The following message was sent to Sen. Warren’s office and to her
campaign, and has been published at LAProgressive and History News Network.
Open Letter to Senator
Elizabeth Warren
August 6, 2019
Dear Senator Warren,
Congratulations on your
campaign thus far and on your performance during the two sets of televised
debates. You have done a fine job of presenting yourself and your ideas for
America.
But I don’t think the
Democratic debates have been successful so far. The apparent need for each
candidate to distinguish themselves from the rest and the relentless efforts of
the media, including the debate organizers and hosts, to dig out points of
difference and conflict have resulted in a set of seemingly contradictory messages
about what Democrats stand for and how you all differ from the much more
unified message of Trump and the Republicans.
I have believed for some time
that the way for any Democrat to beat Trump is for all Democrats to emphasize
what unifies you, or us. I wrote about that idea in May, but the message
apparently did not have any effect:
So I am trying a different
tack: asking you to take the lead in helping the whole field of candidates be
clearer about what all Democrats propose to the American people, each in their
own way and with their own emphases.
I ask you to formulate a
statement of Democratic principles and policies that every candidate could
accept in a public way, preferably as part of the next debate. That statement
should address the underlying agreement among all Democrats on issues that
separate us from the Trump candidacy: the intention to address climate change
rather than call it a hoax; to raise taxes on the rich, not the rest of us; to
fund education, child care and infrastructure more vigorously; to move forward
from Obamacare, not destroy it. Imagine the impact on the voting public if every
candidate on the stage said the same few words about their support for what
surveys show that the majority of the public wants.
Success in this effort does
not depend on getting unanimous agreement. If someone wants to say, “I don’t
support those ideas,” let them. That will further emphasize the unified stance
of the rest. Success would be taking control of the debate and the whole effort
to get rid of Trump.
I ask you to do this because
of your status as a leading candidate, your willingness to take the lead in
formulating what being a Democrat means, and your fearlessness in articulating
your campaign message. Taking this lead may not help you personally to jump
over the other Democrats, but it could help all Democrats gather the votes of
the majority of Americans who disapprove of Trump. I don’t see how such an
effort could harm your campaign among Democratic voters.
I understand that your own
policy proposals would not get approval from all the candidates, or perhaps
even from most. That is exactly what is confusing to the average American
voter. You would have to formulate a statement that falls short of the plans
that you have outlined. I support your candidacy because of those particular
plans. But more important, I believe that the majority of Americans support the
general foundation of Democratic ideas and ideals that inform you and the other
candidates.
The media, from FOX to MSNBC,
from the NY Times to the local papers that most Americans read, will not draw
the obvious and important contrasts between what Republicans have done and
tried to do and what Democrats would do if Trump is defeated. They will keep
talking about a horse race, goading you all to attack each other, and
emphasizing the smallest differences over the larger consensus.
Thank you for your service
thus far to all Americans.
Steve Hochstadt
Springbrook WI
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