Democrats can only blame themselves

Once again, Mississippi will be inaugurating a Republican governor, preselected for them long ago by the good ole boys in the Mississippi GOP. For the first time since Reconstruction, Republicans are likely to hold the majority in the Mississippi House of Representatives. In an election that saw progressive victories all across the country, including a major one right here in Mississippi, the Democratic party in Mississippi has only itself to blame.

Things were so bad for the Democratic party that it wasn't even able to field candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, or auditor. That prompted State Democratic Party Executive Rickey Cole to admit, "Any honest observer would tell you this is not a position that we want to be in."

Part of that can be chalked up to difficulty in funding candidates; the DNC only sends the Mississippi party $7,500 a month. Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree ran with only a seventh of the funds Governor-elect Phil Bryant had.

As for the candidates the party did field, well, they were asked to downplay their progressive qualities. Democratic candidates in Mississippi, no matter how qualified or how strong, are asked to water down who they are, water down their credentials, and above all, to avoid being seen as being the scariest L-word in the Mississippi lexicon — liberal.

What that results in is a process in which voters are given a choice between a conservative candidate and a conservative-lite candidate. In the 2010 midterm election, Mississippi Rep. Gene Taylor lost his long-held seat to ultra-conservative Steven Palazzo. Palazzo now embarrasses our state on a national level. One of his first acts of businesses was to try to halt the repeal of the anti-gay Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, saying that our military would "go down in flames" if gays were allowed to serve openly.

But he's just being a real conservative. And given the choice between a conservative-lite candidate and a true conservative, homophobia and all, devoted conservatives will go for the latter. While Palazzo was running against Nancy Pelosi (his campaign slogan was "Fire Pelosi," not "Fire Taylor"), Taylor ran against the very notion that he might be progressive in any sense.

In running against Pelsoi, Palazzo excited his base: conservatives. And yet what did Taylor's run do for Mississippi progressives?

Last year when Taylor was visiting campus, then College Democrats President Jackie Northrup asked him why he hadn't switched to the Republican party yet. Later, she sighed before telling a reporter that she'd probably vote for him — albeit begrudgingly.

He didn't excite her. She wanted a progressive; he ran against the term. Without excitement, Democratic candidates can't expect to win in Mississippi. So Taylor lost.

Here's a little secret for you, Mississippi Democratic Party: We exist. Liberal, progressive minded, forward looking voters who embrace ideals like equality and diversity exist in this state. When you find a good candidate, don't ask him or her to cater to conservative thought.  Don't ask him or her to prove that he's not an "evil liberal." That doesn't excite us. Heck, we're "evil liberals" and we'd finally like some representation.

If you want to win elections and if you truly believe that the tenets of the Democratic party are the best solutions for this state, be proud about it. In doing so, you'll give us a party to be proud to fight for and yourselves a fighting chance.