The decision by the DNC to withhold the publication of its own autopsy report on the 2024 election seems stunning however not surprising. Opposed to unpleasant candor, the DNC often functions more like a publicity machine than a political organization focused on cultivating a volunteer base for winning elections.
An Environment of Conformity
Unwilling to challenge the party establishment's culture of conformity, the committee has continued under the Biden-Harris shadow throughout this past year. Making public an official autopsy could have demonstrated that the leadership truly desire to foster public discourse about the missteps that paved the way for Donald Trump to win re-election. Instead, the leadership is moving forward as if there are no lessons to be learned from the tragic debacle from the last cycle.
Our guiding principle: is this good for winning elections? If not, it becomes a sideline issue from what truly matters," a rationale reportedly given for withholding the document.
Major Failures an Autopsy Could Have Examined
A genuine analysis with any value would not dodge certain uncomfortable matters. Among them are:
- Electoral Disengagement: Losing among a significant portion of the electorate that backed the Democratic ticket during the previous election proved pivotal in the close recent race.
- A Choice to Seek Re-election: The stubborn decision by a party leader to stay in the race, alongside a very late step-aside, has been criticized as robbing the party's base of a competitive nomination process.
- Failing Core Democratic Voters: While facing inflation, the campaign is criticized for accommodating elite contributors while failing to confront the impact of big business.
- The Foreign Policy Effect: An unwillingness to shift a stance concerning the situation in Gaza is cited as driving away significant blocs, especially with youth voters, Arab American communities, Muslim voters.
- A Decline in Youth Backing: Polling data indicates a major decrease of support for the party among voters aged 18-29.
A History of Evasion
The decision to withhold aligns with a recurring tendency of sidestepping hard truths. It recalls an episode in which the vast majority of Democratic officeholder in Congress supported a sitting president's insistence on seeking another term until a disastrous public debate performance led to a reversal.
Meanwhile, a significant majority of Democratic voters were repeatedly informing surveyors of their opposition to that candidate to be the nominee.
Financial Questions
An honest autopsy might also probe issues about where money went, including how much money went to high-priced advisors as well as ad buyers during a campaign which expended an enormous war chest during the general election.
The Larger Problem
Fundamentally, the secrecy surrounding this report points to a deference toward the established hierarchy responsible for a losing national race. The signal for rank-and-file members – including millions of small donors – appears to be that they do not have a right to know what the insiders claim to have learned based on an analysis compiled from feedback from all states.
A party unable to honestly assess where it went wrong will struggle to break free from the pattern that proved so beneficial to the rival party.
