In countries with parliamentary systems (like the UK), the party out of power – The Opposition – selects a Party Leader and creates a Shadow Cabinet – a committee with members whose offices generally correspond to cabinet minister positions. In the American party system, we don’t typically do that. We don’t have a designated leader, and the out parties typically focus on organization and/or procedures, with little emphasis on policy.
But the Trump Administration offers an unprecedented challenge to our Democracy and doing things the old way is clearly not working. Democrats are unlikely to identify a single party leader, but we have many talented people who can respond to speak to Trump administration misdeeds and offer reasoned alternatives. Traditionally, Congressional leaders, important governors, former presidents, the candidate who lost the last presidential election (“the titular leader”), the Democratic National Committee Chair, and future presidential candidates all have a role. We have some Democrats – s,g, Pete Buddigieg and Congressman Jamie Raskin – who stand out. But they need organized help.
Having party leaders assume primary responsibility for certain issues would allow Democrats to respond to every Trump outrage. Most important, of course, is the unconstitutional dismantling of government, the attack on privacy and other rights, and sowing the seeds for economic devastation. But it’s no longer be an issue of “swinging at every pitch” or not. Trump outrages fall into certain categories. For example, the “Gulf of America” is part of the nationalism/imperialism/manifest destiny category. The Kennedy Center assault is part the culture wars category. And we need people to explain what DEI is and how immigration works and how they benefit all Americans. It seems like chaos, but Trump has a plan, and Democrats should be ready to respond and put forth an alternative vision on every front.
Looking back, out-parties have periodically created policy advisory committees to draft issue positions in advance of national conventions, and sometimes even in connection with mid-term conferences. One well known foray into policy leadership was the 1956-1960 Democratic Advisory Counsel, involving former president Harry Truman, Adlai Stevenson, Eleonor Roosevelt, Dean Acheson, John Kenneth Galbraith, and other thought leaders. Congressional leaders Speaker Sam Rayburn and Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson were invited but declined to participate. In fact, some congressional leaders commented that the best thing the DAC could do for the party was to go out of business. One important reason for Congressional hostility was the pro-civil rights (and other “liberal” positions) the Advisory Council took. The DAC produced over 60 pamphlets and statements including proposals for liberal policies and criticisms of the Eisenhour administration. The DAC became, in effect, America’s first shadow cabinet, but “died of uselessness” at the 1960 Democratic National Convention as the JFK campaign took over policy.
You can read more about out parties and their national committees on our prior posts, see DNC Chair Election Bookshelf and cites.