March 21, 2006 at 13:15:19

For Democrats, Authenticity Matters Most

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By Al Quinlan, Posted by Rob Kall (about the submitter) Page 2 of 3 page(s)

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In 2000, anyone who collected a dollar for every time someone said Gore doesn't look comfortable in his own skin has a nice house by the beach. In 2004, Senator Kerry had a great plan; he just failed to show he had conviction and core principles as a person. And America chose President Busha very polarizing figure. It was okay that they disagreed with him on most ideas - he had conviction and they understood him as a person.

In election after election, Democrats have instinctively shown their desire to govern, solve problems, and deal with complex issues. This is another core trait of our party that I hope never disappears because so many challenges we face today are complex, and we need the best and the brightest among us to address them. But we have to believe that letting voters know who we are as people is just as important. We have to show our convictions.

This isn't about likeability or popularity. That is the mistake so many have made about President Bush. They think if we imitate him: ride a bike, have a beer, clear some shrub, then people will think we're a real person.

This is different. This is about presenting a story, a strong sense of self, and about communicating that story in a way that lets people know our moral compass is guided by a strong set of principles and a fundamental belief that the things we talk about are important to do for voters.

Think about it. If voters don't really know the candidate, then how can they believe convictions exist? In the end, our words are empty if we do not believe in who we are, and what we believe is critical for a candidate. It matters to voters and it must matter to us. This challenge isn't met by fixing our language and simply inserting God into a speech or talking about our parents. It's met by really believing that this personal connection mattersto voters as well as to our success.

That is why in these decades in the desert President Clinton is the exception. He brought forward the best traits of Democrats and understood how to speak to people. He made voters listen and gave them a sense of who he was as a person. He was, flaws and all, authentic. The lesson of President Clinton's victories, and the defeats of the others, is that we cannot lead without authenticity.

The good news is that we are half-way home. We know that our ideas are in step with the American people. They are with us when it comes to nearly every issue. The problem isn't with our message; it's with needing our messengers to believe that revealing their personal side is critical. We have to communicate that story too if we want to be seen as authentic.

The dimension and qualities that make up the authentic candidate are no more complex than those lessons some of us learned from our parents: tell people about your life, be decisive and don't run away from an honest debate, stick to your principles, and make sure that you always say what you mean and mean what you say.

The authentic candidate always makes sure that the voters know about their background. Not just the facts about what their father did or where they went to school, but how their roots, family life, and faith shaped their view of the world.

Governor John Lynch of New Hampshire was at his best when he described what it meant to him to coach youth athletic teams, and the lessons he instilled in his players. No one listening could doubt the type of man he is, and character indeed had a great deal to do with his successful campaign.

In 2002, a very difficult environment for Democrats, Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota was defined by his family and the challenges they had faced. He won a race that nearly everyone predicted he would lose, while other Democratic incumbents lost. Last fall, Governor-elect Tim Kaine of Virginia demonstrated a steadfastness through his faith. It helped him deflect a potentially damaging attack on abortion and, in the end, turn that attack into an advantage.

Another critical quality that can show a candidate's authenticity is decisiveness and shooting straight. When a tough issue or debate comes at them, they don't turn and hide. They say what they really mean, in straight talk.

Perhaps the most popular Mayor in the country in the past decade is Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago. His governing style is based on decisiveness, taking charge, and standing firm. Daley took control of the city's public schools ten years ago in what would have been viewed as a political power grab in most places. But he was given credit for taking a stand and taking responsibility to solve a problem. His decisiveness allows Chicagoans to trust him and trust that he will lead them.

As Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson takes stands on virtually every issue. No matter how challenging or complicated, he always speaks his mind. That is what he did recently on border security, a very complex issue. People on both sides of the aisle may find fault with his position, but taking a stand and shooting straight leads voters to believe he is a real guy who means what he says.

Too often, Democrats have fallen into the trap and failed what I call "the Conviction Test." We cannot run from tough issues, or simply try to muddy them with Washington doubletalk. If we are pro-choice in a pro-life part of the country, we lose more by trying to have it both ways. We have to simply say, I am pro-choice, let me tell you why, and here are my beliefs. Understanding a candidate personally allows voters to trust that candidate's motivation. Why are they running? What drives them? Is it for some policy proposal or is it to improve people's lives? They get a sense that their motivations are in the right place.

The people of Philadelphia understood Governor Ed Rendell. They knew who he was and deeply believed he had the best interests of the city at heart. He didn't say that over and over again, he demonstrated that. They saw that he was Philadelphia. People knew he loved the city, and rewarded him with a deep trust.

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