Why are the Democrats acting as sore losers?
- In American Elections 2016
- 09:56 PM, Nov 13, 2016
- Rasita Anand
The most important political office is that of private citizen – Louis Brandeis
Every country has a unique set of problems. The political parties encash that into votes with promises of providing solutions. The one’s that convince have their vote, and if they don’t deliver they lose their trust. It’s a continuous cycle.
Few days ago, America elected Donald Trump as their President. Despite not winning the popular vote he will ascend the Presidency of United States of America early next year. The United States till date has been a two-party power system with the Democrats and the Republicans ruling in turns. In 2008, President Barack Obama was elected with a thumping victory. His famous “Yes, we can” and “Yes we did” caught the fancy of millions and Americans cheered on and looked hopeful even when the US was facing one of its worst recession. It was a difficult time across the world with all countries reeling under financial duress.
President Obama has served two terms and much has been achieved under his leadership, most important being hope. But sadly, this is not about his achievements, but rather the focus is on the failings. How did his party which won the mandate twice with huge margins lose out to a novice in politics?
Trump is a businessman billionaire but is a nobody in politics. Against the Democratic candidate Mrs Clinton, who has been a senator, a former first lady and most recently Secretary of State, Trump was an outsider candidate; a man described by the liberal media as entitled, boorish, bigot, racist, liar, etc. The chances seemed non-existent. He was relegated everywhere, including his party, the opposition, the punditry, the celebrities and the media. And yet he is here; the 45th President-Elect of the United States of America. How and why did this happen?
Many may find the answer to be simplistic. But in reality, it is very simple. Trump had his ear to the ground. And that is the only thing that matters. Everything else is secondary. I cannot but commend his statement on the election eve when he spoke of the forgotten man and woman. He won on that plank. Mrs Clinton and her party failed here.
One needs to be connected at the grassroots level. Everyone who has ever listened to the common man on the street has won. As someone said, politics is not about the left versus right; it’s about top versus the bottom. The idea is to be inclusive and give everyone a fair opportunity to succeed. This is where the Democrats got it wrong. They were completely disconnected with reality and did not see the simmering unrest. They chose to hear what they wanted and ignore the rest. They were overconfident and underestimated their opponent. Negative personality campaigns won’t lead the campaign anywhere. One may have the most eligible candidate for the job so the focus should be on their qualities and not gender card. Instead of playing to their strengths the campaign highlighted weaknesses of the opponent and gave him more visibility. One must remember the saying, that there is no good or bad publicity!
At the end of his term, Obama has managed a robust and better economy than the one he received, but it seems that the results have not reached a large section of the society. People don’t like to be taken for granted. When a party wants to be re-elected, it has to be based on performance and votes are not to be taken as entitlements. In that, Trump had nothing to lose. He has promised the moon
Trump may or may not succeed in his Presidency. Given his temperament, during the campaigns, he could easily make himself one of the worst Presidents and yet he could turn out to be equally good. And that is a chance this country is willing to give him. So let him take that. He earned it. That’s democracy. It gave him the equality of opportunity. Now it is up to him to prove if he is worthy of the trust people have placed on him.
In this elections, the Democrats have lost both the house and the senate. There are genuine fears of their resolutions being overturned and all their hard work being undone. But that does not give them the right to act irrationally. Along with his legacy of being a great President, Obama leaves a fractured country facing multiple challenges. And his supporters by their acts are only compounding it by being unreasonable.
What baffles me most is the over-reaction of the losing side. Well, for one, though ineligible to vote, I rooted for Hillary. (Yes, I did!). The popular belief is immigrants across the world are democrats. (I may not entirely agree, but I chose others wisdom over mine). And now will be a good time to come out with the truth that in the far end of the elections, I volunteered. I made over a hundred calls to people urging people to go out and cast their votes. In a democracy, every vote counts.
On election day, I stayed glued to TV watching the results pour in. Like many, I was dismayed with Trump taking the lead. By midnight it was amply clear that Trump had succeeded in winning the electoral college votes (lost the popular vote, a little solace there). Well, he forewarned that; and it worked to his advantage. It won him his Presidency. Scratch your heads, but that’s the way it works in America.
The reactions after his win thereby have been dramatic, almost - melodramatic. Statements such as this is such a great country, but now it is going to be a nightmare, the beginning of a great fall, end of the world, etc. are being thrown around carelessly. What has changed is the President and the party in power. Remember this has happened umpteen times in the history of this country and with much pride in its transition process.
Post-election protests challenging a fair electoral process does not lead anywhere. The Democrats need to introspect on what went wrong with their strategy. The Republicans now have a country to run, and it can be done only with the mutual co-operation. The media also needs much self-examination and act with more responsibility. The onset of the new media will otherwise put them out of business.
A real democracy is designed in a way to protect itself. It has its checks and balances. It also has adequate space for shocks and recovery. There are various examples world over. In a democracy, people are the best judges so it would be wise to leave it to their infinite wisdom to choose whom they want.
And finally, as President Obama said today if Trump succeeds, America succeeds.
Photo Credit: whitehose.gov
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