The post-mortem of the recent presidential election has been made by many different people espousing several diverse theories for the Democrats' massive failure. I have heard and read several, but so far, I haven't heard this one (I've probably missed it.) The Democrats failed to recognize that the political parties had significantly changed over the past 10 or 15 years. The Democrat party has moved to the far left. So much so that if John Kennedy was alive today, he wouldn't recognize his party. And the Republican party has broadened itself to be the party of inclusion, speaking for all people instead of appearing to favor the affluent.
In her campaign Harris used the traditional charge against Republicans that Trump would give tax breaks that benefit millionaires. Well, that may have been true decades ago, but when he was President, Trump initiated tax cuts that benefitted all brackets--rich, poor and Kamala's favorite middle class. Democrats now have large numbers of Hollywood millionaires, some of whom assisted Harris in her campaign. So, she shouldn't bash the wealthy. By contrast, in his acceptance speech Trump said that he would be the President of all people, including even Arabs and Muslims.
Democrats are now blaming anything and anyone except the message and the messengers for their failure at the polls. They had a very poor presidential candidate, and Kamala chose an abysmal far left running mate. I'm not sure what their message was--Harris never articulated specifics. Further she flip-flopped on issues like fracking so the voter at best was confused. But the track record of the Biden-Harris leadership with inflation causing high grocery prices, millions of illegal immigrants crashing our borders, and the war on fossil fuels that caused high prices at the pump--that track record did not resonate with the American voter. They were better off four years ago. The closest comment I have seen to an admission of a message failure came from Marty Walsh, Biden's former Labor secretary, who said: "the party as a whole hasn't figured out how to effectively reach and educate voters." They certainly do not seem to understand the present Republican party.
Let me finish with a biblical quotation: "If my people...will humble themselves and pray...I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14. We certainly need healing.
Peter Gilderson, Madison.
