The Democratic Party Must Change Its Tactics

February 20, 2025

The Democratic Party is at a crossroads. The traditional approach of measured debate, decorum, and procedural politeness is no longer sufficient. The GOP has abandoned these norms, using obstruction, disinformation, and outright defiance of democratic principles to push their agenda. If Democrats continue to play by outdated rules, they will keep losing ground. The party must fight back with the same intensity and relentlessness as the opposition. This is not a time for restraint; it is a time for bold, unapologetic action.

For too long, Democrats have relied on civility, assuming that reasoned argument and adherence to process would be enough to win battles. That is no longer the case. The Republican Party has shown that it will break any norm, ignore any ethical boundary, and weaponize any institution to maintain power. If Democrats do not adjust their approach, they will continue to be steamrolled. This means using every available platform, whether on the House and Senate floors, on social media, in interviews, or at rallies, to call out corruption and lies directly and forcefully.

Some Democrats have already demonstrated what real resistance looks like. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jasmine Crockett have been unafraid to push back, refusing to let Republican falsehoods go unchallenged. They make sure that every lie is met with a swift and clear response, and they do so in a way that captures public attention. This kind of aggressive engagement must become the standard. Every Democratic representative and senator needs to take on this fight with the same level of urgency.

Robert’s Rules of Order are not built for this kind of political warfare. While the principles of structured debate and procedural fairness matter in a functioning democracy, they are being weaponized against Democrats in an increasingly authoritarian system. The GOP ignores subpoenas, silences opposition, and rigs rules to suit their needs. Democrats must stop treating these rules as sacred when the other side is openly breaking them. Instead, they should be disrupting hearings, forcing votes, using procedural tactics to grind GOP agendas to a halt, and making noise at every opportunity.

The media landscape has also shifted, and Democrats must take advantage of every possible outlet. Traditional media, while still important, no longer dominates public perception the way it once did. Alternative media, independent journalists, podcasts, and social media platforms have become critical tools in shaping narratives. Republicans have mastered this, spreading their messaging through a coordinated network of right-wing influencers, talk radio, and online propaganda. Democrats must do the same—appearing wherever they can to spread their message directly to the people, bypassing the traditional gatekeepers.

Language matters, and Democrats must stop softening their rhetoric. Calling a lie a “misstatement” or corruption a “misjudgment” only serves to water down the severity of what is happening. The GOP is not making mistakes; they are making calculated moves to dismantle democracy. Democrats must say this plainly. When the opposition is actively working to erode fundamental rights, calling them out in blunt terms is not an overreaction, it is a necessity.

There is a long history of Democrats worrying about how they will be perceived if they take a more aggressive approach. Will they be called radical? Will they alienate moderates? Will they lose re-election? These concerns are valid, but they pale in comparison to the threat of losing democracy itself. If the country falls into full-fledged authoritarianism, winning individual elections will become irrelevant. The priority must be stopping the descent into fascism before it is too late.

Every Democrat in Congress and the Senate must understand that they are not just legislators, they are now the last line of defense against authoritarianism. This requires a shift in mentality. They must see themselves not only as representatives of their districts but as fighters in a larger war for the soul of the nation. This means standing up even when it is uncomfortable, speaking out even when the media criticizes them for being too aggressive, and putting the survival of democracy above their own political careers.

There is no longer room for hesitation. The GOP has shown that they will do whatever it takes to secure power permanently, whether through voter suppression, judicial manipulation, or outright defiance of the law. If Democrats do not fight back with equal intensity, they will lose, not just elections, but the very system that allows free and fair elections to exist in the first place.

The time for politeness is over. The time for restraint has passed. If democracy is to survive, Democrats must be willing to fight for it with everything they have. That means taking the gloves off, abandoning outdated norms, and meeting the GOP’s aggression with equal force. Anything less is surrender.