VALUES AS THE FOUNDATION: GRASSROOTS DEMOCRATS BUILD A UNIFIED FRONT

Oh, you're damn right. I mean, I think I do it every day. I mean, people accuse me of talking about nothing other than the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the values of democracy and freedom and justice, but I think that is a historic assignment. I mean, we, you know, Roosevelt didn't call our party the Democratic Party, he called us “The Democracy” with a capital D, and he'd say, … The Democracy says you invest in the great American working middle class, we will all rise and prosper together. That's the doctrine of The Democracy.

— Congressman Jamie Raskin, responding to a question in a town hall

In a recent town hall exchange, Dems101.org’s Jim Decker urged party leadership to ground their messaging in a clear, unapologetic statement of core values. Decker argued that policy talk alone misses millions of voters, and emphasized that while policy debates run deep, core values serve as the party's essential foundation. Core values define who Democrats are to one another, give purpose to our policies, and build vital connections with people in our communities who do not count themselves as proud Democrats.

"You're damn right!" agreed Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland on the power of a values-forward defense of democracy, calling the elevation of these principles "our historic assignment." Vowing to look into the dems101.org movement, Raskin noted that "we need to build a huge movement across the country defending democracy and freedom and justice," highlighting a positive, unifying message as a vital part of the broader momentum that will allow the party to expand its coalitions, flip seats, and win over voters nationwide.