The New Democrats and the Return to Power - Hardcover

From, Al

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1137278641 ISBN 13: 9781137278647

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013

Synopsis

After Barack Obama's solid win in the 2012 election, it's easy to forget that there was a time, not long ago, when the Democrats were shut out of power for over a decade. But Al From remembers. In 1984, he led a small band of governors, US senators, and members of Congress to organize the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). Their mission: to rescue the party from the political wilderness, redefine its message, and, most importantly, win presidential elections. In April 1989, From traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas, to recruit the state's young governor, Bill Clinton, to be chairman of the DLC. Here, Al From explores the founding philosophy of the New Democrats, which not only achieved stunning validation during Clinton's two terms, but also became the model for resurgent center-left parties in Europe and throughout the democratic world. Here, he outlines for the first time the principles at the heart of the movement, including economic centrism, national security, and entitlement reform, and why they are vital to the success of the Democratic Party in the years ahead.

About this title

Review

"Al From redefined centrist politics and provided the ideas and organization to move the Democrats from opposition to government, showing progressives across the world how to be principled, modern and in power." — Tony Blair
 
"I always wished I could be as smart as Al, and this book shows why. He shows what it was really like to be present at the creation of a movement that would take the Democrats from the wilderness to the White House, forever changing the course of American political history. This is a book about ideas as much as the people who forged them into a winning strategy, and it should be read, re-read and underlined by anyone who wants to know what it takes to be successful in American politics today." — Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago and former White House Chief of Staff

" This book is not only a fascinating and underreported slice of political history, but a reminder of the core principles that still drive Democratic success today — and why it's important that we constantly work to further to them." — Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland

'Before 1992, the Democratic Party had moved too far to the left to win national elections. . Too little credit is given to Al From, whose book tells the story of how he helped move his party back toward the common sense center.' — Haley Barbour, former governor of Mississippi

"The American business community owes a big debt of gratitude to Al From. With vision and persistence he helped lead a major political party back to the principles of private sector growth, trade, jobs, personal responsibility, and fiscal stability. This book proves that the political center can win politically and govern effectively. Both parties — and the American people — would be wise to learn from Al's inspiring story." — Thomas J. Donohue, President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Book Description

From the founder of the Democratic Leadership Council, a behind-the-scenes look at the rise of the New Democrats and how they built the foundation for a new generation of progressive leaders

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1137278641
• ISBN 13: 9781137278647
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288