Dissent and the Democrats

After posting this yesterday, I realized that I had left out a point I consider crucial: that public anger at the Democratic leadership over Iraq tends to feed the entrenched media narrative of 'Democrats in disarray'. Now, I don't think we'd get credit in the news media even if we were perfectly unified and efficient, but I also think it's a mistake to feed the storyline unnecessarily.

On the other hand, I do believe in dissent as a positive virtue. I believe that the Democratic party is better partly because there is room for dissent. I'm not saying there shouldn't be any criticism of the Democratic leadership; I'm not suggesting we emulate the Republicans and blindly accept (or rationalize) whatever high-ranking Democrats do.

What I am suggesting is that we express dissent in a form that leaves no doubt about the fact that we're all on the same side. On Iraq, for example, this is how I would put it: I'd like to see something stronger, but it's a step in the right direction. Or, reversing the emphasis: it's a step in the right direction, but I'd like to see something stronger. I don't agree with everything the Democratic leadership is doing, and I'll certainly try to change their minds when I do disagree; but that disagreement is far less important than the vast improvement we've already seen since they took control of Congress.

We can disagree on the little things (on tactics, for example) and still be unified on the big things.