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Democrats Need to Go On the Offense

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Dan Pfeiffer: “For as long as I’ve worked in politics, Democrats have had a learned helplessness when it comes to issues of war and peace. Against all evidence, we immediately assume we will lose the fight—and that Republicans and their media allies will be able to paint us as weak and unpatriotic. This mentality led many Democrats to greenlight the Iraq War despite serious misgivings.”

“The meta-politics of foreign policy is never the policy itself; it’s about strength. No matter the issue, equivocating or parroting your opponent’s position will always look weaker than boldly and authentically articulating your own.”

“I don’t know how many times we have to learn this lesson, but being Republican-lite never works—particularly on national security, where voters are looking for someone strong enough to protect them.”

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About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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