Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton (Mass.) said Friday that the Democratic Party needs "new leadership" during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Co-host Willie Geist asked Moulton whether Democrats have learned the right lessons from Hillary Clinton's presidential election loss in 2016 about what direction they need to move in going forward.
"I'm not sure we have. I think we have to take a hard look at ourselves in the mirror and recognize that we've lost, not just in 2016, but in several elections before that," Moulton said. "We're in the worst position we've been since the 1920s in the House, the Senate, and the White House. We're not in a governing position at all."
The Massachusetts Democrat added that the Democratic Party has lost touch with many American voters, including voters who used to be on their side.
"Rather than just opposing the Trump administration and telling everybody about how awful the Republicans are, let's show a vision for our own future," Moulton said. "Let's talk about what Democrats can do for the country. Let's talk about a Democratic tax reform plan, a Democratic national security plan, a Democratic plan to build infrastructure. That's what we should be talking about: a real vision for the future."
Guest panelist Donny Deutsch asked Moulton what the Democratic message would be going into 2018, prompting Moulton to say that if he had a brilliant message he would probably not be on the show trying to answer that question. He then discussed the importance of focusing on the economy and growing new jobs, but did not offer specifics about how to create jobs in the new economy.
"So why do you suspect, congressman, that the leadership of your party isn't going out and making that case? Do you think Democratic leaders at the national level are too focused on identity politics, for example?" Geist asked.
"Well, look, I think we're focused on a lot of things that just don't really matter to the voters that we've lost," Moulton said.
Moulton then discussed identity politics and the need to focus on multiple issues. He said that gay marriage is an important issue for the Democratic Party, noting that he wants his brother to be happy, but he said that Democrats should also be talking about the economy.
"I think what we need in the Democratic Party more than anything is just some new leadership, a new generation of leadership. I've been recruiting veterans to run in swing districts across the country," Moulton said. "These are the kind of leaders that Americans can trust, regardless of party label. If we get people like that in the Democratic Party, I think we can move this country forward."