Last stand for the Democrats

It seems like every time I turn around, the Democrats are engaged in one struggle after another. \nFirst, it was the Democratic presidential primary debates, which were just a step below watching monkeys fight at the zoo. Then, it was watching them get crushed in November. But perhaps the most critical battle for the party will be the upcoming debates about who will replace Terry McAuliffe as Democratic National Convention chairman.\nAccording to a Jan. 11 article by The Associated Press, the race is now between seven candidates: former Reps. Martin Frost and Tim Roemer, former presidential candidate Howard Dean, former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, former Ohio party chair David Leland, strategist Donnie Fowler and New Democrat Network head Simon Rosenberg. \nThe most controversial of the candidates is one of Indiana's own. Tim Roemer is a Roman Catholic opposed to abortion. On his candidacy, Roemer said that he isn't looking to rewrite the party platform, but he thinks Democrats should be more open to candidates in the South and Midwest who have differing views, especially on issues like religion and abortion, according to a Jan. 9 Associated Press story. \nThank you, Mr. Obvious! \nOf course, there are those who do not wish to see the Democratic Party expand its positions on issues. In the same article, abortion's leading attack dog Kate Michelman said that the election of an "anti-choice" candidate would signal the Democratic Party retreating from its base. The simple reality is that if the Democratic Party doesn't do something to modify its positions, after the next few elections, the party will no longer have a base at all.\nSpeaking of expanding their base, I would've thought that after the crushing blows the Democrats received in the last few months they wouldn't put people like Howard Dean in prominent positions, but I guess those crazy liberals will never learn. In a New York Times article published Jan. 12, Howard Dean said the Democratic Party must speak plainly and reflect "socially progressive" and "fiscally responsible" values. That seems to make sense. However, towards the end of the article, Dean said the party must not move to the political center to regain power.\nOh Howard. Don't you see what cost your party in the last election? Apparently, nobody told Dr. Dean that only having support in major urban areas -- like Boston, NYC and San Francisco -- might be okay in state level elections, but it can serve as a huge disability in national elections.\nOne candidate who hasn't been mentioned a great deal because he refuses to pursue another term is current Chairman Terry McAuliffe. On Jan. 6, The Associated Press quoted Sen. Charles Schumer to have said that McAuliffe has been a great chairman for the party and should continue. I guess losing the White House and seeing your party's numbers in Congress shrink amounts to being a great chairman. \nAs a conservative Republican, I shouldn't care who the Democrats choose. However, beating Democrats in elections right now is easier than shooting fish in a barrel. I guess part of me just wants to face a worthy opponent again. The fact is that the Democrats got beaten in the last election largely because they couldn't appeal to middle-class America. One need only look at the electoral results to see that.\nPutting a man like Howard Dean at the helm would make a bad situation even worse. I do not know if Tim Roemer is the answer, but someone has to do something to revitalize the party. \nThe Democrats are now at a crossroads. They have an opportunity to reform, but if they choose not to, they will become the permanent minority party.