In discussing the reasons for the Democrats' defeat in the November 2 election, MSNBC host Chris Matthews claimed that Democrats ignored the difficulties facing working-class Americans and had been concerned only with “tort reform and protecting trial lawyers.” A look at the words of the Democratic candidates for president and vice president proves otherwise.

From the November 22 edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews:

MATTHEWS: Why didn't the Democrats talk about what has always been their bread and butter, bread-and-butter issues? I never heard a candidate talk about what it is like to try to raise a family on a limited income, what it is like to have two jobs where the parents never have time to even make love or hang out with each other, because all they do is work and worry. How come Democrats don't talk about real people? It's supposed to be the real people party. All they care about is tort reform and protecting the trial lawyers.

In his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on July 29, Senator John Kerry did not once address tort reform or trial lawyers, but he did say the following about the challenges facing working families:

KERRY: [H]ere at home, wages are falling, health care costs are rising, and our great middle class is shrinking. People are working weekends; they're working two jobs, three jobs, and they're still not getting ahead.

[...]

[H]ere tonight, on behalf of a new birth of freedom -- on behalf of the middle class who deserve a champion, and those struggling to join it who deserve a fair shot ...for all those who believe our best days are ahead of us -- for all of you -- with great faith in the American people, I accept your nomination for president of the United States.

Senator John Edwards also did not mention tort reform in his July 28 convention speech accepting the nomination for vice president. But he had this to say about the plight of middle-class Americans:

EDWARDS: I stand here tonight ready to work with you and John to make America strong again. And we have so much work to do. Because the truth is, we still live in two different Americas: one for people who have lived the American Dream and don't have to worry, and another for most Americans who work hard and still struggle to make ends meet. It doesn't have to be that way. We can build one America.

[...]

We shouldn't have two different economies in America: one for people who are set for life, their kids and grandkids will be just fine, and then one for most Americans who live paycheck to paycheck.

And you know what I'm saying. You don't need me to explain it to you, you know -- you can't save any money, can you? Takes every dime you make just to pay your bills, and you know what happens if something goes wrong -- a child gets sick, somebody gets laid off, or there's a financial problem, you go right off the cliff. And what's the first thing to go. Your dreams. It doesn't have to be that way.