The mid-term elections will be held next fall, and College Democrats believe it will be another chance for their candidates to change the house.
With President George W. Bush's approval rate dropping, College Democrats said they hope to make it a nightmare for Republicans as the president finishes his term.
Steve Cohen, state senator of Tennessee, addressed a College Democrat meeting Tuesday evening and said all Democrats, not just students should take a bigger stance for their party. He said a lack of progressiveness has been an ongoing issue within the Democratic Party and a barrier in Washington.
"If you're into politics and you like politics, it is not easy to do," he said. "You get attacked by everyone."
Cohen, who passed the state lottery bill in 2001 and encouraged DNA testing, said Democrats are more likely to preserve the environment and increase scholarship funds.
"The Democratic party has a long tradition of doing things like that," he said.
However, Cohen said Democrats are not being true Democrats and the decision to go to Iraq was one example.
"Too many Democrats supported the resolution to go to war," Cohen said. "That was a serious mistake."
Cohen said although both parties have their share of good and bad candidates, there are too many Democrats who are afraid and unwilling to step up.
"You have two (main) parties in this country," he said. "That's our system and it's never going to change. However, our party is still not doing its job."
Cohen also commented on Gov. Phil Bredesen's actions and removal of TennCare during the summer.
"Our governor is a Democrat, but Democrats don't like him."
He said while Bredesen has pleased many Republicans, he has also managed to lose many supporters in the Democratic Party. He said Bredesen has used up a lot of the money for education and has ended up cutting several TennCare enrollees.
"He's not a real Democrat," Cohen said. "He's befriending Republicans because he wants to re-win the election."
Cohen also has not been pleased with what the Bush administration has done regarding the war in Iraq and also questioned the president's judgment on certain issues.
"Obviously we have a bad foreign policy," he said.
Thousands of American soldiers are dead and thousands of more Iraqis are getting killed, Cohen said. He also said the president's religion-based decisions have left him bemused.
"God told him to go fight terrorism, but didn't tell him it wasn't in Iraq," he said.
Despite the shortcomings from both parties, Cohen said involvement is needed, especially among college students.
"I encourage you to run for office."
The future looks bright and College Democrats support Cohen's positions.
"I think Democrats are definitely going to gain seats in the 2006 mid-term election," said John Marek, president of the College Democrats. "The Republican scandals, Bush's low approval rating and the war in Iraq are hurting the Republicans, but the Democrats cannot expect to win elections by pointing at the mess the Republicans made."
Stacey Luttrell, junior political science major and the events coordinator for the College Democrats, also agrees with the return to a more progressive Democratic Party.
"I'm happy there's someone in the legislature, who is actually speaking for me," Luttrell said. "Democrats need to act like Democrats."
