Former Labor Secretary Urges Democrats to Return to Left

Riech, who served as secretary of labor from 1993 to 1997, urged a crowd of nearly 200 to move the Democratic Party -- which he referred to as "dead" -- further to the left on the political spectrum.

Riech began his speech, which he gave at the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, sharing fond remembrances of his years in former President Clinton's Cabinet.

Riech then addressed Republicans in the audience. "There are many of you in the audience who are Republicans," he said. "I respect you. I don't like you, but I respect you."

The comment elicited laughter from Democrats in the audience and halfhearted grins from Republicans.

Riech said the Democratic Party is now at a crossroads. "Anybody who wants to be optimistic or upbeat about the Democratic Party has a hard argument to make," he said.

Al Gore's failure to win the White House in the 2000 Presidential race largely has contributed to the party's present condition, Riech said.

He speculated that Gore failed to win a larger portion of the popular vote because he and Republican candidate George W. Bush both grounded their campaigns close to the ideological center.

Riech also said Gore's appearance in front of the cameras hurt him. "(Gore) came off as an automaton."

Riech said the Democratic Party began moving to the right of the political spectrum during Clinton's second run for office in 1996 and continued during Gore's presidential campaign.

Riech criticized the Democrats for adopting traditionally conservative stances on issues such as crime and welfare.

He said Democrats should have fought conservative welfare reform more vigorously in 1996.

Riech also said the Democratic Party should champion further increases in the minimum wage. He said during his term as secretary of labor, he led the fight to raise the minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.15 an hour.

Riech said raising the minimum wage and implementing a national health care plan are vital to the country's well-being at a time when the economy is changing. "We are going into a new economy," he said. "There are things we can do to reduce the injustices of the new economy."

Riech concluded his speech by urging Democrats to return to their more liberal roots. "If Democrats try to mimic Republicans, they will fail -- more importantly, we will fail," he said.

Jennifer Coukissas, a Duke graduate student in public policy, asked Riech after his speech how to put his ideas into effect. "All of your ideas sound great, but where does this begin?" she said.

Riech responded by urging individuals to take the initiative to revive the party and not wait for leadership to come from Washington. "It has to be a movement," Riech said. "If you wait on Washington, you wait for nothing."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.