43rd District Democrats of Washington

One of the things that struck me most about the 2010 cycle was the cynicism. Not in politicians or in campaign organizers – we are a pretty jaded bunch – but just in ordinary voters. The endless economic decline has rubbed off whatever silver lining may have existed in learning to do more with less. Perhaps after electing a president on ‘hope’ an acute backlash of despair was inevitable.

Given the closeness of the vote, some people may argue Senator Murray took Democrats for granted, or that she ran a poor campaign. This is probably a little bit true, but I think it was cynicism that drove Dino Rossi so close to holding a position in the U.S. Senate. Ordinary voters were tuning out against the blare of 24-hour cable news, disengaging from Tea Party rallies, and rolling their eyes at planned debates. We threw ourselves into Al Gore’s race, then John Kerry’s race, and once we finally elected a Democratic President, we have to immediately get out there and defend him. We almost lost a great incumbent senator because people were too weary to vote.

The economy may not recover soon, so how can we defeat this cynicism? Messages conveying the world as we know it will end – unless we get out and vote – should stop now. While the world as we know it may very well end, no one wants to hear it. We want candidates that we can vote for instead of opponents we must vote against. A positive message lacks some of the urgency fear mongering creates and gets less attention than, say, a demon sheep political ad. But it restores confidence.

This brings me to Jan. 1, 2011. Time to renew membership status again! Membership dues are the chief source of income for the 43rd District Democrats. If we can go door to door to build the more time intensive (and expensive) message of hope we all need to hear again, it will be the result of your membership contribution today. Please join us. And thank you in advance for all you do for Democrats.

Become a member today!

Hillary Madsen
Chair of the 43rd District Democrats