Last week was an historic week. It began with a repudiation of the Confederate battle flag by political leaders who just weeks earlier would have defended it. Next, the Supreme Court again upheld the main provisions of the Affordable Care Act, moving us closer to universal health care. And on Friday, the Court ruled against discrimination and allowed gay couples to marry across the country.
By the weekend, America’s social landscape was changed for the better. For progressives, the three events were the culmination of decades of work. African-Americans and those seeking racial equality have long fought to have the flag of segregation removed from state property. Health care advocates have been fighting since Teddy Roosevelt first introduced the idea that health care should be a right. And marriage equality advocates have watched public attitudes toward same-sex marriage shift at a remarkable pace.
The Democratic Party and its candidates should have been moving quickly to capitalize on these victories, but, in North Carolina, the response was muted. Senate Democratic Whip Terry Van Duyn sent a good email calling for keeping the momentum going, but most of the other major candidates and party organizations were pretty silent.
Team Cooper sent me an email criticizing McCrory for losing Volvo and asking to help them reach their end of quarter goal. NCDP Chair Patsy Keever sent an email celebrating the Affordable Care Act decision, but nothing on marriage equality or the flag. Team Linda sent out something talking about single moms, but no mention of the historic week.
On Facebook and twitter, they did better. Cooper acknowledged both Supreme Court decisions on both social media channels. The Democratic Party shared stories and celebrations on their Facebook page as well as tweeted and retweeted comments about all three events. The North Carolina Senate and House Democrats were almost absent on social media talking about the groundbreaking week.
I’m not sure if the tepid response is fear of the controversial nature of the events or just a lack of understanding of how the conversation on social media works. If it’s fear of the issues, nobody should be scared. If it’s a social media problem, they need to quickly learn how communication has changed
First, they were victories for core Democratic values and constituencies. African-Americans and the LGBT community deserve to know that Democrats are standing with them all the time. Second, no Democrat can run. Republicans are going to tie every Democrat to Obamacare and marriage equality. Democrats should reap the benefits through organizing and fundraising. Finally, Democrats in North Carolina desperately need victories and leaders who will celebrate them. They’re not looking for caution. They are seeking bold leadership.
Political communication has changed rapidly and campaigns that don’t understand what’s happening will lose out. Today, there is a constant conversation happening on Facebook and Twitter. The people tuned in are activists, opinion leaders, elected officials and the press. They are forming opinions about campaigns and candidates based on what they’re saying on Facebook and twitter now, not next year. And it’s not just about pushing out a message; it’s about participating in the conversation, offering relevant comments and information to people they need to influence.
Last week, Democratic organizations and candidates should have been fully engaged. It was an opportunity to reach out to key members of the Democratic coalition and capture their excitement. It was also an opportunity to get in front of reporters and comment on one of the most significant weeks in the past 50 years. Unfortunately, it was largely a missed opportunity.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
Minnie, after reading your comments, I’m surprised you call yourself a Democrat! You disagree with your party on two of the major issues in the platform. You really need to pay attention to your surroundings. Did you not notice the wave of celebration that traveled across this country last week after the decision came down from the Supreme Court? All those rainbows did not pop up from a minority of the people, not just in NC but all over the US! I bet the astronauts in the International Space Station could see some of the large displays from outer space! When Niagara Falls, the Empire State Building, and the White House all change colors, it’s a big deal! You don’t think the Democratic Party has any business “owning” this issue or for that matter “owning” the abortion issue either. If not us, then who does? What party does fight for social justice and human rights? It’s the Democratic Party. I am almost 65 and I am sick and tired of mostly old, white men telling me what I can and cannot do with my body. Until the day we, women can legislate their Viagra and penile pumps, the Republicans need to sit down and shut up
Here, here! I’m with you, Nancy!
Sounds like you are a little hateful toward old white men, is that in our platform?
I don’t hate anyone. It just happens to be a fact that the people in the legislature making the decisions about women’s bodies happen to be overwhelmingly older white men.
Before you readers criticize the party leadership and our best state candidate, try taking on some of these political tasks yourselves. Run for office instead of blogging, and see whether you can get ten percent of the people to support your candidacy. We Democrats are indeed fortunate to have had John Roberts join in upholding the ACA. But rather than celebrating, we should be working to fix its serious shortcomings, starting with the lack of a public option. As for gay marriage, I keep hearing that “the vast majority” supports it, but the only reliable data we have for our state shows that more than 60 percent of the voters opposed it in 2012. “But we have POLL data showing the opposite today,” you say. Well, let’s see if you can cash in on these polls. McCrory did steal the thunder on the confederate flag issue, which tells you how hard it will be to defeat him in 2016. I am so proud of the black woman from Raleigh who took down the flag at the SC Capitol. She did something other than blog.
I wrote of these things on my website Transcendia.org/wordpress. I started a daily youtube radio show prompted by what shows in my FB or Linked In feed. I checked the Town Hall Precinct boxes and finding them empty put some few printouts in one. I called the FEC and the NSBE. I link out things to Tumblr, FB, Linked In. I wrote a post on Linked In titled “I’m Perfect” about why as a working class student of government prompted by a work of conceptual art I ended up with a firm grasp of government responsibilities and as a creative economist developed the currency the Insurodollar. I support engineers and poets. Unless the engineers are supported they cannot possibly give the society the energy civilization as we know it requires. Super conductors could well be the magic bullet and transformational in reducing energy needs. They have a couple of difficulties. Militarization of all sectors is going to the reverse of the rational, for civilians pay the bills of the military.
The poets know that lives spent always thinking of the material things and how compromised one is in that pursuit, diminishes the time on earth to get to know ones soul.
Yes, it is weird that Democrats have not capitalized on the victories. Maybe it is that they feel old and betrayed at the length of time past denying them any enthusiasm about it, facing soon enough death.
I am flabbergasted by the inability of the NCDems to seize the day! Truly, they should be capitalizing on so many different points – and their inherent paralysis is mind-boggling – especially in the face of the extreme candidates we have via NCGOP. NCDems will let victory slip through their fingers if they do not start speaking up! Soooo frustrating.
Yes, the silence was deafening, and among other things, allowed Gov. McCrory to gain some small credit for ordering the removal of the Confederate flag from license plates. While I am glad for that action, it is a minimal response and Democrats did even less. My interest and enthusiasm decreases every week, especially for Roy Cooper. I neither need, nor want, a wimp for governor.
Not all democrats agree with same sex marriage. Like abortion, we have no business taking ownership of either issue since it was a conservative supreme court that approved both. Short of a constitutional convention, the legislature can do nothing about either issue. Democrats should rub the Republicans noses in it for awhile, like they have been doing to us.
“moving us closer to universal health care”
“Universal” as in VA-type universal healthcare? Story in USA Today just this morning that VA’s were now turning down vets. “No new patients at this time.” Obviously a universal system that isn’t working well. It really never does.
I think even with the SC ruling, the ACA’s days are numbered. With options shrinking and big cost increases forecast for 2016, this unpopular law will become increasingly so – with politicians of both parties looking to make big changes before the 2016 elections.
Keep in mind the poor and the young aren’t paying – they either don’t buy it and pay the fine or are subsidized. The rich don’t care because they buy the best healthcare anyway – many of the best doctors are opting out to serve only cash customers. And the middle class will be left with declining care and a bigger bill. Not a healthy place for politicians to be in an election year.
This was a Frankenstein law to begin with. Poorly designed, poorly thought out, and cobbled together with parts that didn’t fit. We could have – and should have – done better. Hopefully we will. Americans won’t stand for universal “VA” care, so I expect a drawn-out death spiral, and then we move to a system that makes sense.
VA healthcare has nothing whatsoever to do with ACA. Except, of course, in the minds of people trying to find a bad example with which to badmouth the program.
“….this unpopular law (ACA) will become increasingly so…..” Wrong. The ACA’s popularity has been rising, and now at 47% approval rating in the most recent poll, is at its highest level ever. Try to keep up, please.
Most sane observers, even mny of the very partiisan, will acknowledge that, while not perfect, ACA has opened the door to universal affordable healthcare for Americans, and over time, can and likely will be improved. Many rudiments of ACA–the pre-existing condition, 26 years old under parents policy, premium subsidization, state marketplace, and working through private insurers provisions –will most likely remain part of any better system that evolves. That alone means that will in effect be no “death spiral,” but rather just the continuing positive evolution of government-sanctioned healthcare for all.
There is nothing wrong with the health care that I get from the VA, many more things right about it compared to for profit system. The complaints you hear about it or minuet compared to problems in the for profit system. A Vet can walk in to the VA clinic or Hospital, show his card and get the care he or she needs. There is little or no cost involved depending on your disability rating. If there is a charge they will Bill you later and it will not even be discussed at your visit. The number 1 cause of bankruptcy in this country is the For Profit Medical System that we have. I think everyone should have the excellent and inexpensive care like I get from the VA. We Vets complain about it to make it better and it works, try that with the For Profit System and see how far you get.
The Dems got fat, lazy and sticky-fingered. Our current mess is largely because their corruption opened the gates for the barbarians. We need the Democrats to lead, and to lead the fight. Patsy Keever, get busy. We’re in a fight for NCs survival. Anyone who doesn’t see the urgency of that needs to be kicked to the curb. Fight…and Win!
This is not the 1990’s. Democrats need to get out front on social issues now. If you hate marriage equality or you’re ticked about the rebel flag coming down, you are not going to vote for Democrats anyway. So what are they afraid of? Dems need to tar the GOP as a bunch of knuckle-dragging troglodytes who are more interested in picking bones with their own party’s governor than moving the state forward. But Obama has not been a consistent model of fearlessness for his party. I don’t always agree with him, but has anyone else noticed that when he forcefully defends his positions, his popularity improves? That is what all Democrats have to do. NC is a center-right state – it is not a far right state. But our leaders are far right because the Dems give no alternative vision. If they cannot do that, they should at least put up a good fight.
Many Democrats have religious objections to Gay marriage, Dems have no business trying to own that issue. Out of all the states that voted on the issue only 2 voted for it, and 31 voted against, the rest were approved by legislature. I am still a Democrat and I don’t believe that the majority of people in this country accept Gay marriage.
You are entitled to your beliefs, be they wrong or right. In this case, I believe you are wrong. Every recent national poll shows larger percentages of Americans supporting gay marriage than opposing it.
I also happen to believe that the fastest growing opinion segment re: this question are those Americans who simply tolerate SSM, ignore it, or just feel like “it’s none of my business” as to who people love and marry. It is not support as much as it is almost benign indifference. I have no survey data to cite, but base it only on my many conversations with friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, people I overhear when out, posters on FaceBook, my daughter (a Millenial) and her friends, etc.
Not to mention the fact that when the anti-gay marriage amendment got passed, it was during an off-year election cycle, and just a primary day at that. FAR more Republicans than Democrats went to the polls on that day.
From a WRAL fact-check from that election day: It’s worth noting that Republicans had more hotly contested races during that 2012 primary, which turned up GOP turnout compared with Democrats. Since Republican voters are, in general, more socially conservative than Democrats, it’s a fair bet that the electorate for that primary was somewhat more disposed toward the amendment than the general population.
Read more at http://www.wral.com/fact-check-did-60-percent-of-nc-s-population-back-gay-marriage-ban-/14063284/#j8ElCr26d4D8T5fc.99
Had the Democrats shown up, it may have passed, may not have, but if it did, it would have been by a very slim margin. Today, I doubt it would pass. Times, they are a-changin’!
All true, Eilene. Estimates are that only 25-30% of eligible NC voters determined the marriage amendment count.
Yet, the neo-cons just keep banging the drum about how the SCOTUS trampled on the vote of NC’ers. They refuse to acknowledge the points you make, the role/duty of the SCOTUS to rule on such civil rights legal questions, or that the 2012 amendment vote happened before the huge nationwide swing in SSM acceptance took hold.
Democracy is deterred by majority vote, what are your comments trying to say? Are you saying that we should rely on polls instead of voting?
Minnie:
Elections and referendums are determined by pluralities. Elections are about voting for candidates to represent us, while referendums are about voting for state policies, directions or amendments that we will live/work/play under. Those policies/directions/amendments that might be passed can be rightheaded or wrongheaded, constitutional or unconstitutional, as determine by the interpretation of our courts.
The highest court in the land has ruled that state laws/amendments against SSM are unconstitutional, and that states must allow same sex couples to marry.
And yet, there are those who refuse to accept that ruling, who rail against the SCOTUS’ role as constitutional interpreter (although when that court makes a ruling in their favor, they will tout the court’s “insight” and “wisdom”), and who still mindlessly insist on a state’s right to follow/honor an amendment to its state constitutional even when/if that amendment has been determined to go against the Constitution of the United States.
In short, I am not for rule by polls, or against free and open elections, or against state referendums or against states passing amendments to their constitutions. But I am for state constitutional amendments abiding by the law of the land, and that trumps whatever the vote on Amendment One was back in 2012.
So it bothers me no end when regressives keep harping how Amendment One is a good and fair and lawful thing, or how it should be honored still, or how it is somehow indicative of where the populace of NC stands on the issue TODAY. Given the recent SCOTUS ruling, that 2012 referendum has no standing, was a waste of voters’ time, and should not be referenced as a reason why SSM should be denied to citizens in NC today.
Both comments so true. N C Democrats have got to change beginning today or just forget about accomplishing anything in the 2016 elections. And if all they need is 4 more in the NC House of Representatives to stop the GOP veto majority, then they should start now.
Yes. It’s been odd and frustrating that NC Dems have been so muted on what happened last week. I had thought that running away from issues like the economy, Obamacare (and Obama), and other progressive notions cost the Dems in the 2014 elections. I also believed that since November, greater improvement in the economy, Obamacare enrollment increases, and the many positive court rulings would have motivated louder and more organized drum-beating from Dems across the state. But that really hasn’t happened….
It might be that NC Dems still don’t have their act together vis-a-vis party leadership and organization, or it could be that they just don’t see how the world has changed communication-wise or how the US is changing quickly on social and healthcare issues. Regardless, their milk-toast response has been irksome.
While not being a registered Dem (I am a progressive unaffiliated voter), I and voters of my sort on the left or even in the middle need the more progressive of the two major parties to indeed be more progressive—and, in these immediate times, more vocal, too……
And this week… Democrats should have been blasting the GOP legislature nonstop about defunding drivers education — an issue that resonates in every demographic.
Instead what little we have is Larry Hall at a press conference taking about Medicaid (while more than a worthy and just topic, pitiful politics).
The NCGOP gives NC Democrats and these splinter groups like the Main Street do-nothings opening after opening, but no one is making use of them.