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What I Learned From the Democrats
Evan Vucci / AP Photo
The mistakes liberals like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are making can teach Republicans how to regain power—and how to hold onto it.
In recent weeks, I’ve been critical of some of the most hard-core ideological elements of the GOP. As a consequence, some have requested I leave the party altogether, and say that I am now an unwelcome member. Let me be clear: No one wants the Republican Party to succeed more than I do. I spent nearly two years on the road during my father’s presidential campaign, in my early twenties, surrounded by hygienically deficient, middle-aged political strategists traveling on a bus whose bathroom was almost always clogged. I did everything I could possibly think of to help get my father elected president. During that time, I admittedly realized conservatives’ failure to communicate effectively with my generation. But I also completely fell in love with the party, and started to understand why its core ideals better defined me than those of the Democrats. Any criticism I give of the Republican Party is out of love, and as someone who feels knowledgeable and experienced enough to give constructive criticism.
But as harsh as I’ve been about some elements of the GOP, I find aspects of the Democratic Party infinitely worse. Just as I fear the far right would undermine a conservative resurgence, the far left of Obama’s party threatens to do the exact same thing to him and his administration.
It is no secret that the Republican Party, for all its faults, consistently displays party unity. But Democratic leaders seem more concerned with their own personal agendas than supporting President Obama and the future of their party.
It is no secret that the Republican Party, for all its faults, consistently displays party unity. For all the criticism that the Bush administration came in for, risks were taken (like supporting the Iraq troop surge) that wound up benefiting the GOP in the long run. But Democratic leaders such as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid seem more concerned with their own personal agendas than supporting President Obama and the future of their party. In fact, shortly after Barack Obama was elected president, Senator Reid went so far as to say, “I don’t work for him.” Even after the Democrats’ huge victories in 2006 and 2008, party unity still seems to be in disarray.
Take Afghanistan, for example. Republican leaders, including my father and Bill Kristol, support Obama’s new plan—and moreover, have expressed concern that the liberal House and Senate leadership are so stuck on being antiwar and standing up for leftist values that they are failing to properly inform voters of the issues at hand. Worse, congressional Democrats are threatening Obama’s ability to do his job as president appropriately, and protect the American people. It is all the more ironic that Republicans are supporting Obama and his bipartisan approach while his own party remains wary and doubtful.
I always have believed that in order for our government to successfully function and move forward, it is important for both parties to embrace centrism. Of course, many people voted for Barack Obama because they were hoping he would be an extremely liberal president. Personally, I think he and his advisers are smart enough to understand there’s much to be done in the political center by listening to both sides and learning to compromise. But Obama will not be able to continue this course if his party leaders don’t support him. Just last month, John Avlon made this very point on The Daily Beast in his article, “The Coming Democratic Civil War”: Liberal Democrats threaten to undo Obama’s presidency because of their embrace of partisanship.
Look at Obama’s stimulus bill—as soon as he handed it over to the House, Democrats loaded it with so many appropriations they made it impossible to pass. In his article “Why the Democrats Can’t Govern” in this week's New Republic, Jonathan Chait writes that “the stimulus served as a mere precursor to the major battle over Obama's budget.” (He goes on to cite Sen. Kent Conrad’s endorsement of farm payments and Democrats' opposition to Obama’s plan to limit tax deductions for the rich.) Now, I may not agree with Obama either, but if such a left-leaning magazine so blatantly recognizes the writing on the wall when it comes to extreme members of the Democratic Party hijacking message and power, then it is obviously a major concern.
This is less about Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi than about party infighting. If Republicans are going to gain power again, and more importantly, remain in power, we must recognize the value of centrism—instead of turning to extreme right-wing members of the party like Rush Limbaugh (which I have made clear I think is a dangerous thing for the party to do). That the Democrats find themselves with the same problem while they’re in power only highlights my point. We must get the right people in power to win the next election cycle, and the one after that. If the Democrats don’t figure it out, they will inevitably find themselves in the minority again. The question remains: Can politics ever become truly centrist and bipartisan?
Meghan McCain is originally from Phoenix. She graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She previously wrote for Newsweek magazine and created the Web site mccainblogette.com.
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Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is a New York Times bestselling children's author, previously wrote for Newsweek magazine, and created the Web site mccainblogette.com.
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Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is a New York Times bestselling children's author, previously wrote for Newsweek magazine, and created the Web site mccainblogette.com.
In fact both parties are corrupt and ineffectual.
Harry Reid is supposed to be working for the American people, Meghan, but if that's all you can pick at, I understand. On Colbert show you state we want less government. We did want that but unfortunately for us Americans our country was literally destroyed by the Republicans. You guys talk about big government and taxes as if nothing has happened. I guess you can't possibly put yourself in the shoes of those in need. Current power has taken on the task of fixing an impossible mess left by criminals and you guys call it Big Government. Republicans made it this way. In 40 years, I've never seen such poor leaders as the last eight years, mostly criminals who so far have gotten away with it. Why don't you talk about what really matters -- clean food, clean air, basic Constitutional rights, compassion, honor, justice. Sex and guns seem to be higher on your list. Sorry for you.
Megan, just concentrate on the mistakes the Bush's, Cheney,Newt, and your Dad have made and you will have enough negative material to last a lifetime. However you can pay attention to what the democrats are doing and when you do , changing parties might be your option. You are too young to be entrenched in old archaic policy's.
In the first place, Meghan did switch from Independant to Republican to work for her father's campaign, so it's not like she's paid any dues. Just because somebody "speaks their mind" doesn't make them right.
If Meghan had Conservative views, she wouldn't be accepted here, just like her father wouldn't have been accepted by "moderates" if he didn't sell out certain elements of the Republican platform & both of these people need acceptance so bad it's embarrassing.
How nice for Meghan she has her speech all ready for the Log Cabin Republicans, praising "gay" "marriage." I could almost be mad at her, but she still doesn't actually know what she believes, like Salome, she has learned everything she knows from her mother, Heroditis and wants nothing more than the testicles of the Republican party on a silver platter.
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Obama may be a centrist on the War on Terror...or whatever they decided to rename it...but overall he is not a centrist. But you are right, the lefty nuts are taking over the asylum. Where were they from 2006-2008 when they had the chance to go after Bush?
Oh good grief, this is so blatantly a suck-up to the GOP after getting spanked for being critical, it's embarrassingly transparent. What a mindless git.
This article is nearly as embarrassing and self-serving as respected Republicans turning into spineless apologizing toadies when they dare to upset Rush Limbaugh.
This is a great opportunity for Libertarians to come into their own. They are what this country needs for fiscal conservatism and the protection of our personal liberties. Certainly neither party in power now, both are as Portmanteau said "corrupt and ineffectual".
First off good work Meghan, its an improvement from your last article, at least I have to go do research to figure out if I agree wit you or not. In that respect GOOD WORK!
@Portmanteau yes and no, but you point that in American politics at this point the question of corrupt or not is just as important as the question of left or right.
@Holywriter they still have a chance to go after Bush and Chaney, however as far as I see it we are not going to prosecute either of them for war crimes. They are not even going to let other countries do it. I assume out of fear of people like Glen Beck's well armed shut ins. Its discusting!
When visiting Germany I talked to an old woman who lived through WW2 and she told me, still gleaming as she spoke of it, that she and other children cought sandwiches thrown from American GIs who came rolling into her suburb of Bochum. She told me "Here they were the enemy but even from first contact they were so kind as to give up their lunches for us children, I liked the American troops"
Then I was proud to be an American!!
Now I see North Korea telling us "of course we are holding your journalist humanely, were not Guantanamo" and I have nothing good to say for myself besides "it wasn't just me, I tried to stop it, and failed".... shit...
This brings me to my first disagreement with Meghan. I reject the idea that party unity is, in every instance, a good thing. Case and point, back when national public radio first reported on torture in Guantanimo, and got quite a lashing for it, people like me were up in arms saying "this is not what America stands for! Impeach Chaney!" but as you all know nothing really happened, ironically NPR sustained more damage than the administration. The Reason: Few Republicans were willing to stand up to their leadership, although you can't tell me few of them wanted to!
So I have a problem with anyone who says either party should be in absolute lock step with their leadership. What if the leadership is wrong? Plus with only two parties anyway whats with issues where there are more than two opinions among the public? What about corrupt or evil leadership? (torturing people qualifies as evil right?)
Almost all politicians who are punished for wrongdoing are punished by members of their own party, see Alaska politics for example. People who are calling for complete party unity are also calling, probably unknowingly, to protect corrupt and criminals members among their ranks!
im pretty worried for both parties. the far left and far right are becoming more vocal than the center. it seems like the past couple of elections have been incredibly reactionary. people think "hey, bush was bad, therefore all republicans are bad" and voted for democrats, no matter what their viewpoints were.
i cant even imagine what it could take for the majority of people to wake up and realize voting for the members of the far right/far left won't help anyone. it only divides the country and insures that government cant get stuff done.
it doesnt surprise me that nancy pelosi and harry reid are power-hungry. sadly, im pretty sure any failures of the obama administration will be because of those two people. when obama attempts to have republicans a part of the political discussion and pass legislation they agree with, those two will be an obstacle the entire way. for the benefit of the country, i hope obama does succeed at meeting in the middle. im pretty sure that pelosi and reid have no intention of doing the same.
this is off topic, but people leave some pretty negative comments on your articles. even though they hate you for some mysterious reason, they take the time to read your articles and leave a comment. those are probably the people at the far left who want to shoot down any republican calling for centrism. its pretty sad.
honestly meghan, keep up the good work and ignore those people. i love being able to read articles that lean center-right instead of left. the media is flooded with liberal propoganda, so the critics can read whatever garbage they want. im going to college to become a journalist, and i hope i can effectively write about republican issues like you do. we have to change the face of the GOP! :]
@harlowe
although some of her statements are pretty out there, like using the fact that Bill Kristol is supporting the idea of more millitary somewhere as being a sign of bipartisanship... lol
hey everyone Bill Kristol is agreeing with someone on more military somewhere, wow, that like totally different than what he's been saying for ... oh a the whole rest of his life! lol
oops hit the submit button by acident, continuing with my @harlowe
at least she is keeping the conversation going, at least she is kinda trying to get the party back on track, although he comments on twitter about how people who post comments disagreeing with her are just spreading negativity are kind of out there. I still have faith she will be a positive influance for the party.
Would someone please ask this airhead to explain exactly why she "fell in love with the (Republican) party" and why "its core ideals better defined (her) than those of the Democrats?" Frankly, her statement that she criticized the Republicans "out of love" is B.S. and her newfound acquiescence to them because of the backlash she received is phony. Just like her father, she can't make up her mind if she's a Democrat or a Republican-and, like him, she's become a joke ("Get drunk and read Meghan McCain's columns" anyone?).
On another note, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid "supporting" themselves over Obama and "the future of their party" should come as NO surprise to him or the Democrats. They are two of the most corrupt, self-serving egomaniacs who ever bought (multiple) elections. Without them, he wouldn't be President, so he obviously agreed to "deal with th(ose) devil(s)" long ago. If he's only now figuring out that they will undermine him if he steps out of line, he's not only a na�ve, but a fool.
@cristixcore
Yes we need to change the face of the GOP.
I admit I have never voted republican, ever, but then again I'm only 26. I would have voted McCain Lieberman vs Clinton Someone though. I would consider myself centrist. I would like to vote republican someday, I am for smaller and more efficient government in some areas, I am for at least limiting abortion to the first 6 weeks of pregnancy (a complete ban would be hard), I have noticed first hand how some of the democratic environmentalist policies are DAMAGING to the environment.
But what am I supposed to do? Every republican who I could have voted for so far has ended up lying to me or playing dirty tricks or misrepresenting their true beliefs (don't get me started on them environmentally). Usually to fit with the republican leadership or the right wing base. And yes sadly Meghans Dad is no exception. It hurt to see him have to get close to Hagee and Palin, neither a decition made by him but rather for him. I feel sorry for him to a certain extent. I think hes a good man in bad company.
So go out there Meghan and find me a republican to vote for, or contribute money to, anything. But party unity is not going to get my vote! It needs to be good Ideas! I'm still waiting for the article where you lay out why you are a republican and who exactly in your mind has a good track record of doing good things. And don't tell me Shock or I will loose all faith.
blip in the blog, so to finish my last sentence . . . "he's not only naïve, but a fool."
Okay, last time: The word is "naive."
@Sahas24
not sure where to start on your comment, you drunk right now ?
First off I voted for Obama, but Meghan is right on this one. We need to govern from the middle. It never does any good for either party to go far left or right. Nancy and Harry are far left and it's going to be a problem down the road. They are going to hand many seats back to the Republicans because of this and I don't understand why they don't understand this?? We need a 3rd party bad. I'm sick of feeling we are dumb people, electing the bottom 3rd of our society to govern. The main reason I voted for Obama is that he appealed to my sense of reason, not some ideology. Idealogs are a good read sometimes, but not a prudent way to lead. I blame us. Look who we vote into office. Congress approval ratings hover around what, 15-20 %?? We suck at electing people.
The problem is that Pelosi is a wartime consiglieri. She is good when the Congress is split or when we have a divided government. She knows how to win power and influence. The problem, though, is that she does not know how to weild power and influence. We Democrats need a new Speaker. Reid, I don't have so much of a problem with. But Pelosi, I love her when we are the underdogs. But not when we are in power.
I would much prefer watching a battle between the White House and the Congress than between Congressional Republicans and Congressional Democrats. A divided party is not necessarily a bad thing. But an impasse due to partisan bickering is. I think back on Eisenhower. He ran as a Republican because he could control the far-edge wing of the Republican Party as a Republican, not as a Democrat. He was a political pragmatist, and one of my political heroes.
Obama needs to step up and control the far-left wing of our party. He needs to fight Congress, not Republicans and not liberals. That's how it works the best.
@Ruckus your cool, good post
It's a good article, but the points are obvious and don't actually take away from the Democratic party as much as is proposed. What I think of, is how the Republicans have banded together ineffectually for the wrong reasons. You know how criticizing one party causes you to examine the same qualities of the other party...well, the Republican "band', I feel did it in more dangerous proportions, and so the argument was lost on me.
Infighting is going to happen in any political unit, just as in any family, and ultimately shows its strength, not its weakness. Great article, I think the Republicans do well standing on the family values platform still, requiring the Democrats to step up and claim the same family values for their own party. As much as I fear Conservatives eating that up hook, line, and sinker, and assuming the Democrats are baby killers and liberal with their tax power...Democrats need to formulate a powerful answer to those accusations. It's good practice for everyone. Good luck, and yes, I fear for my Dems.
Standard Either-Or Philosophy.....Very few are taking a holistic view of where we are, and where we need to go. Common Sense is a dinosaur. We have all made this so complicated with Greed as the cornerstone. Wake up Folks...It's almost too late.
"It is no secret that the Republican Party, for all its faults, consistently displays party unity"
This is pretty funny, if Republican Party unity exists they are doing an incredible job of keeping it a secret.
Liberal hypocrisy reveals itself when a Democratic president, senate and house all fail to even whisper about repealing Bush's tax cuts.
Meghan - I think you're correct about the point on party unity, but I'm not sure that some descent is a bad thing. Anyway, good article and thanks for yesterday's tweet song of the day (from Noonday Underground). They are a new fav.
WOW!... Lets see I think that quote went "But I don't work for him, I work with him." Lets get it right Meg.
what's wrong with being anti-war? we've had such a wonderful track record lately why any sane person isn't is the real question.
if repubs' stragety is "don't do what reid and pelosi do" no wonder they're the minority. the problem with republicans is nothing is ever their fault. they never have wrong policies or misguided ideas or even good ideas carried out badly. they are always right and when the results don't reflect this they blame everyone but themselves. when they wake up to this they'll be worth listening to.
THANK YOU for being mature enough to look at things from all sides. So many latch onto one ideal and just bore me to death with the same ole spew.
I think it is a mistake to be centrist unless you are truly centrist. I will respect anyone who is honest about their political point of view. I am fed up with people who move along the political spectrum just to get POWER. I don't want a herd of cattle, I want representation in congress. I want civility. I want honest open debate.
"Any criticism I give of the Republican Party is out of love, and as someone who feels knowledgeable and experienced enough to give constructive criticism."
Feels is the key word here, you don't FEEL knowledgeable wrong organ- people THINK (requires your brain/mind) they are knowledgeable.
As Dr Phil would ask, what color is the sky in your world?
The Progressive Wing of Democrat Party is holding the leadership positions, the Leader of the House, and Senate and the Presidency all "Progressives" what is a Progressive well they are not Liberal, and will align themselves with the Socialist Party. So it is Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barack Obama....go ahead oh wise and knowledgeable one Google Progressive movement or just look it up on wikipedia. Geeze kid do you have any idea how pretentious this last post read?
A Progressive doesn't like to be called Liberal. A Progressive will align themselves with Socialist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Democratic_Party
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivism_in_the_United_States
Contemporary progressivism
The fourth and current liberal Progressive movement grew out of social activism movements, Naderite and populist left political movements in conjunction with the civil rights, GLBT (Gay rights), women's or feminist, and environmental movements of the 1960s-1980s.[17] This exists as a cluster of political, activist, and media organizations ranging in outlook from centrism (eg. Reform Party of the United States of America) to left-liberalism to social democracy (like the Green Party) and sometimes even democratic socialism (like the Socialist Party USA).
Barack Obama is a proud Progressive, he has stated so for the record. It can be easily Googled. Barack H Obama isn't a Liberal, he doesn't have a Liberal Agenda. He does have a Progressive Agenda SEE Alinsky. The Percentage of Progressives with in the Democrat Party are not the Majority, however they are all filling the leadership roles in the Presidency, The House - Nancy Pelosi and The Senate - Harry Reid. They are not in the majority in the 3rd Branch of Government "The Supreme Court"
Thank you.
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