Fox News certainly is biased when it comes to politics, so it comes as no surprise they are critical of a new book from Clinton communications director. (Disclaimer, I haven’t read the book.)
Whether the book is full of excuses or not, it’s time to acknowledge some crucial facts about what happened:
- The “fault” for the election loss is both nobody’s and everybody’s. This was, in the end, a close election. Trying to isolate blame to a single person or incident (Clinton herself, the “deplorable” comment, James Comey’s ill-timed announcements of investigations, etc.) is failing to recognize that it was a confluence of factors that resulted in the election outcome.
- For those of us unhappy with the election result, the best thing to do is to reflect on whatever small role they had in the outcome, and what small influence they can exert to change future outcomes. Whether people feel they were too complacent, too dismissive of Trump’s appeal, too angry over Bernie Sanders’ primary defeat, too shrill, too quiet, etc., it’s time to reflect and focus on what each of us can do to effect change.
- Recent victories by Democrat’s are, I think, a critical signpost for Democrats moving forward. Those elections weren’t won because everybody hates Trump. They were won because the candidates spoke to the true needs of the people who voted in those elections. Trump won because he promised people things they most wanted.
- Criticizing Trump isn’t going to convince anybody. What persistent criticism communicates is that there is no better plan in place. There needs to be less criticism and complaining, and more counter-arguments with better solutions.
Reflection, self improvement, and actively pursuing a different future is what’s needed now.