The Spectre of Clintonism: How a Political Legacy Haunts the Democratic Party

A Familiar Crisis

The 2024 election saw the Democratic Party respond to another Trump victory with a familiar refrain: denial. Instead of confronting fundamental flaws, the party clung to the hope of superficial messaging tweaks, a strategy reminiscent of their reaction to 2016. This echoes a pattern established decades ago with the rise of Bill Clinton and his brand of neoliberal politics—Clintonism.

The Rise of the New Democrats

In the aftermath of Reagan's 1984 landslide, a group of centrist Democrats, primarily white Southern men, formed the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). Their goal: reinvent the party. Rejecting traditional commitments to labor, civil rights, and social welfare, they championed market solutions, deregulation, and incremental social progress. Their mantra: "The political ideas and passions of the 1930s and 1960s cannot guide us in the 1990s!"

The Politics of Evasion

After Michael Dukakis's defeat in 1988, a DLC-commissioned report, "The Politics of Evasion," diagnosed the Democrats' problem as "liberal fundamentalism." The report's authors, William Galston and Elaine Kamarck, urged the party to court white middle-class voters, prioritize presidential elections, and abandon the "myth of mobilization"—the idea that energizing marginalized voters could lead to victory.

Clinton: The Embodiment of the New Democrat

Bill Clinton, a DLC founding member, became the perfect vehicle for this new vision. His 1992 campaign meticulously followed the report's prescriptions, emphasizing "family values," a tough-on-crime stance, and distancing himself from progressive figures like Sister Souljah. However, Clinton’s ability to empathize with economic anxieties resonated with voters, leading to his victory.

Triangulation and the Erosion of the Safety Net

Clinton's presidency saw the embrace of deficit reduction, NAFTA, and the infamous 1996 welfare reform bill. Despite widespread opposition from traditional Democratic allies, Clinton signed the bill, prioritizing so-called "soccer moms" over the vulnerable populations affected by the cuts.

The Clinton Legacy

The apparent economic success of the Clinton years cemented the New Democrat orthodoxy. Subsequent Democratic nominees, including Barack Obama, tailored their campaigns to appeal to affluent suburbanites. This strategy, however, failed to account for the evolving Republican Party, which embraced nationalist populism under Trump.

A Reckoning for the Democrats

The 2024 election exposed the limitations of Clintonism. The party faces a critical juncture. To move forward, they must abandon outdated strategies, embrace the energy of a newly invigorated progressive movement, and develop policies that address present-day realities, including economic inequality, the climate crisis, and the need for a robust social safety net.

"We set an agenda for the 1990s. It wasn’t an agenda for 2020," admitted Al From, the architect of the DLC, highlighting the urgent need for change.

An Alternative Path

Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition offered a different vision for the Democratic Party in the 1980s—one built on multiracial solidarity and the mobilization of marginalized communities. His critique of the DLC as "Democrats for the Leisure Class" resonates even today.

The Future of the Democratic Party

The Democrats must learn from the past, not be trapped by it. While Clintonism played a significant role in shaping the party's trajectory, it's time for a fundamental shift. The future requires bold new leadership and a commitment to progressive policies that meet the challenges of the 21st century.