Parker: Rahm Emanuel sounds like a Republican
In a recent op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has signaled his ambition to lead the Democratic Party and secure the presidential nomination for 2028. This marks a significant moment in the political landscape, as Emanuel, who has served as a senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, chief of staff to President Barack Obama, and ambassador to Japan, articulates a vision for the party that seeks to re-establish its foundational values. He critiques the current trajectory of the Democratic Party, which he believes has strayed into divisive rhetoric centered around identity politics, grievance, and victimhood. Instead, Emanuel advocates for a politics that emphasizes hard work, personal responsibility, and a government that facilitates individual success.
Emanuel’s call for a return to values resonates with historical precedents, notably echoing Clinton’s 1996 State of the Union address where he declared “The era of big government is over.” Emanuel suggests that the Democratic Party should embrace an economic agenda that reflects American values, similar to Clinton’s welfare reforms that prioritized work and family support over dependency. He points to the pressing need for Social Security reform, highlighting that the current system is unsustainable and will face a cash flow crisis by 2034. Emanuel’s vision includes empowering all Americans to have a stake in the nation’s economy, proposing that participation in ownership and growth could invigorate public trust and engagement in governmental processes.
By advocating for a shift towards a value-based politics, Emanuel is positioning himself as a potential bridge between traditional Democratic ideals and the more centrist, pragmatic approaches that characterized the Clinton era. His emphasis on creating an economic environment where every citizen feels they can contribute to the nation’s renewal could resonate with a broad spectrum of voters. As the Democratic Party navigates its identity ahead of the 2028 election, Emanuel’s insights may serve as a crucial touchstone for a party seeking to regain its footing in a rapidly changing political landscape. His call to action not only aims to redefine the Democratic narrative but also seeks to unite Americans across different backgrounds under a shared vision of opportunity and prosperity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnApSWGmfeM
Rahm Emanuel wants to take leadership of the Democratic Party and capture its nomination for president in 2028.
He shares his thoughts in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed. It’s the first time a Democrat has made me smile since President Bill Clinton announced in his 1996 State of the Union address that “The era of big government is over.”
Emanuel has a stellar political resume that includes senior adviser in the White House to Clinton, chief of staff to President Barack Obama, member of Congress, mayor of Chicago and ambassador to Japan.
He has a reputation for political astuteness, being a tough fighter and being the father of the oft-quoted, “You never want a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.”
These instincts are raising his finely honed political antennae that his party has badly, and destructively, lost direction.
And here he could not be more right.
Emanuel seeks a “politics based on values.” Not a politics of “identity, grievance, or victimhood,” of “oppressors” and “oppressed.”
He says he is talking about values that say, “government’s proper role is to clear a path so those who put in the elbow grease can earn success.”
Hey, he is sounding like a Republican.
Emanuel should take cues from his former boss Clinton who, in 1992, announced his intention to “change welfare as we know it.”
“For too long our welfare system has undermined the values of family and work, instead of supporting them,” Clinton said in his 1996 State of the Union. And then, working with a Republican Congress, he signed historic welfare reform into law, replacing the disastrous Aid to Families with Dependent Children with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Work requirements were introduced and welfare rolls were dramatically reduced.
However, one reform to which Clinton aspired that sunk in the political swamp of his impeachment in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal was reform of Social Security.
In December 1998, Clinton convened the first-ever White House Conference on Social Security.
Clinton wanted genuine reform that would fix a broken and flawed system. In his 1999 State of the Union, Clinton proposed creation of personal retirement accounts that individuals could seed with funds with a tax credit and then qualify for additional matching funds.
Emanuel says his party “needs an economic agenda rooted in American values.”
“Everyone should feel they have skin in this game and all citizens should feel they can contribute to the nation’s renewal,” he says.
Our existing Social Security is not viable in its current form. Cash flow from the system will be insufficient to meet obligations by 2034, just nine years from now, per the latest Trustees report.
Nothing can give every American more “skin in the game” than participating in ownership and growth of our nation’s economy.
Let every American become an owner and share in the experience of capitalism and growth.
Star Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education.
