by Del Miller

What does the Democratic Party stand for? It's a question that we are often asked and one that we often ask ourselves; and we never fail to surprise ourselves at how badly we answer it. It isn't that we don't have an answer, because we certainly do. The real problem is that we stand for many things and we never have quite the time to explain them all.

The world is a complicated place and we know that trying to define a whole history of political beliefs into a soundbite is a poor way to lead the country. We tend to build long laundry lists of our beliefs that, while ever so complete, never make it through the gnat-like attention span of the media.

The Republican Party seems to have no problem with such a question, because they've distilled their message into a trite cliche that they substitute for a coherent political philosophy. They simply repeat "Low taxes, small governent and national security" over and over until the voting public actually begins to believe that the GOP stands for such principles--despite overwhelming evidence that they do not.

So how do we present a quick, hard-hitting statement that clearly and forcefully tells the world who we are and what we believe?

Well, I've got the solution, folks. Straight from the Chair of the Democratic Party.

A couple of weeks ago Howard Dean was a guest on the Today Show, sparring with Katie Couric over her recitation of Republican talking points. Finally she announced that they only had thirty seconds left in the program and then invited Governor Dean to answer the question, "What does the Democratic Party stand for?

Without blinking an eye nor taking a breath, Governor Dean told her and the viewing public what Democrats stand for:

"One: American jobs that will stay in America, using energy independence to generate those jobs. Two: a strong national defense based on telling the truth to our citizens, our soldiers and our allies. Three: Honesty and integrity to be restored to government. Four: A health care system that works for everybody just like they have in 36 other countries. Five: a strong public education system so we can have optimism and opportunity back in America."

It set poor ol' Katie back. All she could do is thank Chairman Dean for answering in under thirty seconds.

Sure there are other issues to be addressed and we hold other beliefs that could be explained at length, but nobody will sit still to hear them all. Dean's message was short and sweet and it ought to be our message too.

Ladies and gentlemen, let's memorize that answer and have it ready for the next time that someone asks what Democrats stand for.