Democratic Values

The Democratic Pledge To America

It is crucial that all of us representing the Democratic Party in this 2008 election year can convey to prospective voters the values that all Democrats hold dear! There are three fundamental principles that inspire our Democratic philosophy.

First, Democrats are resolved to safeguard our individual freedoms. For two centuries, America has been defined by its commitment to constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights.

Second, Democrats strive to guarantee equal opportunity for all. America's historic success has come by providing all citizens, not just the privileged few, with an education that empowers every citizen to secure a better life for their families.

Third, Democrats are determined to protect our national security. To make us truly secure, America must not only stop domestic criminals and foreign terrorists, it must also promote our health security, seniors welfare security, infrastructure security, food security, product security, drug security, environmental security, fiscal security, job security and imported goods security. While forcefully continuing to protect lives, health and property, we must ultimately feel secure that a competent government will also respond to protect and then rebuild our lives when disasters, like hurricanes and floods, strike our local communities.

These three principles might be summed up in one simple statement: Democrats believe that government exists to promote and protect the common good for all citizens; that government must play a role to ensure there is a level playing field for every American and that no one special interest is allowed to gain unfair advantage over even a single American.

President Clinton contrasted the "Common Good" values of Democrats with those of Conservative Republicans stating that, "Where [Democrats] favor equal opportunity and empowerment, they believe the country is best served by the maximum concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the right people. We believe in mutual responsibility. They believe in large measure that people make or break their own lives, and you're on your own. We believe in striving, at least, to cooperate with others, because we think there are very few problems in the world we can solve on our own. They favor unilateralism whenever possible and cooperation when it's unavoidable."

The "Common Good" Value Is The Foundation Of Many Answers To The Question; "For What Do Democrats Stand?"

While it is important that Democrats are prepared to carry our Party's message forward, we must also not allow Republicans to redefine any message to their own advantage. First among the messages that Republicans wish to define for themselves, is the message of security. Republicans, particularly presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Senator John McCain, seek to define "Security" only under its most narrow definition of defending against a foreign terrorist threat. The desire to own this "security" message is understandable for Republicans since this is now the only issue where Republicans continue to poll ahead of Democrats.

While the hazard of foreign terrorist organizations is of vital concern and must be thoughtfully addressed by competent leadership, Americans are more likely to face a much more immediate threat of Flood, Hurricane, Earthquake, Tornado, Cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, Diabetes, Contaminated Food, Unsafe Imported Products, Off-shoring Job Loss or even Interstate Bridge Collapse caused by governmental neglect of our national infrastructure! Therefore, Democrats must remind voters that government's responsibility to keep Americans secure applies to every aspect of American day-to-day life. This is why the following sample Democratic message elevator-speeches, cutting across several key election issues, have been typecast under the "security" theme. (An "elevator speech" is a short overview of an idea for a product, service, or political position. The name reflects the fact that an elevator speech can be delivered in the time span of an elevator ride - for example, 30-45 seconds).

Use these sample messages as is or rework them into your own words so that you can deliver the messages with heartfelt passion. Use them individually or mix and match the messages depending on the issues most important to your audience.

The Democratic Pledge To America
"For What Do Democrats Stand?"

Economic Security - Give every American economic security and job security with a fair opportunity to prosper and pass on a better life to the next generation!

National Security – The first responsibility of each U.S. President is to guarantee the security of America through a well trained military that stands at the highest readiness level! The President and every member of the U.S House and U.S. Senate must have a firm grasp on when and how it is reasonable and advised to use military strategy as a tool to advance our national security interests.

Health and Welfare Security – The security of affordable quality health care should be available to every American.

Educational Security – Every American has the right to an education that includes affordable colleges and universities, prepares them to live a better life than their parents, and also allows them to bequeath a better future to their children!

Environmental Security – All Americans deserve a clean, healthy environment!

Energy Security - We need programs to develop energy efficiency and alternative technologies. Energy Independence Strengthens National Security!

Rights Security - America's Constitutional Government has a responsibility to protect and promote the common good for every single American, not just the perceived "majority" Americans! Government shouldn't be allowed to invade every American's email and phone conversations without warrant just because the technology exists to do so!

The Democratic Pledge To America
"For What Do Democrats Stand?"
Talking Point Messages

Economic Security - Give every American economic security and job security with a fair opportunity to prosper and pass on a better life to the next generation!

• Democrats stand for jobs for Americans in America that offer a living wage and fair benefits. Our economy should provide economic opportunities for all hard-working individuals and families. Therefore, we support a legislative agenda that not only keeps jobs from disappearing offshore to China, Russia and India, but also guarantees a minimum living wage for every hard working American!
  
• Democrats stand for rational government spending and fiscal policies. Through the Republican Party's borrow and spend policies over the past eight years, the National Debt continues to increase an average of $1.42 billion per day - or nearly $1 million a minute - as spending mounts for the U.S. military policing action in Iraq. Republican spending and fiscal policies have ballooned interest payments on the national debt, which now stands at an incredible $9.13 trillion. Today each man, woman, child and infant living in the United States is responsible for $30,000 in national debt; a legacy we will leave to our children and grandchildren. ....Therefore, we support a legislative agenda that stops the mounting deficit spending of the past six years, balances the federal budget and stops the dollar's six-year decline from its status as the internationally preferred business exchange currency.
  
• Democrats stand for a strong dollar plan of action. The Bush administration has allowed the U.S. Dollar valuation to fall to historic lows against the Euro and other currencies. The dollar's 41 percent drop against the euro during Bush's term has contributed substantially to the surge in imported oil and gasoline prices, fanned inflation pressures and contributed to massive American balance of trade deficits. Therefore, we stand for legislation that promotes a trade policy that serves the interests, not just of multinational corporations, but also of every American's vital interest in economic security.
• Democrats stand for legislation that will allow the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission to end speculative manipulation of energy commodity trading markets. The so-called "Enron Loophole" was created and attached to U.S. Senate legislation in December 2000 by McCain campaign co-chair Senator Phil Gramm at the behest of Enron executives. It was this "loop hole legislation" that Enron exploited to speculatively manipulate electricity commodity trading in California energy markets in the summer of 2001, spawning artificial electricity shortages, steep climbs in electricity prices and rolling brownouts across California. Therefore, we stand for legislation that not only eliminates unbridled and unregulated oil and gas commodity trading loopholes, but also regulates speculative commodity trading practices, such as has skyrocketed gasoline prices by as much as an additional 50 percent since the summer of 2007.
  
• Democrats stand for national infrastructure investment. The lack of infrastructure investment by the Bush Administration and previous Republican controlled congresses has allowed levies and interstate bridges to decay into collapse, roadways to crumble and our electrical distribution infrastructure to lag. Therefore, we stand for a well-maintained national infrastructure where maintenance and expansion is determined not by politics, but by what will maximize our safety and homeland security, and by what will keep our economy growing strong.
  
• Democrats stand against wholesale foreign ownership of our national infrastructure. The Bush Administration and previous Republican controlled congresses have actively promoted the policy of foreign investment in and ownership of U.S. infrastructure. In 2006 the United Arab Emirates-owned Dubai Ports World almost acquired a company that ran critical U.S. ports until the public became aware of the deal and pressured Congress and the Bush Administration to stop the purchase. Yet, the Bush administration continues to promote foreign ownership of key public interest infrastructures such as roads, public water systems and airports. The Spanish company Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte SA was almost allowed to purchase the State Highway 121 toll road in North Texas until public pressure derailed the deal at the last minute. In June 2008 the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Affairs has announced it will stop publishing a key report tracking those foreign investments so as to hide such acquisitions from public scrutiny. Therefore, we stand for reversing the Republican legislative and administrative policies that actively promote and encourage foreign ownership of U.S. public interest infrastructure.
  
• Democrats stand for moderate regulation of financial institutions. Immediately after Republicans eliminated the regulatory guidelines of prudent banking practices, unscrupulous home mortgage lenders were free to unfairly prey on both American home buyers and securities investors. Mortgage lenders were free to aggressively market risky sub-prime home mortgages to unsuspecting home buyers and then speculatively trade those risky sub-prime loans in securities markets to such unrestrained levels that the U.S. Federal Reserve is now forced into government bailouts of private securities companies to avert economic disaster. The U.S. Federal Reserve was forced into such a Federal bailout of Bear Stearns in March 2008 over these risky sub-prime mortgage loan trading practices. The depth of sub-prime mortgage loan risks to the U.S. economy are yet unfolding with thousands more American homeowners losing their homes every month through foreclosure. Republicans would rather allow banks and brokers to take unmitigated and unregulated risks, to profit the few, and then socialize the bailout cost of those "too big to fail" by adding the rotten fruits of their bad decisions onto the public debt. Therefore, we stand for legislation that will restore the federal banking regulatory authority that the Republicans discarded in their zeal to eliminate protective government oversight in every quarter of American financing and commerce.
  

National Security – The first responsibility of each U.S. President is to guarantee the security of America through a well trained military that stands at the highest readiness level! The President and every member of the U.S House and U.S. Senate must have a firm grasp on when and how it is reasonable and advised to use military strategy as a tool to advance our national security interests.

• Democrats stand for rational use of our military forces. America must have a well-managed military force with rational tours of duty for Active Duty, Guard and Reserve units that do not break down and wear out our first line of national defense. Even before September 11, 2001, our military leaders indicated that members and families of all armed services branches were stretched thin in meeting deployments requirements. The subsequent miscalculations for a quick and cheap war in Iraq, which has extended to five costly years of policing an Iraqi civil war, added to the necessary operations in Afghanistan, have placed extreme stress on Active Duty, Guard and Reserve forces alike..... Therefore, we plead for legislation and competent Congressional oversight in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate that will restore rational tours of duty for Active Duty, Guard and Reserve units and that will return America's armed forces to peak readiness levels.
  
• Democrats stand for rewarding our men and women in uniform for their courageous service to America. In addition to our strong support for the 21st Century GI Bill championed by Democratic Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, Democrats also strongly believe that our veterans deserve the best health care available, unimpeded by needless bureaucratic red tape and Republican appointed VA Administrators who seek to hide the true extent of physical and mental injuries that result from repeated back-to-back extended tours of duty. Therefore, we demand legislation and Veteran's Administration oversight from every branch of government that guarantees our self-sacrificing veterans will receive the health care and benefits they rightly deserve!!
  

Health and Welfare Security – The security of affordable quality health care should be available to every American.

• ....Democrats stand for a security safety net for the most vulnerable Americans. We must protect the security of our nation's children, elderly, wounded military veterans, and disadvantaged. Children should never have to go to school hungry and never have to skip health care because their parents can't afford it! Therefore, we support strengthened legislation and strict enforcement of existing legislation to make health care, child care, veteran care and elder care accessible, efficient and effective.
• Democrats stand for universal health care through shared responsibility. The American health care system is broken. Over the past five years, families have seen premiums increase by 90 percent while benefits have been cut. America has an embarrassing 47 million adults and 9 million children who are uninsured and 50 million adults who are under-insured. Since 2001, premiums for family coverage have increased 78 percent, while wages have gone up 19 percent and inflation is up 17 percent. Republicans promote a "you're on your own" free-for-all market system to drive health care coverage. Therefore, we support a legislative agenda that drives universal health care for every single American citizen through shared responsibility.
• Democrats stand for modest oversight of insurance, drug and health care companies. Totally unbridled and unregulated free-for-all market forces allow drug companies to reap unprecedented profits -- even after the drug companies annually squander 65 billion dollars for advertising, derived from what Americans paid for their pharmaceuticals..... In 2004, the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spent 24 percent of their $235 billion in U.S. revenues on promotion, versus 13 percent for research and development. Therefore, we favor a legislative agenda that provides modest controls over what insurance and drug companies can do with their profits, what drug companies can charge for their products, and how fast health care fees can escalate.
  
• Democrats stand for expanded federal funding of advanced therapeutic DNA research. Advanced therapeutic DNA research will lead to treatments and cures for a range of diseases that begins with Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Diabetes, Cancer and Spinal Cord Injuries. The American people overwhelmingly support expanded federal funding of therapeutic DNA research, and yet, the Republicans in Washington, bowing to the pressure from their extreme right-wing base, have prevented the passage of bipartisan funding legislation for seven years..... Therefore, we favor a legislative agenda that seeks to increase federal support for every form of advanced therapeutic DNA research.
  

Educational Security – Every American has the right to an education that includes affordable colleges and universities, prepares them to live a better life than their parents, and also allows them to bequeath a better future to their children!

• Democrats stand for building an education system that is the best in the world. Every child should have an equal opportunity to attend elementary and high schools that provide a quality education, and then attend an affordable college or university of their choice. Therefore, we support legislation to invest in our children's education through smaller class sizes, more after-school and pre-school programs, more affordable colleges and universities and more widely available low interest student loans.
  

Environmental Security – All Americans deserve a clean, healthy environment!

• Democrats stand for a clean and safe environment. We must conserve our natural resources both to secure our own health and well being, and to fulfill our responsibility to future generations. Democrats believe it is prudent to control pollution through a series of increasingly effective policy actions in order to prevent the total destruction of our environment. Republicans would rather allow industry to belch out poisonous wastes and climate warming carbon, in accordance with their "anything goes" free-market philosophy. Republicans are in denial regarding those hidden economic costs of environmental destruction, devastating climate change, and unconscionable damage to people's health. Therefore, we support a legislative agenda to restore and then strengthen pollution and carbon emissions regulations that have been eliminated by the Republican controlled congresses and Bush Administration over the past eight years.
  

Energy Security - We need programs to develop energy efficiency and alternative technologies. Energy Independence Strengthens National Security!

• Democrats stand for increased National Security through Energy Independence. America must lead the world in the development of new energy technologies and conservation strategies that will free America from dependence on foreign oil. Energy independence will reduce the country's strategic dependence on Middle East oil and thus reduce the risk that the U.S. must maintain armed forces in Middle East countries for the next 100 years, as Senator McCain has suggested. Investment in the development of new energy technologies will also fuel business investment and job growth in America. Republicans would rather "drive pedal to the metal" until the last drop of oil is burned, and then socialize the cost of 100-year military expeditions to secure foreign oil reserves. Therefore, we support legislation that redirects federal tax subsidies that are currently "gifted" to big oil companies, into programs that will develop alternative energy and energy conservation technologies, similar in scope and urgency to President Kennedy's 1960's era "landing a man on the moon in a decade" program.
  

Rights Security - America's Constitutional Government has a responsibility to protect and promote the common good for every single American, not just the perceived "majority" Americans! Government shouldn't be allowed to invade every American's email and phone conversations without warrant just because the technology exists to do so!

• Democrats stand for the protection of family privacy. For Americans to be truly free, government must stay out of our private family lives. Whether the personal and family choice is related to sustaining artificial life support for family members, health care choices for our aged parents suffering from Alzheimer's Disease or even family planning choices, families must have the right to make the difficult family decisions as God gives them, individually, the light to make their choice..... Therefore, we favor a legislative and U.S. Supreme Court appointment philosophy that keeps family life choices strictly within the family without government interference and demagoguery.
  
• Democrats stand for the appointment of non-partisan U.S. Supreme Court Justices that will impartially apply constitutional oversight in the Supreme Court's review of low court rulings. Long after the next president is gone, his appointments will be sitting on the bench, making decisions that impact our rights and liberties. The next President will likely appoint as many as three new Supreme Court Justices to the bench. Therefore, we believe the President of the United States should appoint U.S. Supreme Court Justices who support the principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. We demand Justices who support an individual's privacy and right to make intimate and personal choices.
  
• Democrats stand for crime deterrence that focuses on opportunity availability instead of retribution. Tough sentences alone don't make us safer. A report released in February 2008 indicates that more than one in every 100 U.S. citizens is now confined in an American jail or prison. The United States has 5 percent of the world's population, and yet it has 25 percent of the world's incarcerated population. We need to deter crime with more police on the beat, programs for at-risk youth, better education, a strong job market and job skills retraining. ....Therefore, we favor a legislative agenda that provides more funding to local police forces across America in addition to the legislative agendas to promote youth programs, to provide better education, and to build a vibrant economy that will provide good jobs on American soil to every American wanting a job.
  
• Democrats stand for the elimination of discrimination. Discrimination against any American diminishes freedom for us all.