{"id":2383232,"date":"2024-12-23T23:01:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T04:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-hammered-for-lack-of-leadership-after-defeat-heads-in-sand-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-12-23T23:01:56","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T04:01:56","slug":"democrats-hammered-for-lack-of-leadership-after-defeat-heads-in-sand-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-hammered-for-lack-of-leadership-after-defeat-heads-in-sand-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats hammered for lack of leadership after defeat: &#8216;Heads in sand&#8217; &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-hammered-for-lack-of-leadership-after-defeat-heads-in-sand-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2383232&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the challenges\u2064 faced by the Democratic Party following \u200cthe electoral defeat in the \u200bcontext of President Donald \u200cTrump&#8217;s victory. It highlights concerns over the party&#8217;s lack of clear leadership and direction, which has been observed by\u200c both strategists \u2064and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-university-ditches-crusader-mascot\/\" title=\"Christian University Ditches Crusader Mascot\">focus groups<\/a>. The piece implies that \u200dthe Democrats \u200dare struggling too regroup and find \u200ca coherent\u2064 strategy as President Joe \u200bBiden concludes his term,\u200b accompanied by Vice President \u200dKamala Harris.This situation has\u200d led to criticisms that the party \u200chas its &#8220;heads in the \u200csand&#8221; regarding necessary adjustments in their approach.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Democrats hammered for lack of leadership after defeat: &lsquo;Heads in the sand&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1917311\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> Democratic Party<\/a> lacks a clear direction following President-elect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s victory, and strategists and focus groups alike have taken note.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>While President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Joe Biden<\/a> rides out the rest of his term and Vice President Kamala Harris remains out of the spotlight following her defeat, no Democrat has taken the lead in organizing the party&rsquo;s approach to its future. Many congressional Democrats have expressed their willingness to work with the Trump administration, a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">strong contrast<\/a> to the party&rsquo;s mentality when he was first elected in 2016 and even on the 2024 campaign trail.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3267162\/democrats-congress-work-with-trump-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">FIVE DEMOCRATS WHO SIGNALED THEY&rsquo;LL WORK WITH TRUMP ON POLICY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is the most likely candidate to steer Democrats in the coming months, at least on Capitol Hill. He has signaled he will work across the aisle with Republicans but also wrote in a fundraising email Saturday that his party is &ldquo;prepared to stop far-right Republicans in their tracks and deliver for the people.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, not only does Jeffries lack strong national name recognition, but his exact plans for countering GOP influence remain unclear.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic strategist Tad Devine <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/trump-democrat-reaction-party-challenges-93989794\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> that the Democratic Party has &ldquo;no leadership now at the highest level.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Such criticism appears to be widespread in and outside the party, coming from seasoned pundits and voters who are unsure of what the party is and what it stands for.<\/p>\n<p>One recent focus group participant compared the Democratic Party to an ostrich, saying, &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got their heads in the sand and are absolutely committed to their own ideas, even when they&rsquo;re failing,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/12\/22\/democrats-2024-election-problem-focus-group-00195806?nname=playbook&amp;nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&amp;nrid=b184d69e-b2a2-4eb9-933e-7e669f36c25d&amp;nlid=630318\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">according to<\/a> <em>Politico<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>Another person likened the party to koalas: &ldquo;Complacent and lazy about getting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-more-parents-now-support-funding-students-not-systems-after-year-of-covid-lockdowns\/\" title=\"POLL: More Parents Now Support Funding Students, Not Systems, After Year Of COVID Lockdowns\">policy wins<\/a> that we really need.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>As the Democratic Party saw drastic dips in voter turnout among voting blocs crucial to its past successes, including Latinos and black voters, GBAO, a Democratic polling firm, conducted three focus groups. One was among young men in battleground states who showed up for Biden in 2020 but not for Harris in 2024; one consisted of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lincoln-projects-social-media-influence-has-plummeted-analyses-show\/\" title=\"Lincoln Project\u2019s Social Media Influence Has Plummeted, Analyses Show\">battleground state voters<\/a> who voted for Biden in 2020 but not all in 2024; and finally, 2020 voters in blue states who previously voted for Democrats, a third-party candidate, or not at all, and then switched to Trump this election.<\/p>\n<p><em>&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The results revealed a significant discontentment with the party&rsquo;s current state, with dissatisfaction about Harris as a leader but also stretching beyond her.<\/p>\n<p>One <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-disses-squad-doesnt-invite-them-to-zoom-meeting-on-agenda\/\" title=\"White House Disses Squad, Doesn\u2019t Invite Them To Zoom Meeting On Agenda\">participant reportedly<\/a> said Democrats were &ldquo;not a friend of the working class anymore.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1917311\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1917311\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats criticized for poor leadership post-defeat: &#8216;In denial<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2542,"featured_media":2383233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Joe-Biden_Kamala-Harris_2024_hhb1x2.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5505,3685,5191,33017,32076],"class_list":["post-2383232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-defeat","tag-democrats","tag-leadership","tag-political-analysis","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Joe-Biden_Kamala-Harris_2024_hhb1x2.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2542"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2383232"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2383236,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383232\/revisions\/2383236"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2383233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2383232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2383232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2383232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}