McAuliffe Will Be Fired

John Prothro

By now armchair pundits have sliced and examined every aspect of John Kerry's failed campaign. But I have yet to hear Democrats ask the most obvious question: When are we going to fire Terry McAuliffe?

Democrats love losers. Consider their affection for Al Gore and their confidence in Bob Shrum (0-8). One has to marvel at a strange loyalty that spurns commitment to lost causes and abandons rational character judgment. Democrats are the worst gamblers. "I'll give the dice one more toss. Eventually, I'll get a seven..."

But one has to believe Democrats will wake up and smell the comatose. Terry McAuliffe has been a massive failure. Since being installed as Chairman of the DNC, he has overseen large losses in the House and Senate, an embarrassing attempt to overthrow Jeb Bush, and a stomping by George W.

Still, McAuliffe is an accomplished fundraiser. Under his leadership, the DNC managed for the first time to become debt free. But his money exploits do not discount his largest shortcoming--he is a terrible strategist. For one, McAuliffe has radicalized the Democratic Party, allowing fringe members to steer its decisions. But more costly was an overarching strategy he encouraged in John Kerry's campaign.

A reporter asked Terry McAuliffe before the first debate what John Kerry needed to do during the debate. His answer acknowledged the precise problem with the Kerry campaign: "John Kerry needs to reach out to everybody tonight."

John Kerry lost this election because he reached out to everybody--hunters and treehuggers, warmongers and war protesters, Israelis and Palestinians, Laurel and Hardy. Consequently, he wound up damaging his credibility and offering Bush his oft-used quip, "You may not agree with me, but you know where I stand."

Democrats need leadership--someone who will define an agenda and defend it, a moderate that hasn't abandoned reality and forsaken principle. If the Democrats want a real leader, and I believe they do, they will fire Terry McAuliffe.