Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party [Hardcover]

Glenn Hurowitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 11, 2007

Coming just in time for election season, Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party chronicles the extraordinary stories of five politicians and activists: three "progressive heroes" who exhibited rare political courage - and through it found unexpected political success, and two "spineless weasels" who embraced The Politics of Fear and rode it to ultimate failure. The book reveals how Senator Paul Wellstone used his courage to overcome a quirky personality, an occasionally hysterical style and, most of all, an ideology considerably to the left of his constituents, eventually becoming a national hero. It tells the dramatic story of how the same foundations and corporations that engineered the right-wing takeover of the Republican Party used junk political science to move Democrats to the right as well. Hurowitz shows how the legacy of Bill Clinton, widely proclaimed his generation's greatest political talent, will actually burden the Democratic Party and the progressive movement for decades to come. A work of astounding insight, Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party promises to transform political discourse in 2008.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

From The Capital Times, January 24, 2008

Election years invariably produce stacks of books about the political parties that -- for better or worse, mostly worse -- form the framework of the American electoral system.

The vast majority of them will fail to last the year, and rightly so.

That's because they are written not by people who care passionately about the values that are supposed to define a Democrat or a Republican but by pundits and out-of-work pols who reduce heart-and-soul concerns to drab debates about strategy....It is enough to turn even the most serious political reader toward fiction.

But, don't despair. We have Glenn Hurowitz's "Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party" to see us through the 2008 campaign season.

This is a smart book by a smart man who cares deeply about the Democratic Party and recognizes that its dismal track record in recent years -- both out of power and in -- is less about specific stands on issues than it is about a deep and unrelenting ignorance of what matters, and what works, in politics.

"It's not that they're intrinsically bad or cowardly," Hurowitz says of Democratic leaders. "It's that they remain slaves to a deeply flawed political strategy that says courage would ruin their political chance of success."

He is, of course, correct.

Democrats who were elected in 2006 to end the war in Iraq and to hold those responsible for the war to account have done neither. Is it because they support the war? No, most Democrats in the House and Senate opposed authorizing George Bush to take the country to war in the critical 2002 Congressional votes, and the overwhelming majority of Democrats elected in 2006 ran as anti-war candidates. Is it because they have a fondness for George Bush and Dick Cheney? No, they know these are dangerous and delusional men who have done severe damage to the Republic.

So what's wrong?

Hurowitz argues that there is a courage deficit. And he makes the case by examining the records of various Democratic leaders -- some of them courageous, some of them not.

Former Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone is remembered as a paragon of virtue, a predictable enough assessment. But Hurowitz digs into Wellstone's story with a fine eye for detail and gives depth to this discussion of courage -- especially when it comes to Wellstone's election season votes against Bill Clinton's welfare reform agenda and George Bush's war plans. And Hurowitz, who served as a deputy national field director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group before starting Democratic Courage -- a group "dedicated to electing a progressive, courageous and winning Democratic presidential candidate" -- reminds us that Wellstone was not the last of his kind. He writes ably, for instance, about a pair of edgy new Democratic senators, Montana's Jon Tester and Virginia's Jim Webb.

But Hurowitz is at his best when he takes on the Democrats who do not seem to understand that Americans want muscular leadership rather than apologies and compromises. He uses former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. -- the man who helped Bush put the finishing touches on the Patriot Act and promote the war -- as an example of a classically ineffectual and ultimately failed Democratic leader. And, of course, former President Bill Clinton is recalled as a Democratic leader who left no progressive legacy whatsoever.

The critique is right. But what's the solution? Hurowitz suggests that progressives need to alter their dysfunctional relationship with the Democratic Party. Democrats who stand strong for progressive ideals should be supported, strongly. Those who fail to do so should be abandoned, quickly and unceremoniously.

Hurowitz has suggested that we would be wise to begin by recognizing the threat that is posed by Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy. "Hillary Clinton," he suggests, "has repeatedly given in too easily to pressure -- and too often decides her policies not on the basis of what's right, but on the basis of what polls and focus groups tell her. As history shows, that's a dangerous road for Democrats and for the country."

Hurowitz is not a Hillary hater. He is a Hillary explainer. And what he explains in this fine book is that the politics of the pulled punch and the compromised conscience may deliver a transitory victory for the Democrats. But it never wins the future.

- John Nichols

"Glenn is a brilliant emerging star in the progressive movement." - Matt Stoller, OpenLeft.com.

* Find out why "issues don't matter," why "politicians should only pander to people who care" and discover what exactly the "wimp love myth" is.

*Read why the legacy of Bill Clinton, proclaimed his generation's greatest political talent, will actually burden the Democratic Party and the progressive movement

*Learn how progressive heroes like Senator Paul Wellstone and organizations like MoveOn.org can teach you to transform your community, your country, and the world.

About the Author

"Glenn is a brilliant emerging star in the progressive movement." - Matt Stoller, OpenLeft.com.Glenn Hurowitz is the president of Democratic Courage, which works to elect courageous and progressive candidates. He is also an accomplished journalist and has contributed to The New York Times, The American Prospect, The Politico, and many others. He appears regularly on national television and radio.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 274 pages
• Publisher: Maisonneuve Press; 1 edition (December 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944624480
• ISBN-13: 978-0944624487
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,159,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read that may change the way you think about the Democratic Party forever., December 18, 2007

By 

N. Kemkar (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party (Hardcover)

Every election cycle a handful of books make a defining impact. "Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party" is poised to be one of those books in 2008.

Mr. Hurowitz, a veteran political organizer, makes an impressive book debut. He chronicles several modern Democratic failings and argues that the problem with his beloved party is not a "lack of knowledge or expertise to practice politics effectively" but rather "a deeper problem: a lack of courage."

In gripping prose, he presents a disarmingly modest conclusion. But make no mistake: this Big Idea may change the way you think about the Democratic Party forever. The meticulous research and spirited illustrations of progressive heroes as well as so-called "spineless" Dems will leave you convinced that courage should be the paramount value in Democratic politics going forward.

I found this book to be equal parts insightful and inspiring and recommend it highly to anyone who cares about the future of the Democratic Party.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not your ordinary political book..., December 26, 2007

By 

A. Gordon (Collingswood, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party (Hardcover)

This book really opened my eyes to the different ways politicians can exercise leadership, and provides a new insight on politics that Mr. Hurowitz explains in clear, engaging, and concise writing. The book shows how some politicians are primarily reactive to the media and other politicians, while others take bold steps to use their office to rally support for innovative progressive initiatives. The chapter on Paul Wellstone was probably my favorite - I thought I knew a lot about this progressive hero, but the detailed description of how he was able to maintain and build a strong base of support while also taking daring stands really inspired me.

This book is really a must-read for progressives who want to know how politics can actually lead to important and lasting change. These are the kinds of lessons that the ultra-conservatives learned long ago and have used to gain more and more power; this excellent book will help us take that power back.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tough love for the Dems, January 1, 2008

By 

Jenna J. Perry (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fear and Courage in the Democratic Party (Hardcover)

Fear and courage provides a whole new lens to view the 2008 election. Who is talking the talk, who is walking the walk, and who is running scared? Hurowitz puts his finger on what we've been missing in Democrats (and politics in general, let's be honest). It's courage. Reminding us who has it, who lacked it, and most importantly, how we get it back will make voters, organizers, bloggers and political watchers of all stripes take note.