This move by the Democratic National Committee to suppress the publication regarding its internal post-election analysis on the last presidential race appears remarkable but not surprising. Opposed to hard truths, the Democrats' governing body often functions closer to a publicity machine than an electoral entity committed to cultivating a volunteer base capable of prevailing at the polls.
A Culture That Avoids Dissent
Hesitant to depart from the party establishment's culture demanding unity, the DNC has stayed under the Biden-Harris shadow throughout this past year. Releasing such a report could have demonstrated whether the leadership are interested to encourage open debate about the strategic failures that paved the way for the former president to become president again. Instead, the DNC is proceeding under the pretense that there's nothing to understand following the stunning loss from the last cycle.
"Here’s our North Star: is this good for winning elections? If the answer is no, it’s a distraction from what truly matters," a justification reportedly given for withholding the document.
Key Issues an Autopsy Would Have Addressed
An autopsy report with any value would tackle head-on a series of difficult topics. Among them are:
- Electoral Alienation: Failing to retain among millions of voters who voted for the Democratic ticket during the previous election was decisive in the close recent race.
- A Decision to Run: The unwavering insistence of a party leader to seek re-election, coupled with a very late exit, is viewed as denying Democratic voters the chance for a competitive nomination process.
- Abandoning Everyday Americans: Amid inflation, the electoral effort is criticized for ceding to elite contributors without successfully attempting to address the role of big business.
- A Gaza Effect: An unwillingness to shift an approach on a ongoing war reportedly led to alienating many voters, notably among young people, Arab American communities, and Muslim Americans.
- Eroding Young Voter Backing: Extensive evidence shows a major drop-off in votes for the candidate from voters aged 18-29.
A History Avoiding Accountability
This refusal fits a pattern to avoid hard truths. It recalls a situation where virtually every elected Democrat in Washington acquiesced to an incumbent's decision for running for re-election right up until a poor campaign event compelled a change.
Meanwhile, large majorities of the electorate were repeatedly informing researchers of their opposition to that candidate to seek re-election.
Financial Issues
An honest analysis might also probe issues regarding financial allocations, including what sums went to party strategists and ad buyers over the course of a campaign that burned through a staggering war chest over a few months.
The Underlying Problem
At its core, the secrecy surrounding this report is symptomatic of a submission to party leaders that oversaw an unsuccessful presidential campaign. The implication to the party's base – which includes millions of loyal volunteers – appears to be that they cannot be trusted to understand what the insiders have learned based on a report compiled from feedback from all states.
A political entity incapable to publicly examine its mistakes finds it difficult to climb out of the pattern that proved so helpful to their opponents.
