Plain talk

Democratic governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, was narrowly defeated for re-election. He has some harsh words for the Democratic leadership in Washington. Though he praises Obama for several legislative accomplishments, each of which should be historic in its own right, he says that the Democrats in general suffer from "intellectual elitism" and seem to be averse to populist rhetoric that would more likely resonate with the people.

This is nothing new. Democrats, and progressives particularly, have been bemoaning the lack of a clear message that can counter the Republican's message control. We have the better case to make; but we can't seem to make it.

A case in point, in Strickland's own words, quoted on HP:

But his frustration was evident as the discussion progressed. Talking, unprompted, about the debate over the expiring Bush tax cuts, Strickland said he was dumbfounded at the party's inability to sell the idea that the rates for the wealthy should be allowed to expire.

"I mean, if we can't win that argument we might as well just fold up," he said. "These people are saying we are going to insist on tax cuts for the richest people in the country and we don't care if they are paid for, and we don't think it is a problem if it contributes to the deficit, but we are not going to vote to extend unemployment benefits to working people if they aren't paid for because they contribute to the deficit. I mean, what is wrong with that? How can it be more clear?"

I totally agree.

Ralph