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The decision from the DNC to withhold the public viewing regarding its internal post-election analysis concerning the last presidential race is remarkable but entirely predictable. Resistant to unpleasant candor, the DNC operates closer to a communications shop than a political organization focused on building grassroots capacities for winning elections.

A Culture That Avoids Dissent

Hesitant to depart from the prevailing attitude of conformity, the DNC has continued within that legacy all through this past year. Publishing an official autopsy could have demonstrated that the leadership are interested to encourage honest conversation about the strategic failures that paved the way for Donald Trump to return to the White House. Instead, the DNC is proceeding under the pretense that there's nothing to be learned from the tragic debacle from the last cycle.

Our guiding principle: does this help us win? If the answer is no, it is an unnecessary diversion from the core mission," an explanation which was presented to justify concealing the analysis.

Critical Problems an Autopsy Could Have Explored

A genuine analysis with any value would not dodge key points of failure. These include:

• Electoral Alienation: Failing to retain of a significant portion of the electorate who supported the Democratic ticket during the previous election became a critical factor in the narrowly decided recent race.
• A Choice to Run: The stubborn choice by the incumbent to seek re-election, coupled with a last-minute withdrawal, is seen by some as robbing the party's base the chance for a competitive nomination process.
• Failing Everyday Americans: Amid rising costs, the campaign allegedly bowing to elite contributors while failing to challenge the role of corporate greed.
• A Gaza Factor: An unwillingness to shift an approach regarding a ongoing war is cited as driving away key demographic groups, notably with youth voters, Arab American communities, and Muslim Americans.
• Eroding Youth Backing: Research shows a huge decline in Democratic support among the youth electorate.

A Pattern of Evasion

This refusal is consistent with a pattern of evading uncomfortable facts. It echoes an episode where the vast majority of Democratic officeholder in Congress supported an incumbent's determination to seeking another term until a poor campaign event compelled an exit.

Concurrently, a significant majority of the electorate were continually telling researchers that they did not want the incumbent to be the nominee.

Campaign Spending Issues

A substantive report would also investigate issues about campaign spending, such as what sums were directed to high-priced advisors and media firms during an electoral effort that managed to spend a colossal sum during the general election.

A Broader Implication

Fundamentally, the blockage of the official autopsy points to a deference to the established hierarchy responsible for an unsuccessful national race. The signal for the party's base – including millions of loyal volunteers – appears to be that they do not be trusted to understand the lessons party chiefs claim to have learned based on an analysis drawing from feedback from all states.

An organization unwilling to publicly examine where it went wrong is unlikely to break free from the pattern which was so beneficial to the rival party.