the worst year i've ever had. [laughter] but i look forward to a coors light later. [applause] [laughter] >> right now joined by lily. her book is left behind, the democrats failed attempt to solve any quality. let's start in the present before we go back in the past. a lot of the news today about the democratic party is the establishment versus bernie sanders. does that have a history to it? >> thank you for having me and talking with me about the book. 1 of the things that came out of nowhere butn they are deep-seatd tensions in the democratic party that have existed i would say

since the 1970s but came in in the 1980s as the party had another kind of crossroads on where to go. in the primary one was represented by someone like jesse jackson. it's really focusing ontu the nw economy is the future from the party and that is what dominated to help shape the direction of the party goingg forward. >> before we talk about the 1984

let's talk about 74 and what happened in 1974 and who got elected and helped proceed of this? >> it's another critical year il political history and the big thing that dominated was watergate. they were against nixon and what they wanted is changed to the democratic party and they want to change with a whole slew of

candidates. the other big thing that happened is the economic recession to address these problems and wanting to find new ways to address the problems of theno economies and then because lof their love of the tech industry. >> the party was looking to change. and how did it change? >> there've been discussions going forward but it was a sort of o wake up call one is a group

from congress and another is from moderate democratic governors from the south it was on the idea that as a market oriented approach was the best way to bring about opportunity for people so one of the things i argue in my book is that they believed in using private sector means to achievego the goals but you need to help people create

equality. especially to the labor movement and they want to move the economy away from the economy that is a union oriented but also the democratic party away from its strong focus on the special interest groups on those that have been drifting towards the republican party in the last cycles. >> was bill clinton involved as the governor of arkansas? >> he was a law early member about he really comes to the forefront so the other key things yet again there's a sense

of soul-searching so it is now someone to both lead it as its new leader and he takes on this role as a mechanism to its career in the international office and shares the philosophy. >> that is what the you're your thinking is there needs to be an alternative for using more traditional conservative means to the liberal animus and bill clinton has been testing out a lot of these things on the economic development in arkansas in the 1980s and he aligns the dlc.

the other thing that is critical to thehe populist demeanor he's able to target a lot of different kinds of voters so he is able to take the policy platform and present it in a more accessible set of terminology. at the altar of left behind the democrats failed attempt to solve inequality. to hear from democrats to get your view, (202)748-8200 for those in the east and central time zones, 2027 for each 2001

in the mountain and pacific time zones and if you want to send a text message about the democratic party to the professor, 202, 748-8903 include your first name and a city if youu would. some of the things we talked about, first of all. what are three points that the dlc has espoused? >> one most the idea of less government with critical taglines and market principles in terms of the growing economy and applying what tools of the market can make the government itself more efficient and the belief and opportunity portal for allbut also in the digital responsibilities. and those become the three kind of key taglines and i would say

one thing also i don't mean to jump ahead but the differences today versus of the past joe biden was also an early member and they choose not to support him and support al gore as stead. 1 reason he wasn't ideological and it was ait little bit harder to figure out he was more of a democrat whereas bill clinton was very ideological and believed fundamentally in the his ideas and a lot if it is they were trying to shape the electoral strategy.

it was in upper middle-class and upper-class corporate interest standing for what the democratic party traditional base and value was. and having a policy that focused on expanding and the marginalized communities that focus on these efforts towards an upper-middle-class. >> about what was the response

to the electoral success that they saw in the 1990s? >> that is challenging and i think especially it becomes challenging when bill clinton one because after. .. becomes a critical bargain in pemany ways. people in the democratic party. i think about your initial question about the direction of the party and where it is going, this actually ends up obscuring

some of the tension of the parties direction more towards bill clinton. but tensions are very much emerging today. it has been in theirs since the early 90s. clickers want gentlemen we have not talked about is very involved in this democratic leadership council who is al? is a fascinating and impressive figure. he himself was a democratic congressional staffer who worked his way throughout the 70s and early 80s in various different positions. chief of staff was the head of the democratic caucus. and he becomes the leader the executive director in the mid- 80s. and really worked hand in hand withth bill clinton to craft the message also democratic party message. one thing that is a fascinating,

he is a very serious person who believes and ideas. i think one thing what the dlc there for us to focus on are not trying to make a lot of money. they fundamentally believed this was a better way to help people. one thing about the dlc two, they come to hold a tremendous amount of power in the late '80s and through the '90s. but it is a very small organization it's mostly unlike a big grassroots read the democratic national committee, latest primarily made up of politicians themselves. it's really only about a couple thousand people. but they come to really reshape the o party. i think the other piece of the power is that bill clinton select al gore to be his running mate who isnd it another member solidifies this idea this is a new direction of the party.

onset of the usual approach of picking a vice president how will represent another wing of the party to try to win over voters, they actually double down. clinton tries it double down on the message to get elected. >> a professor, when you espouse some of their principles it sounds like republicans in aoo sense of it. >> yes that is one thing i actually in my book think lots of people think of the dlc as a republicans write about what democrats called them. i don't think of that i think there is extra critical between the dlc style of an democrat and republican party. they didup not support reagan ty thought a lot about reagan was doing was horrible. especially though it was affecting the common and poor people and the people of color i wanted to find a different approach. and really believed focusing on the market in the private sector

would be a way to fundamentally help people and move the country in a different direction. >> let's go to the present and the title of your book. aleft behind at the democrats failed attempt to solve inequality. where did you come up with the title and why? speak to the first part of the title comments from the language actually of bill clinton and many democrats talked a lot about people who are being left behind great communities being left behind the ways they could use the new economy of trade and a finance to help those people become part of the new economy and make them not left behind. that is one part of the title per the other part is about leaving the left of the democratic party behind to win success. in the subtitle which a full application of the title is about the types of programs that

the democrats espouse and promote before office and the implement inok office. i look at all of these different specific programs that are there to help poor people using the market. so the book set things like empowerment, charter schools, mixed income housing, to replace the public housing closing the divide. micro- finance and community develop banking but all these different efforts is a market oriented it means to address poverty and inequality may. >> the book is let by failed attempt to solve inequality. lily is the author. and donald in detroit you are the first call up for her book tv go-ahead we are listening. >> caller: yes. i am in detroit, michigan. i am retired so i get the chance to look at c-span allan of the time. might comments is this.

the democrats will probably lose we will never hold office again because of the way the republican party has a structured itself for the voting rights they don't like the vote. democrats have a problem that we live in cities. we do not live in rural areas per se. and so the republicans have more legislature in office around the country. this is why they are doing all these heinous things to us. and unfortunately will buy your book i plan to read it. but that is my comments but is not necessarily a question because i see the writing on the wall. >> i'll tell you what we are going to have her address that. now lily, is your book at all about what the republican party is today? >> i think one of things i look at the reaction the democrats reaction thing to the callers important point is that one of

the things the democratic leadership tends to focus on and push the democratic party was winning a national election especially presidential what this did the state and localnk level which republicans have really taken advantage of over the last several years. think one of the critical things that has happened is a callers absoluteli right. the republicans have been respective at the working legislation both at the state and local level. one of the really critical lessons of that is for the democratic party to do more at the state and local level for people to get out and focus on state and local elections. critical issues of democracy are being addressed there. >> host: don is coming in from maryland please go ahead. >> caller: good evening. what is your opinion on center of the progressive wing of the party? and what about bernie sanders?

do you see bernie running again in the future? and why is yes? >> host: don what is your opinion of the progressive wing of the party and do you see bernie sanders running again in the future and would you like that? >> a yes i would definitely like to see him around again. my opinion about the progressive movement, i think it is very viable. but i think the message and get just have a bad label with all of the negativity about socialism and communism that is what i think hurts them. but over all it would be better for the country if they could get some progressive candidates to run and win. >> aren't thank you.let's hear it from a little late now.

>> i think of one of the things that has happened is because of the kind of new democrat approach and the clinton era power of the democratic power for so long ands, bold policy ad strategy that crowd out progressive voices. one thing that has happened especially since 2015 even starting at 2011 with the occupied movement is that many, many people fromer a wide different consistencies and feeling really fed up with the democrats and saying there has to be other approaches and other answers link the progressive wing has really been resurgent in a way that has been really affected but i don't know if necessarily i think one of the issues is age. finding another candidate whon can really fill in in that way. i think getting beyond some of the questions of the labeling but after looking at the policies that lets of things that progressive candidates in the unitedwe states at the state and local level have been offering have been really

powerful speaking to people per. >> politics is also pragmatic there has to be electoral success of our. >> it is true. i think that is a fastening thing. i am fascinated with that matters is that of the wealthy has he would not of been the first person that he would've been a political consultant for presidential candidate. >> stew at our third call or h send don know if you heard that. we have three dawns in a row. donna go ahead. i'd like to have book review out laptop from hell i think it pertains to the democratic party. >> a don thank you very much. but tv has covered both of those books, and miranda has aired

already peter has not aired yet. but will be airing in the near future. so thank you for that advice. i'm at the future the democratic party. i wonder if you could tell me a little bit about sue and mary got it turned on the tv and talking to the phone we are listening. >> caller: thanks okay. i will turn it down. okay so i i went to my parents to observe and analyze politics today people want to win.

it's important will do what they can and not tire each other out which of us to parts of that one is the issue of what happens after you and what policies get past. that also leaves many americans behind you have politicians fighting for their interest. an increase in polarization a lack of bipartisans cooperation is more of bipartisann cooperation for better or worse focus on winning the makes other

real questions and feel like the voices being represented and heard. when things you talk on your book left behind is with this market oriented approached from foundation et cetera. when you focus on the efforts of the private sector to view the work of government you charter schools are public funded by foundation that removes a lot of democratic accountability. to and you don't have a say you did not elect them.

it takes away that powerful voice citizens and voters have. it also leads with transparency a lot are happening behind further close the doors robert in stockton california hello i called because up until six as a democrat, last ten years or so before trump i was kind of indifferent has switched completely has been a party controlled by the elites. i have offered if you at joe biden and the vice president, my god what you think about the people the democratic party is

offering to run our country? >> i think to actually roberts appoint his doors is a frustration with the party as a shift away more focusing on growth. as many people we consider elites that has helped many corporations make money. and made it many, many voters and many people many democratic voters feel much more alienated from the party. i think it less in terms of the actual politicians than in terms of the policies that been put ir place. it made many people feel the party is not really speaking for theirb interest. >> host: bob, fort lauderdale hi. >> caller: good afternoon. i am a democrat the first election i voted it was 1972 heard i voted for shirley chisholm and the primary and i voted in the generalef election

sent kind of on the left side of the party. how do we get to the point were reduce all the inequality issues? >> thank you you have a long-standing tight with the party. i think one -- there are important ways often time the policy problems in our policy pulled solutions many have to do with the reit structuring and rate committing to the social welfare seat. and restore the social safety net so people don't feel constantly vulnerable and insecure and have a sense of real equality brothers ways of doing more government regulation of corporations or something in equity and pay where you have ceos make a large amount of money and that workers having to work several jobs even to stay afloat. finally i think another

important way is the power of the labor movement that is one thing there has been thisf alienation and marginalization of labor's voice and power there democrats in the country more broadly. the labor movement really fights for working people and to help gain at living wages benefit security for its workers. think getting more central as a way to address fundamental problems of equality. >> host: professor what is the clinton's reputation in the democratic party today? >> is an interesting question i think they have lost their cultural pole that they had. they no longer have a saver think the fact though clinton was not a speaker at the convention was a sign of the party moving in a different direction and maybe leaving them slightly behind. i think their policies have still had a say. and i think also as came up

democrats need to win elections for the need to be pragmatic for the clinton approach is one that is quite pragmatic to winning elections but often times especially in this moment right now the democrats losing the midterms. this real potential lowly is the author of left behind the democrats a failed attempt to solve inequality. she is our guest on but tv per. >> thank you so much it was a pleasure. >> here's a look at some books being published this week. president trump's 2016 campaign manager white house counselor kelly ann conway has a personal political memoir it's entitled here is the deal. massachusetts republican governor charlie baker's book results, getting beyond politics to get important work done is a look at how he achieved a policy victories in a very blue stage. retired admiral has a new book,

looking at nine key moments in the history of the u.s. navy and decision-making under fire. journalist dan grams martin luther king jr. fence attorney fred great look back at the 1956 alabama v king court case which is a key early moments in the civil rights movement. find these titles this coming week wherever books are sold. and watch for these authors to appear in the near future on book tv. >> joe whitlock is with us today courtesy of gerry and joyce and ed. as a graduate of yale law school and college formally a commercial litigator she is now managing partner firm dedicated to advocating for education andr civil rights. her writing has appeared in major n publications such as the "new york times" and t