This decision by the DNC to block the public viewing of its internal post-election analysis concerning the last presidential race is remarkable yet entirely predictable. Resistant to frank assessments, the DNC often functions more like a publicity machine rather than an electoral entity committed to building local power for winning elections.
A Culture Resistant to Internal Critique
Unwilling to depart from the prevailing attitude demanding unity, the committee has stayed under the influence of the previous administration all through this past year. Making public such a report might have shown whether party leaders truly desire to foster public discourse about the strategic failures which allowed Donald Trump to win re-election. However, the DNC is proceeding under the pretense that there are no lessons to glean from the stunning loss from the last cycle.
"Here’s our North Star: does this help us win? If not, it’s a distraction from what truly matters," an explanation reportedly given for withholding the document.
Major Failures an Autopsy Could Have Addressed
An autopsy report with any value would tackle head-on certain uncomfortable matters. These include:
- Voter Disengagement: Failing to retain among millions of voters who supported the Democratic ticket during the previous election proved pivotal during the tight recent race.
- The Choice to Seek Re-election: The unwavering choice of a party leader to seek re-election, and a very late withdrawal, is viewed as robbing Democratic voters the chance for a competitive nomination process.
- Losing Touch With Everyday Americans: While facing inflation, the campaign is criticized for bowing to elite contributors without successfully attempting to challenge the impact of corporate greed.
- The Foreign Policy Effect: An unwillingness to adjust an approach regarding the situation in Gaza is cited as driving away key demographic groups, notably with young people, Arab-Americans, Muslim voters.
- Losing Youth Backing: Polling data indicates a significant drop-off in support for the party among voters aged 18-29.
A History of Evasion
Choosing secrecy is consistent with a recurring tendency of evading hard truths. It recalls a situation where virtually every elected Democrat in Washington acquiesced to a sitting president's decision for seeking another term right up until a disastrous televised debate led to an exit.
Concurrently, a significant majority within the party's base were continually telling surveyors of their opposition to that candidate to seek re-election.
Financial Concerns
A substantive autopsy might also examine issues about where money went, such as the amounts were directed to insider consultants and media firms over the course of a campaign which expended an enormous sum over a few months.
A Larger Implication
At its core, the blockage of the official autopsy highlights an allegiance to party leaders that oversaw a losing electoral effort. The message for rank-and-file members – including millions of loyal volunteers – appears to be that they do not have a right to see the lessons the leadership claim to have learned from an analysis drawing from feedback from all states.
A political entity unable to critically review its own failings is unlikely to climb out of the cycle which was so beneficial to their opponents.
