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Much has been said of the 2004 election and why the Democrats continue to lose the political power in Washington that they had held for so long. The main explanation has been values. Values are what persuaded so many voters to lean toward Republicans and re-elect the President. While this may be partially true, I do not think that this was the main motivation for Democrat losses in the last election. For example, here in Michigan we are a "blue" state where 51% voted for John Kerry. However, a ballot measure banning same sex marriage in the state constitution passed with 59% voting in favor of the amendment. There was a similar vote like this in Oregon where 52% voted for Kerry and 57% voted against gay marriage. So if the issue of same sex marriage drove value conscience people to the polls, why did Kerry win these states? While values certainly played a role in the last election, there is a bigger issue that continues to plague the Democrats. I believe the main reason the Democrats continue to lose elections is due to guilt by association.
When Democrat and former Army General Wesley Clark was a candidate for President in the Democratic primary, he made a campaign stop where he was endorsed by none other than Michael Moore. Moore introduced Clark to the audience after claiming that President Bush was AWOL and a deserter from the National Guard. When Clark embraced Moore on the stage that day the entire Democrat party embraced him all of the baggage that he carries. And that's a lot of baggage. When Moore is quoted in the British newspaper "Mirror" saying about his fellow Americans that "They are possibly the dumbest people on the planet", people associate him with the Democrats. When he goes on in the same interview to say, "We don't know about anything that's happening outside our country. Our stupidity is embarrassing", people remember Wesley Clark hugging him affectionately. We have heard the democrats shockingly exclaim "how dare anyone question our patriotism" many times. But when the Washington DC premier of Fahrenheit 9/11 is attended by Democrat Chairman Terry McAuliffe, Senator Fritz Hollings, Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Bob Graham and Representative Charles Rangel, it's difficult to separate the Democrats from the anti-American conspiracy theory crowd.
During a Kerry fundraiser in 2004, numerous entertainers and Hollywood celebrities showed their true colors taking by cheap shots at the President in hate laced rants. After the event, Kerry said, "Every performer tonight in their own way either verbally through their music through their lyrics have conveyed to you the heart and soul of our country." So the Democrats believe that Hollywood represents the heart and soul of America? When Woody Harrelson says "The war on terrorism is terrorism", is that the soul of America? When Ed Asner goes to Canada and says "We don't do a damned thing in our country, because we are pigs", is that the heart of America? When Bill Maher states, "I don't respect religion. I don't respect superstitious thinking and that is what religion is", does that really convey true spirit of this country? By embracing Hollywood, the Democrats have associated themselves with all of the intolerance, hatred and anti-Americanism that goes along with it.
Combine all of this with Representative Cynthia McKinney saying "why did they [the Bush administration] not warn the innocent people of New York who were needlessly murdered", clearly implying prior knowledge of the September 11 attacks, and viola…you get an unfavorable impression of the Democrat party. The Democrats have chosen to associate themselves with people who are out of touch with the rest of the country. It reminds me of when parents tell their children not to run around with the wrong crowd because they will get a reputation. Well, the Democrats have gotten a reputation and it is costing them elections.
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