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The move from the DNC to withhold the public viewing regarding its own autopsy report on the 2024 election is shocking but entirely predictable. Resistant to hard truths, the Democrats' governing body often functions more like a publicity machine rather than an electoral entity committed to building grassroots capacities capable of prevailing at the polls.

A Climate of Conformity

Hesitant to challenge the party establishment's culture of conformity, the DNC has remained under that legacy all through this past year. Releasing an official autopsy would have indicated whether party leaders actually want to encourage honest conversation regarding the errors that paved the way for the former president to return to the White House. Yet, the committee is acting as if there is little to glean following the stunning loss of 2024.

The top priority: will this lead to victory? If not, it’s a distraction from the core mission," a rationale that has been offered for withholding the report.

Major Failures an Analysis Might Have Examined

Any valuable post-mortem of substance would confront a series of difficult topics. This encompasses:

• Electoral Disenchantment: Failing to retain among millions of voters who supported the party's candidate in 2020 became a critical factor during the tight 2024 election.
• A Choice to Seek Re-election: The unwavering decision of a party leader to stay in the race, and an extremely delayed step-aside, is viewed as denying the party's base of open primaries.
• Failing Everyday Americans: During a time of rising costs, the electoral effort is criticized for accommodating elite contributors without successfully attempting to challenge the role of corporate greed.
• A Gaza Factor: The failure to shift a stance on the situation in Gaza is cited as driving away many voters, notably among youth voters, Arab American communities, and Muslim Americans.
• A Decline in Young Voter Support: Extensive evidence shows a major decrease of support for the party from voters aged 18-29.

A Pattern Shunning Scrutiny

Choosing secrecy fits a pattern of evading difficult realities. It recalls an episode where the vast majority of elected Democrat in Congress acquiesced to an incumbent's determination to running for re-election until a disastrous televised debate forced a change.

At the same time, large majorities of the electorate had been continually telling researchers that they opposed that candidate to seek re-election.

Financial Issues

A thorough autopsy could examine issues about campaign spending, such as how much money were directed to party strategists and media firms over the course of a campaign that burned through an enormous sum in a short period.

The Larger Issue

At its core, the secrecy of the official autopsy is symptomatic of a deference to the established hierarchy who engineered an unsuccessful presidential campaign. The signal for rank-and-file members – which includes countless small donors – appears to be that they do not have a right to see the lessons the insiders claim to have learned based on hundreds of interviews compiled from conversations with insiders.

A political entity unwilling to publicly examine its mistakes finds it difficult to break free from the rut that proved so helpful to the rival party.