To accomplish political goals, join a party

Pigs and pearls

This is the story of how an independent became a Democrat; this also is an assertion of two self-evident political truths. First, people join parties to achieve their goals. Second, political organizations are a means to an end, which is winning. Those that do not win disappear.

It was Oct. 12, 2002, when I decided I would vote against President George W. Bush. Sure, I was unhappy with his regressive tax plan and I disagreed with the No Child Left Behind Act, but I was — until that point — unwilling to automatically grant the Democratic nominee my vote; I was an independent and proud of it.

But when Congress authorized Bush to use force against Iraq, I knew I could not vote for the president. I deeply oppose the doctrine of preemptive force and felt the president would use a new war to effectively neuter opposition to his policies.

I openly detested the Republican Party after Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) used former U.S. Senator Max Cleland’s (D-Ga.) opposition to the authorization of force as the basis for an attack ad accusing Cleland of supporting terrorists. For opposing an unnecessary war, Cleland — a Vietnam veteran who lost three limbs — became a traitor. Cleland lost that election as the Republicans used the fear of terrorism to seize control of the U.S. Senate.

I declared my own war. As a columnist for The Breeze, I took every opportunity to attack Bush and the Republicans. One of my friends, a College Republican at the time, told me I was causing conservatives to become irate. That success could not hide the enormity of the task of single-handedly defeating Bush through eloquent prose at a college newspaper. I had to join a campaign.

Yet even though I became a Deaniac, I realized without the help and support of the Democrats on campus and in the area, my efforts for Howard Dean would not be worth much. I had to join the party.
After Dean lost the nomination, I made the choice to be a team player and not sulk about his loss. I stayed in the game. I played Democratic ball all year with one goal in mind: Beat Bush.

So what do I do now that Sen. Kerry lost? Well, my goal remains to beat Republicans. Right now, the Democratic Party is my best bet to accomplish that goal, so I remain a loyal Democrat.

I am convinced, however, that Democrats must become more conservative in order to win national elections. I think the fact that people overwhelmingly voted on the basis of "moral issues" supports my assertion.

The Democratic Party has a choice before it. Democrats can go left, become more liberal and lose any chance of winning a national election. Democrats also can move right, become more conservative and remain competitive throughout the country.

Some might ask if I am advocating the surrender of principles in order to win. In this case, yes, I am. The Republicans will ruin this country with their regressive economic policies and imperialistic misadventures. Civil unions and partial-birth abortions are small prices to pay for budget surpluses, a strong manufacturing sector and worldwide goodwill.

I’ll play on Team Democrat as long as it plays to win. If the Democrats decide they don’t want to win, I’ll leave and start something new. I won’t play for a team that loses before the game starts.

In 2008, when the Democrats choose their nominee, I’ll see what their choice is. Until then, there are Republicans to beat and that’s a game I love to play.

Adam M. Sharp is a junior history major. You may e-mail him at omnilingual@hotmail.com.