The post-mortem analysis by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on the catastrophic 2024 elections barely scratches the surface where it should have been most critical – the roles and decisions of former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The inconceivable choice of Biden to pursue re-election at an astounding age of 82, despite obvious signs of cognitive degradation, was a clear sign of the misaligned priorities within the Democratic party.
The deterioration of Biden’s mental faculties were on full display during the single debate held in June with President Donald Trump. Throughout the event, Biden presented a parade of slip-ups and verbal fumbles. One memorable instance had him declaring victory over ‘Medicare’ in a perplexing statement, indicating communication breakdowns that were far greater than mere gaffes.
In a surprising turn of events, Biden conceded his place in the race by July, ceding his charge to his vice president – Kamala Harris. The decision marked a baton handover in an ill-conceived relay, with Harris having inherited not just Biden’s pivotal candidacy spot but also his advisory team. This same team, along with Biden, reportedly discouraged the new contender from creating any salient distance between herself and the former president.
Under the guidance of her inherited advisories, Harris was also dissuaded from labelling the Republican competitors as ‘strange’ or ‘unfamiliar’, owing to a misconception that such a stand would be overly negative. It seems that both Harris and her advisers failed to understand that politics is often about differentiation and drawing contrasts, allowing voters to make clear and informed choices.
Curiously, the DNC appears to be shying away from critically examining these pivotal episodes during their election post-mortem, focusing rather on the actions of allied factions. One could thus question the sincerity of such an effort if the most relevant and impactful factors are conveniently maneuvered around. It’s almost akin to ignoring the elephant in the room.
The suggested narrative from this ‘autopsy’ largely plans to evade any analysis concerning whether Biden should even have thrown his hat into the proverbial ring for re-election, and if Harris was indeed the best-suited successor. In a typical ‘avoidance’ strategy, key decisions from the dismally executed Harris campaign seem to be virtually immune from critique.
This blinkered approach brings to light the sordid state of introspection within the Democratic Party. Jane Kleeb, the exalted chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, quantifies this perspective, stating that the review is primarily interested in the voting trend between Republicans and Democrats. This indicates a willingness to ignore even the potential inability of the party to choose the right candidate.
Avoiding lessons from the failures of party decision-makers doesn’t bode well for future electoral success. The DNC’s post-mortem focus on voters shifting between Republicans and Democrats merely scratches the surface of the real issues within the party. Ignoring the role played by party operatives in the 2024 debacle is akin to treating the symptom while ignoring the disease.
If the purpose of an autopsy, particularly in a political context, is to create an informed pathway for future success, this DNC initiative seems to be veering far from the purpose. It’s the equivalent of charting a journey without acknowledging the roadblocks that caused a derailment in the first place, eventually leading to the same dead-end.
Led by experienced Democratic strategist Paul Rivera, the evaluation remains a work in progress. However, with its reported lack of interest in examining key aspects of failure, it’s questionable whether any meaningful insights will be salvaged from this exercise. As the saying goes, ‘Failure to recognize a mistake only prolongs ignorance.’
In summary, the 2024 DNC post-election autopsy represents a missed opportunity to confront the missteps and blunders that led to their electoral downfall. The failures of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, from Biden’s ill-conceived candidacy attempt to the misguided decisions of the Harris campaign, are glaring instances that demand scrutiny.
However, spirited debate or thorough examination of these factors seems to be currently off the table. Instead, the party has chosen to focus on peripheral issues, seemingly neglecting the fact that its key decision-makers led it down a path of political failure. This ignorance, willful or otherwise, may hamper the Democrats’ chances of regrouping effectively for future contests.
The DNC would do well to remember that denial is neither an effective strategy for dealing with failure nor a gateway to future success. Only through honest introspection and objective analysis of past mistakes can a political party hope to return to a path of electoral success. Leaving substantial issues unresolved only piles up future challenges.
Given the persistence of this dismal narrative, where key election decisions made by Biden and Harris are seemingly brushed under the political rug, one can only conclude a lack of self-awareness within Democratic ranks. Whether this refusal to confront harsh realities is a result of an inability to accept blame or a deeper flaw within the Democratic machinery, it spells possible trouble ahead.
It seems that the Democratic Party will continue to be dogged by its past failures, trapped in an echo chamber of denial, unless it musters the courage to face the inconvenient truth about its 2024 electoral defeat. While the party’s autopsy report is promising to address the electoral shortcomings, its actual efficacy remains to be seen given the preliminary indications.