengers," she added.
Conway, president and CEO of The Polling Company, predicted that the Democrats will not have much success at the polls until they realize that "the feminist movement is a relic of the 70s and the environmentalists are seen as fringe lunatics by and large."
Yeah, to move to Fr*nce.
...and so this is why they want to register convicts to vote democratic?
Infidel29 says dem party loses because America has heard their 'message' loud and clear for the last 40 years and has had enough of it.
They lose elections because they're out of touch and don't believe in the American way. People want to keep the money they earn, and be less dependent on the government.
Sounds like...?
(steely)
Uhh - No, just because you, Mr. demonRAT party pollster, say it, doesn't make it so. There are a couple things I am upset about, but not these issues.
What do you mean they "haven't run with conviction"? The Dems are the party OF the convicted! Here's just a quick 40 names during the Klinton era for starters:
VARIOUS ARKANSAS:
1) Roger Clinton: Bill Clinton brother; drug trafficking conviction (Wall Street Journal "The Foster Test" January 14, 1994)
2) Dan Lasater: governor Bill Clinton contributor and state contractor: drug trafficking conviction (Wall Street Journal "The Foster Test" January 14, 1994)
3) Dan Harmon: Arkansas Seventh Judicial District prosecuting attorney and Bill Clinton friend and political ally: five federal racketeering, extortion, and drug distribution convictions (Wall Street Journal "Arkansas Justice" June 13, 1997)
4) Bill McCuen: Bill Clinton political ally: former Arkansas Secretary of State; bribery, tax evasion, kickbacks convictions (Wall Street Journal: Whitewater: "The Prosecution Rests" May 7, 1996)
WHITEWATER:
5) Webster Hubbell: Bill Clinton friend and political ally; Hillary Clinton Rose Law Firm partner: embezzlement; fraud; two felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Whither Whitewater?" October 18, 1995)
6) Jim Guy Tucker: fraud; three felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Second-Term Stall" February 11, 1997; Associated Press "Tucker Pleads Guilty to Cable Fraud" February 20, 1998)
7) William J. Marks Sr.: Jim Guy Tucker business partner; one conspiracy conviction (Associated Press "Whitewater Defendant Pleads Guilty" August 28, 1997)
8) Jim McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally: eighteen felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Immunize Hale" May 29, 1996)
9) Susan McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend; former wife of Jim McDougal: four felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Immunize Hale" May 29, 1996)
10) David Hale: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally: two felony convictions of conspiracy and mail fraud (Wall Street Journal "The Arkansas Machine Strikes Back" March 19, 1996)
11) Chris Wade: Whitewater real estate broker; two felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)
12) Stephen Smith: former Governor Clinton aide; one conviction (Wall Street Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)
13) Larry Kuca: Madison real estate agent; fraudulent loans (Wall Steet Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)
14) Robert Palmer: Madison appraiser; one conspiracy felony conviction (Wall Street Journal "Hale Predicts Hillary Conviction" October 21, 1996)
15) Neal Ainley: Perry County Bank president; embezzled bank funds for Clinton campaign; two misdemeanor convictions (Wall Street Journal "Arkansas Bank Shot" May 4, 1995)
16) John Latham: Madison Bank CEO; bank fraud conviction (Wall Street Journal "Smoke Without Fire" January 12, 1996)
17) John Haley: attorney for Jim Guy Tucker; misdemeanor guilty plea; tax fraud (Associated Press "Tucker Pleads Guilty to Cable Fraud" February 20, 1998)
18) Eugene Fitzhugh: Whitewater defendant, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of trying to bribe David Hale; is appealing a ten month prison sentence (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Whitewater Defendants" February 22, 1998)
19) Charles Matthews: Whitewater defendant, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of bribery, served fourteen months of a sixteen month prison sentence (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Whitewater Defendants" February 22, 1998)
ESPY:
20) Tyson Foods: guilty plea; $6 million federal court fines and investigative costs (Washington Post "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997)
21) Sun-Diamond Growers: $1.5 million fine for illegal campaign contributions to Espy's brother (Associated Press "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)
22) Richard Douglas: former Sun-Diamond Growers official; several bribery convictions and guilty pleas(Washington Post "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997; Associated Press: "Lobbyist Pleads guilty in Espy Case" March 17, 1998)
23) James H. Lake: Sun-Diamond Growers lobbyist; three convictions regarding illegal campaign contributions to Espy's brother (Associated Press "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)
24) Ron Blackley: Espy's chief of staff: financial fraud conviction; twenty-seven month prison sentence (Washington Post "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997; Associated Press: "Judge Sentences Espy Aide to Jail" March 18, 1998)
25) Smith Barney: improper payments to Espy; $1 million-plus fine (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)
26) Crop Growers Corporation: $2 million fine for money laundering to Henry Espy's campaign (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)
27) Brook Keith Mitchell Sr. (with his company Five M Farming Enterprises: four counts) for fraud (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)
28) Five M Farming Enterprises (with owner Brook Keith Mitchell: four counts) for fraud (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)
29) John J. Hemmingson, former head of Crop Growers Corporation: three counts relating to illegal campaign contributions to Henry Espy (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)
30) Alvarez T. Ferrouillet, Jr., Louisiana lawyer and Henry Espy campaign finance head: ten count conviction (Associated Press: "A Look at Mike Espy Investigation" August 27, 1997)
31) Municipal Healthcare Cooperative: Ferrouillet-related company; perjury, bank fraud, money laundering convictions (Washington Post: "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997)
32) Ferrouillet & Ferrouillet: Ferrouillet-related company; perjury, bank fraud, money laundering convictions (Washington Post: "Tyson Foods Admits Illegal Gifts to Espy" December 30, 1997)
CAMPAIGN FINANCE:
33) Michael Brown (Ron Brown's son): money laundering; misdemeanor conviction (Los Angeles Times, "Ron Brown's Son Pleads Guilty to Illegal Donation" August 29, 1997)
34) Eugene Lum: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; felony conviction; money laundering (Los Angeles Times, "First Fund-Raising Sentences Meted Out" September 10, 1997)
35) Nora Lum: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; felony conviction; money laundering (Los Angeles Times, "First Fund-Raising Sentences Meted Out" September 10, 1997)
36) Johnny Chung: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; many visits to Clinton White House and Oval Office with mainland Chinese associates; several illegal campaign contributions, money laundering, tax fraud, and bank fraud guilty pleas (Associated Press: "Democrat Fund-Raiser Pleads Guilty" March 17, 1998)
37) Roger Tamraz: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; many visits to Clinton White House and Oval Office; fugitive from Lebanon embezzlement convictions; target of French government financial investigation; BCCI connections (The Wall Street Journal: "Integrity of the Institutions" March 20, 1997, et. al.) CISNEROS:
38) Linda Jones: Henry Cisneros mistress; conspiracy, bank fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice federal felony guilty pleas; sentenced to three and one-half years in prison (Associated Press: "Cisneros Ex-Mistress Sentenced" March 25, 1998)
39) Patsy Jo Wooten: Linda Jones sister; one conspiracy guilty plea (Associated Press: "Cisneros Ex-Mistress Sentenced" March 25, 1998)
40) Allen Wooten: Linda Jones brother-in-law; one conspiracy guilty plea (Associated Press: "Cisneros Ex-Mistress Sentenced" March 25, 1998)
Is that you Rush? LOL
Translation: He ran as a DemocRat. It's a bit hard for a Commie to not run as a Commie!
Pray for W and Our Troops
Well, a solution to this would to give receipts and just keep a copy.
Alternately, have a policy where they just stick a business card in the envelope before they hand it over.
Gay marriage
Yup, have to agree. When the Dem's put their values out there (baby killers, gay marriage, socialism, Christian haters) voters will come thronging to their side. Not
Right. More Democrats should be "convicted" and in jail and their party would be better off.
I am upset about these issues. However, the thing that is upsetting me about these and other issues is Democrat demagoguing and obstructionism for no reason but political gain.
The Dems lose because they refuse to accept the fact that America sits to the right of center politically.
They have no vision. They offer no alternatives to the policies of the governing majority. They think if they sit in a corner with their eyes closed and their ears plugged while shouting "la-la-la" long enough the elecotrate will come around and tap them on the shoulder and give them the keys to the big offices on the Hill again.
When it doesn't happen, they get angry can call US stupid...
I'm no statistician, nor a gambler, but I'd be willing to bet (anyway) that no one can come up with such an extensive list of similar offenses by Republicans.
Char :)
The reason the Republicans were able to portray Kerry as an "irresolute, weak, flip-flopper, not able to stand up for America, lacking principles," was precisely because he WAS an "irresolute, weak, flip-flopper, not able to stand up for America, lacking principles,"
I heard Sean Hannity on his radio broadcast today, make a statement that I did not get to hear the follow-up on becuase I was out of my truck. He said: "In a recent poll, 30% of conservatives said they could vote for Hillary for President....I'll have the details to that later." This is for real. Like I said, I was not able to hear the rest of the broadcast. Anyone know anything about this?
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