This decision from the DNC to block the publication of its own post-election analysis concerning the last presidential race seems remarkable but to be expected. Opposed to hard truths, the DNC behaves more like a publicity machine than an electoral entity focused on cultivating a volunteer base to secure victories.
A Climate Resistant to Internal Critique
Unwilling to depart from the prevailing attitude demanding unity, the DNC has continued under the Biden-Harris shadow all through this past year. Making public such a report could have demonstrated whether the leadership are interested to promote honest conversation regarding the missteps that paved the way for the former president to become president again. However, the leadership is moving forward under the pretense that there are no lessons to understand from the stunning loss from the last cycle.
"Here’s our North Star: will this lead to victory? If not, it is an unnecessary diversion from the core mission," an explanation reportedly given to justify concealing the analysis.
Key Issues an Autopsy Would Have Examined
Any valuable post-mortem worth its salt would tackle head-on certain uncomfortable matters. Among them are:
- Electoral Disengagement: Failing to retain of millions of voters who voted for the Democratic ticket in 2020 became a critical factor during the tight recent race.
- A Choice to Run: The stubborn decision of the incumbent to stay in the race, and a very late step-aside, has been criticized as denying Democratic voters the chance for a genuine choice.
- Failing the Working-Class Base: Amid rising costs, the electoral effort is criticized for accommodating powerful financial backers while failing to confront the effects of big business.
- The Foreign Policy Effect: The refusal to adjust a stance concerning a major international conflict reportedly led to losing many voters, especially with youth voters, Arab American communities, and Muslim Americans.
- Losing Youth Support: Research demonstrates a major drop-off in support for the party from young voters.
A Record Shunning Scrutiny
Choosing secrecy is consistent with a pattern to avoid difficult realities. It recalls a situation where virtually every Democratic officeholder in Washington supported a sitting president's determination to seeking another term until a disastrous campaign event compelled a reversal.
Concurrently, overwhelming numbers of the electorate had been consistently telling pollsters that they did not want the incumbent to seek re-election.
Financial Concerns
An honest report would also examine questions about where money went, including what sums were directed to party strategists and ad buyers during an electoral effort that burned through a staggering amount over a few months.
A Larger Problem
Ultimately, the secrecy surrounding this report highlights a deference to the established hierarchy who engineered an unsuccessful presidential campaign. The message to rank-and-file members – which includes millions of loyal volunteers – appears to be that they do not have a right to see the lessons the insiders have learned from hundreds of interviews based on extensive interviews.
A political entity unwilling to honestly assess its own failings will struggle to break free from the pattern that ended up being so beneficial to the rival party.
