Victoria Jelinek

To the Democratic National Committee

I come from a family of staunch Democratic Party supporters who have canvassed, campaigned, and fundraised on its behalf for decades. My faith in the Party is, however, shaken. In its place is the suspicion that, ultimately, the Democratic Party is the same as the Republican Party.

In the wake of an electoral upset on November 8^th that resulted in an ideological civil war, exacerbated by the consequent behavior of Donald Trump, the Democrats have been silent. There has not been critical attention and investigation to any number of offenses to the office of US president that Trump may have committed, such as his conflict of interests; or his refusal to release tax returns; or his potential collusion with a foreign power in order to defraud the elections; or numerous testimonies of sexual harassment (as well as a court filing for rape of a minor); or the fact that donors to his campaign are now nominees for cabinet posts; or that his staff (like much of yours) is wealthy and white; or that there have been overt Neo Nazi activity in his name; or that he poses a threat to fragile diplomatic alliances (see Russia, Taiwan). If it hadn’t been for Obama’s stepping in to temporarily halt the DAPL or the Arctic drilling, we the people would feel utterly adrift. Do the Democrats exist other than as flaccid interview subjects? A party who declares “We don’t know yet what Trump will do…so we’ll wait and see…” This makes no sense unless you are, in fact, indebted to the same forces that have allowed Trump to have the power he suddenly has.

Unless you speak up unequivocally and ardently for the people in general, you have no right to use the term ‘progressive’ or claim to be making ‘progress.’ Moreover, articles IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, XII, XIII, of your platform statement are empty. Fear that you may ‘rock the boat’ of potential funders, corporate leaders, and your peers, and consequently lose your position, must end. You won’t be remembered for being a coward. We the people are ready for radical action and will support you in real numbers if you actually act judiciously and decisively.

Start right now. Don’t be on the defense, start an offense. Take Trump to task. Give interviews and raise direct questions pointing the media to where they should cast their eye. Comment critically on the consistency of Trump’s inconsistencies. Question his cabinet choices and their role in his campaign financing openly. Demand to see Trump’s and his family’s tax returns. Demand he lives in the White House or that he pay for it personally – why should the taxpayer finance this when children in the US go without food, education or healthcare? Be like Joseph Welch—the lawyer who memorably asked McCarthy during a televised hearing–whether he had “no sense of decency. ” Win (back) the support of the American people by your actions and your words. Platitudes and empty promises are evident even to young children, and it is this flaccidity that attracted many people to Trump in the first place. And it’s this inability to be courageous in the face of real opposition that is fueling my own disenchantment with the Democrats. We the people are terrified of the day that Obama leaves office and takes any integrity and intelligence modern politics may have with him. Most of we Democrats suspect there will be a power vacuum that, at best, will lead to complete kleptocracy and authoritarianism. In the worse scenario, to global destabilization and war – neither is good.

Get off the fence now.

Sincerely,