President Joe Biden’s decision to step out of the presidential election represents a historic example of putting principles above politics. In many ways, though, it feels as if nothing has truly changed. The names on the ballot will be different, but this election, so far, is still about ad hominem attacks on character. Elected officials, mainstream media outlets and digital platforms remain hard at work fueling outrage among Americans, further isolating us from one another.
Nothing meaningful will change until the Democratic Party’s leadership realizes it will take more than Vice President Kamala Harris (and her yet-to-be-named white male running mate) to reconstitute American hopefulness. We’re going to need an inspiring message, one that overcomes years of right-wing extremism turned mainstream.
According to a 2023 report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Americans are “emotionally polarized,” harboring “strong dislike for members of the other party” despite “sharing many policy preferences” and life experiences.
Adding to the challenges Democrats face is what moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt describes as “intuition first, strategic reasoning second.” In “The Righteous Mind,” Haidt demonstrates that we possess a set of intuitions that lead us to quick, instinctive conclusions. Empirical evidence is used simply to rationalize decisions we’ve already made or ignored if it runs counter to our instincts. So, well-reasoned policy discussions, improved economic indicators and compelling legislative records from Democratic candidates will not prove persuasive unless a solid base of emotional trust is established first. Individuals tend to open their minds when they feel seen, heard and valued.
Harris is an accomplished prosecutor and skilled politician, but she may not naturally inspire the foundation of trust Democrats must establish with a wide swath of potential voters. Harris and fellow Democrats must become impassioned messengers offering a sentiment that’s about more than just the candidates. The party narrative must allow Americans to see the best version of themselves at a time when loneliness, despair and rage have dimmed optimism.
Ironically, we can find direction on how to accomplish that formidable task by considering the disappointment of a former Democratic leader’s failed run for president. In “What Happened,” Hillary Clinton reflects on her 2016 campaign. “I skipped the venting and went straight to the solving,” she says. “That was my problem with many voters.” Clinton was most comfortable speaking about policy rather than allowing Americans to speak about their concerns and aspirations.
In 2024 and beyond, Democrats must listen humbly to the stories of Americans across the political spectrum. In so doing, they’ll learn about courage in times of distress and pride in having met challenges. They’ll hear about a desire to forge relationships across differences as well as fear associated with doing so. As a market researcher, I’ve had the privilege of discovering the common emotional threads that run through life stories from citizens across the country. We have far more in common than we’ve come to believe. People want to work together to build community and country. The Democratic message must reflect the inherent goodness and strength of Americans, particularly when they combine their efforts.
Mirroring our potential will not only inspire voters. It will invalidate vindictive GOP rhetoric. It helps create faith in what is possible rather than what or who is wrong. Democrats should not make highlighting Donald Trump’s flaws the centerpiece of their campaign. They are well-known. Maintain the moral high ground. Voters are aching for it.
When considering the narrative Democrats should cultivate, I am reminded of a scene that plays out far too often on the nightly news. Viewers bear witness to the aftermath of floods, fires and storms that leave homes destroyed, mementos collected over the course of a lifetime scattered and lives torn apart. The community response following those incidents depicts the essence of this moment in our American experiment.
Inevitably, after the storms, people gather to survey the challenge of rebuilding and to hold one another up through countless acts of goodness. Friends, neighbors and strangers extend support, from warm embraces to donations of food, blankets and other life-sustaining goods. No questions asked. Nothing expected in return.
In America today, we are standing together on razed ground. It has been scorched by years of fury from the culture war that’s been waged. Democrats must stand for our shared resolve and resilience, for our ability to meet challenges as one and to prove that we can still put principles above politics.
Julie Garel (juliegarel@me.com) is a market researcher and communication strategist who lives in Bethesda.
