As the Democratic Party seeks to rebuild political capital after its resounding November defeat, it seems that lessons are failing to be learned. And yet, a cautionary tale is unfolding in the United Kingdom, one that deserves consideration. It's a blind spot that politicians of all stripes, especially American Democrats, would do well to remedy.
In the May 2024 UK elections, the Conservative Party suffered its greatest loss in living memory at the hands of the Labour Party. It was by no means a wave of acceptance for Britain's left-wing staple. In fact, the party under Sir Keir Starmer received half a million fewer votes than it had in the 2019 election, when it was crushed by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The landslide electoral win was firmly the result of voters rejecting the Conservative Party in its current form.
So, what does new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch plan to do to revitalize her party's ailing prospects?
In an interview with The Spectator last week, she was questioned about what policies her party might be considering. Her response was less than thrilling:
"People keep saying, 'What are your policies?' I feel like I am opening a restaurant in four years' time and people are demanding to see the menu now."
As 2025 draws near, so does the 50th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher becoming the leader of the Conservative Party and, ultimately, her tenure as the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th Century. And what a stark difference these two female leaders present.
When Mrs. Thatcher became infuriated during a party policy meeting, she notably pulled a copy of Friedrich Hayek's Constitution of Liberty from her handbag, slammed it on the table, and declared, "This is what we believe." Quite the contrast with the current leader, who apparently will determine what she and her party believe in some time before the next general election.
And this brings us back to the Democratic Party and its structural - or spiritual - malaise.
Saying what one's party believes is not a problem that the Republican Party currently faces. Expressing those core beliefs to the electorate is also not a significant issue for a GOP headed by President-elect Donald Trump: America First. These two words cover a multitude of policy positions - both real and perceived - and offer a glimpse into the commander-in-chief's system of thought. In terms of advertising, PT Barnum would be impressed.
Consider what Democrat leadership believes right now. Is it trans rights? Is it open borders? Is it an expansion of government? Each of these precepts was roundly rejected by the electorate. The question now becomes whether the support of each was a deeply held belief or a mere policy position that they felt would help secure power. If the former, then they must double down and make better efforts to educate voters on why these concepts are beneficial to the nation. If the latter, however, the next election could prove a rude awakening.
Were 2024 voters policy-driven? Or were they perhaps more drawn to conviction? VP Harris managed to flip-flop on just about every topic of significant interest, and this left a sour taste in the mouth. They did not know what she stood for or what her core beliefs were. She presented as a cipher bending to the whims and wishes of policy wonks whose sole experience with the real world seemingly consisted of focus groups with the party faithful.
The most significant message from the Democratic Party this last election cycle was that Donald Trump was a "threat to Democracy." Should the 47th president leave office come January 2029 - and there's no reason to suspect otherwise - that will be the final nail in the coffin of this pervasive campaign rhetoric. Even sooner, when he begins campaigning for his successor (whomever that might be), the dark warnings will ring hollower than ever before. Leading Democrats need to state loudly and clearly what they believe, and this can't be the empty fearmongering of the last two cycles.
Choosing a policy is not - and should not be - like designing a menu. A Hibachi chef does not open a pizzeria, and a baker does not roast chicken. To be honest brokers, a policy platform should be a reflection of what a party holds to be fundamental core values. If it is not, then it is little more than quasi-bribery and soon-to-be-broken promises in the quest for power.