New York senator Chuck Schumer will head to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to tell Democrats to “embrace government.”
“It’s what we believe in; it’s what unites our party; and, most importantly, it’s the only thing that’s going to get the middle class going again,” the New York Times reports Schumer will say.
Republicans have successfully portrayed government as the source of the country’s ills, he argues, and Democrats need to aggressively counter that sentiment before it sets in too deeply.
“If people don’t believe government can deliver, they’ll follow the Republican path,” he will say. “That leaves the job to Democrats. If we run away from government, the negative misperceptions about it will take root, and even if people support our ideas, they won’t believe government can deliver.”
“We must convince the middle class that the only way out of their morass is by embracing a strong and effective government, not demeaning it or running from it,” he will add.
“If people don’t believe government can deliver, they’ll follow the Republican path,” he will say. “That leaves the job to Democrats. If we run away from government, the negative misperceptions about it will take root, and even if people support our ideas, they won’t believe government can deliver.”
“We must convince the middle class that the only way out of their morass is by embracing a strong and effective government, not demeaning it or running from it,” he will add.
Schumer will draw lessons from this year’s midterm election. “Even this past election — a debacle for Democrats — was not a repudiation of government,” Schumer is expected to say.
UPDATE: Here’s video:
