• About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News and Features
    • Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
      Professor Phillip Levine Discusses “A Problem of Fit”
    • CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
      CS Department shifts CS 111 course structure
    • WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
      WAMI and WRJ host discussion on criminalization of abortion
    • News
      • News in Brief
      • Nation & World
      • President’s Corner
      • Senate Report
    • Features
      • Alumnae Spotlight
      • Eye on Science
      • Faculty Focus
      • LGBTQIA+ Column
  • Opinions
    • Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
      Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification
    • It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
      It’s time to put traditional grading to the test
    • What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
      What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Elephant in the Room
  • Arts
    • No image
      Pentimento’s Open Mic is Like an Old Patchwork Quilt–Worn, Yet Cozy
    • No image
      Kanye’s Antisemitism Steps on his Shoe Brand
    • Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
      Lousy Realities: Luca Guadagnino (2015)
    • Arts In The News
    • Reviews
    • Music Peek
    • Books Before Boys
  • Sports and Wellness
    • Student-Athlete of October
      Student-Athlete of October
    • Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
      Athletics Update Oct. 19, 2022
    • The Case for Body Neutrality
      The Case for Body Neutrality
    • Athlete of the Week
    • Boston Sports Update
    • The Vegan Digest
    • The SHE Corner
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
      Top 10 Girlbosses who aren’t alumnae, but I would totally believe you if you told me they were
    • Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
      Wendy Wellesley’s Thanksgiving Menu
    • The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
      The Snooze Awards for the Best Tanners of 2022
  • Miscellanea
    • President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
      President’s Column: The Butterfly Effect
    • Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
      Administrators shocked to learn that students dislike being left in dark
    • 50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
      50 Lies You Tell Yourself in Order to Survive Until Graduation
    • The Dose
    • The Olive Branch
    • Multimedia
      • Galleries
      • Infographics
      • Videos
By Ahilya Mehta OpinionsMarch 9, 2017

Progressive elections do not ensure progress

Tom Perez address the Democratic Party. Photo courtesy of The Intercept

Initially, I wasn’t sure why the election of a new Democratic National Committee (DNC) leader really mattered. It’s not even like the Democratic Party really has much presence in the House or the Senate right now, and with President Trump at the frontline, it is easy to imagine the Democratic Party being sidelined even further. However, because the Democratic Party is at their weakest point in the House and the Senate since 1928 and 1925 respectively, the new chairperson for the Democratic National Party will be very important. Therefore, regardless of who won the election, it is the job of the new chairperson to change the path for the Democratic Party in order to end this losing streak.

Between the rise of inequality, elitism and the hatred for the institutional establishment, Democrats are facing a serious backlash in politics. Nevertheless, with President Trump in office, a man who “didn’t know healthcare could be so complicated,” the Democratic Party may still have a sliver of hope in the 2018 elections. This is where the DNC leader plays a crucial role.

The American people are tired of the Democratic Party’s elitist mentality. The Senators and Congressmen in Capitol Hill need to take a break from Washington and formulate a strategy that reconnects them with constituents Officials need to break their ties with big money and address the concerns of the average American and have a bottom-up approach instead of a top-down one. The political agenda for the chairperson of the DNC is to spearhead this political change by reminding the Democrats of the values of the Democratic Party and the importance of reaching out to those outside of Washington.

Honestly, having Tom Perez, the first Hispanic DNC chairperson, and Keith Ellison, the first Muslim and African-
American DNC deputy chairperson, at the forefronts might revive the Democratic Party. Tom Perez and Keith Ellison had a very close DNC leader election. When Perez won, Ellison’s supporters exploded in anger chanting, “Party for the people, not big money!” As soon as Perez took the stand he placed Ellison as his deputy DNC chairperson, which was received with almost unanimous support. Both Ellison and Perez agreed that there was no room for division within the Democratic Party. Personally, I believe that change comes from within. There needs to be a shift in the structure of the party apparatus. If the party targets those communities bearing the full brunt of President Trump’s policies, in addition to their current supporters, they will expand their support base.

Thankfully, Perez and Ellison’s political perspectives align with regard to important issues such as minimum wage, immigration laws and civil and human rights, to name a few Both Mr. Perez and Mr. Ellison emphasize the importance of a grassroots level approach that will make individual Americans feel connected to the Party once again. In fact, this is probably the most incremental change that the Democratic Party can make, because it will cause the average American to think that the people in Washington care about those outside of Washington, regardless of whether those Americans themselves don’t care about the politics of it all.

At this point, I don’t think the specifics of who won the DNC election matters. What matters is what Tom Perez and Keith Ellison will do with their positions to make the Democratic Party win in the future. They have the difficult task of redefining and reviving the Democratic Party in a way that helps voters understand what the Democrats actually stand for. For the longest time, the Democratic Party championed the phrase “lesser of two evils.” The Presidency has been decided. It doesn’t matter what side they’re on, if the Democrats want to win in 2018 they need to find a new phrase, one that all the American voters can relate to and one the represents the party ideals. Tom Perez promised a “dramatic cultural change” to the Democratic Party, and he can deliver nothing less if he wants the party to win.

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleResponse from the Editors: Re: Editorial on funding sources
Next articleLetter to the Editor: Wellesley Should Establish A Free Speech Policy

You may also like

Why Art Basel is partially responsible for Miami’s gentrification

It’s time to put traditional grading to the test

Banner reading this website has been seized over images of a book shelf

What can the fall of Z-library teach us about textbook accessibility?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

Top Articles

Sorry. No data so far.

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @Wellesley_News

The independent student newspaper of Wellesley College since 1901.

Sign up to receive our weekly digest in your inbox

* indicates required

  • About
  • Editorial Board
    • Staff Writers
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
COPYRIGHT © 2023 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top