Ask Auntie Pinko
November 14, 2002

Dear Auntie Pinko,

I am currently going to a very Catholic school. Last week I went to school with a DFL button on and now the GOP has won the House and Senate. What should I say to them?

Anne,
St. Paul

Dear Anne,

There are a lot of things you can say. But whatever you say, be sure that you smile. It's important not to let your disappointment overwhelm you right now. Believe me, Auntie Pinko knows how you feel. It's so hard to work and hope and pray for a better future, and to see it slip away once again in a tide of fear and self-interest.

Folks in Minnesota, I know, are feeling especially sorrowful, as you have lost the chance to raise the integrity level in the U.S. Senate just a bit, in tribute to Paul Wellstone. Auntie Pinko, too, is still grieving for that loss. And very sad that the Senate will be denied the wisdom and experience of Mr. Mondale. That kind of grief and regret is very hard to overcome. Please remember, though, that Senator Wellstone himself would not want the Minnesota DFL to crumple under this blow. Think: What would he do and say in a situation like this?

But you wanted to know what to say about this tragedy to all the blind, frightened, self-interested folks who took refuge in the GOP's promises of war and tax cuts. The main thing to keep in mind is to try to restrain any bitterness or hostility. These may make you feel better, temporarily, but they will not help the Democratic Party, or the nation, in the long run. So what can you say?

You can say "Well, it looks like people wanted to give the GOP their best shot. We'll see how they do with no pesky Democrats to hold them back, now, won't we?"

You can say "Congratulations, I hope this means that without Democratic opposition, our congress can get down to work on delivering solutions to the health care problem and the lack of living-wage jobs for American families."

You can say, "Looks like a good time to buy war industry stocks, doesn't it? Maybe the GOP will restore the value of people's retirement savings, after all."

You can joke a little, and say "Well, since Washington already has a hockey team, maybe our new Senator can get to work on bringing them a baseball franchise."

Or how about: "Well, maybe now the GOP can enact us some significant campaign finance reform. It's pretty clear we need it, given the amount of money that was spent by both sides during this election."

Be sure you're smiling if you choose to say, "Well, you know what they say, things always have to get worse before they get better."

Let's face it, Anne. The Republican Party has been telling America for many years that they can solve our problems for us if they just don't have to keep fighting off the Democrats. Now that they have achieved that goal and taken control of the entire government, we can expect to see some major improvements, really fast. Our best strategy now is to focus the attention of America on holding them to their promises.

It's not much consolation for losing another opportunity to make America more just, more compassionate, more responsive to the needs of all our people, and a better world citizen. But we can't let it prevent us from working to take advantage of our next opportunity. So head out to your local Democratic Party headquarters, Anne, and become part of the solution.

Some of Auntie Pinko's friends have speculated that the directions chosen by our Party's leadership have contributed to this loss. Of course, the people at the top are indeed always responsible for the success or failure of any institution, by definition. But if, when all the factors that made so many Americans vote for Republicans are considered, our leadership's strategy choices for the Party do emerge as a decisive factor, we will need you, Anne, and others like you, to become the Party's new leadership.

So look to the future, not the dreary present, and thanks for asking Auntie Pinko!