I heard Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries talk about the Supreme Court yesterday, and in particular about all the evil that the Court, in recent years both before and during the current Trump presidency, has visited on the country. He could have talked about any number of items which have changed our direction, but he stuck to Citizens United dealing with campaign finance, to several decisions gutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and to the decision relieving the president from liability for just about anything. He suggested that the Democrats, if they control Congress after the midterms, would work on preparing proposed constitutional amendments that would reverse these decisions, and on changes to the structure and composition of the Court itself.

I think that Jeffries is 100% correct on his position as to the problems created by the Court, and I think that his proposed paths to solution deserve careful consideration, but I think, not surprisingly, that his remarks are politically 100% wrong.

The Democrats have enough problems trying to present a united front to the voting populace. The elections of several “progressive” candidates have already raised questions in a part of the voting public that did not really know what the Democrats stood for (other than being against the Trump administration) even before recent voting results, and is more confused now.

My own suggested next step, while quite complicated in practice, is not complicated in thought…..I think the Democrats need to create a mechanism that will develop a party platform that all candidates can buy into. What is the party’s position on Iran and Israel, on immigration, on national debt, and so on? Some of those topics are quite divisive, which is why they must be addressed. And, on the difficult questions, the party platform does not have to provide full answers. For example, on immigration, there could be statements on keeping families together, protecting children, ending ICE’s strong arm tactics such as detention centers and sweeping people off the streets, finding a way to really judge asylum claims, giving those in suspended animation working privileges, controlling borders, encouraging immigration of individuals who are needed by our economy, or by our educational institutions, etc. On Israel, there could be recognition of the importance of Israel as an American ally in the Middle East, the necessity for Israel to remain strong, but also for fair treatment of Palestinians and a connection between major U.S. support and how Israel reacts to its aggressive neighbors. I would hope that the platform would not threaten Israel as an independent state, but be more open to candidates criticizing Israel in the occupied territories.

On other areas, there is less contention, and it is these areas that are often not spoken of at all in the Trump era. Climate change and environmental protection being two of them.

The final platform should be completed in time to influence the 2028 elections, because the 2026 midterms are too close, but the beginning of the process itself could influence the midterms.

I think the reasons for this step are clear. They are to blunt attacks on the Democrats as being radical or out of control or anti-American. And yes, I would expect all Democratic candidates to buy into the process, understanding that they are all part of a political party with people of various views attempting to come together on important issues.

The problem with Jeffries’ attack on the Supreme Court is not only that it does not speak to attempts to unify Democratic job seekers, but it feeds into the overall sentiment that Democrats are anti-American and want to destroy American institutions. What is the purpose of saying that if the Democrats are in control, they will work to amend the Constitution, or they will work to amend the Supreme Court. Maybe (and it is only a maybe) they will want to do that once they are in power and if so, once they have a thought-out program, let them put it forth for consideration. But to say to the public which is already nervous about the Democrats as a party that they want to change the constitution and restructure Court only promises chaos of the Democrats are elected.

Jeffries would be better off going to see the progressives on the ballot, such as Abdul El-Sayed, and saying: what are you going to do to help Democratic moderates to be elected? And going to the Democratic moderates and say: how are you going to help get El-Sayed in the Senate? These conversations would be a great start to the process of putting together the party platform that I think it so badly needed.