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Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time
New York’s popular senior senator, who won reelection by the largest margin in the state’s history, offers a bold plan for change in the Democratic party
As the results of the last presidential election played out, it became clear that while Democrats call themselves the party of the middle, the middle class does not consider the Democrats their party. Now, Chuck Schumer, who has gained national prominence as the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee, offers his plan for capturing the middle-class vote and moving his party back into the majority. Democrats can accomplish this, the senator explains, without abandoning their traditional principles.
Schumer envisions a hypothetical, average middle-class American family—he thinks of them as "The Baileys"—who spend "as much time talking about the cost of cornflakes as the cost of the national debt." He then details specific proposals he believes would keep America safe, secure, and on top; and support the aspirations of a prosperous and growing middle class while speaking to anxieties created in a world changed by technology and globalization. For example, he proposes
• increase the number of college graduates by 50%
• reduce property taxes by 50%
As the results of the last presidential election played out, it became clear that while Democrats call themselves the party of the middle, the middle class does not consider the Democrats their party. Now, Chuck Schumer, who has gained national prominence as the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee, offers his plan for capturing the middle-class vote and moving his party back into the majority. Democrats can accomplish this, the senator explains, without abandoning their traditional principles.
Schumer envisions a hypothetical, average middle-class American family—he thinks of them as "The Baileys"—who spend "as much time talking about the cost of cornflakes as the cost of the national debt." He then details specific proposals he believes would keep America safe, secure, and on top; and support the aspirations of a prosperous and growing middle class while speaking to anxieties created in a world changed by technology and globalization. For example, he proposes
• increase the number of college graduates by 50%
• reduce property taxes by 50%
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 23, 2007
1 person is currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Schumer
3 books15 followersCharles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer is the senior U.S. Senator from the State of New York, serving since 1999. A liberal Democrat, in 2005, he became chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In November 2006, he was elected to the new post of Vice Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. In this position, he is the fourth-ranking Democrat in the Senate, behind President pro tempore Robert Byrd, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin.
In January 2007, he published a book called Positively American, outlining strategies with which Democrats could court middle-class voters.
In January 2007, he published a book called Positively American, outlining strategies with which Democrats could court middle-class voters.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 29, 2025
Admitting you make all your political decisions based on what you think your far right imaginary friends would want you to do is WILD.
Anyway Chuck Schumer's ideas in this are very strange when they're not just outright misinformation.
I don't know what kind of technology he thinks exists but many of his proposed "solutions" rely on the implementation of technology that does not exist at scale and/or at all in the year 2025 and certainly did not exist in 2007.
Anyway Chuck Schumer's ideas in this are very strange when they're not just outright misinformation.
I don't know what kind of technology he thinks exists but many of his proposed "solutions" rely on the implementation of technology that does not exist at scale and/or at all in the year 2025 and certainly did not exist in 2007.
March 24, 2026
It's very difficult for me to know how to rate this one.
Ideologically? One star: I see in this book the groundwork of the Democratic strategy that has royally screwed this country and led to fascist victories.
Style wise? Three stars: it's quite readable, especially for a book that's not by a professional writer. It's approachable and just the right amount of technical. I definitely felt like I got a feel for Schumer's "voice".
In terms of humor? Five stars: This is the funniest thing I've read all year. Now that's obviously not intentional. But if I don't laugh while reading the Senate Minority Leader's book that details--and I do mean details--his moderate Republican original characters' political views and lifestyle, what do I have?
The Baileys made this book for me. I confess--even after watching the Last Week Tonight episode about them, I didn't think it would be this detailed.
I'm. I'm so glad to know that global warming will affect your OCs, Chuck.
And before you think I'm being disingenuous--there are places in the book where Schumer uses them as the "middle class average voter" that they are clearly meant to be. But this idea falls apart the minute you realize that Schumer has given them an incredibly specific home address--30 minutes by car from NYC, in Massapequa. He talks about restaurants they like to eat at, Eileen's struggles with her weight, the names of all three of their children, their son Pete's interest in close-up magic tricks, how their daughter Megan wants to go to a small college... and he is very clear that the Baileys do in fact influence his policy decisions.
This level of detailed fiction would be humorous and even endearing in many settings--as an ideal reader for an author, for instance, or a target customer for a small business.
They lose all their charm when you realize that these are the Senate Minority Leader's moderate Republican original characters who are guiding his policy.
Chilling. Hilarious. Weirdly riveting. Give it a read if you want to laugh and cry, I guess.
As for me, I'll be writing erotica about Chuck Schumer's imaginary Republicans over on Ao3.
Ideologically? One star: I see in this book the groundwork of the Democratic strategy that has royally screwed this country and led to fascist victories.
Style wise? Three stars: it's quite readable, especially for a book that's not by a professional writer. It's approachable and just the right amount of technical. I definitely felt like I got a feel for Schumer's "voice".
In terms of humor? Five stars: This is the funniest thing I've read all year. Now that's obviously not intentional. But if I don't laugh while reading the Senate Minority Leader's book that details--and I do mean details--his moderate Republican original characters' political views and lifestyle, what do I have?
The Baileys made this book for me. I confess--even after watching the Last Week Tonight episode about them, I didn't think it would be this detailed.
The weather has gotten weird. It's hard to know what's next, but it's all too likely that whatever it is will affect Joe and Eileen.
I'm. I'm so glad to know that global warming will affect your OCs, Chuck.
And before you think I'm being disingenuous--there are places in the book where Schumer uses them as the "middle class average voter" that they are clearly meant to be. But this idea falls apart the minute you realize that Schumer has given them an incredibly specific home address--30 minutes by car from NYC, in Massapequa. He talks about restaurants they like to eat at, Eileen's struggles with her weight, the names of all three of their children, their son Pete's interest in close-up magic tricks, how their daughter Megan wants to go to a small college... and he is very clear that the Baileys do in fact influence his policy decisions.
This level of detailed fiction would be humorous and even endearing in many settings--as an ideal reader for an author, for instance, or a target customer for a small business.
They lose all their charm when you realize that these are the Senate Minority Leader's moderate Republican original characters who are guiding his policy.
Chilling. Hilarious. Weirdly riveting. Give it a read if you want to laugh and cry, I guess.
As for me, I'll be writing erotica about Chuck Schumer's imaginary Republicans over on Ao3.
December 16, 2025
Winston Churchill said of Neville Chamberlain’s surrender of Czechoslovakia “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war.”
Just like Chamberlain Chuck Schumer is a curious figure to oppose resurgent fascism. He is neither temperamentally inclined to fight nor particularly good at it when his hand is forced.
He is a superb vote against his base’s best interests and for his opponent’s best interests. In his courting of the fictional “Baileys” he is determined to chase at shadows.
Appeasement is back in season.
Just like Chamberlain Chuck Schumer is a curious figure to oppose resurgent fascism. He is neither temperamentally inclined to fight nor particularly good at it when his hand is forced.
He is a superb vote against his base’s best interests and for his opponent’s best interests. In his courting of the fictional “Baileys” he is determined to chase at shadows.
Appeasement is back in season.
October 22, 2007
very interesting account of the middle class and politics. the political system intertwines with schumer's account of his own political growth/education, the fictional middle class family and the world of congress.
July 8, 2007
Great overview of how the Democratic Party can return to its progessive roots and coincidentally win back the majority of the electorate.
June 13, 2007
Well im reading this book now and i guess its quite good.
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April 24, 2008The best!!!!: The book came to me in excellent shape thanks to the way you packed it for shipping...I appreciate the stellar condition the book arrived as it was a gift to a special friend.
July 31, 2008
Interesting to read a book by a politician. He seems to mean well, but doesn't fully get the middle-class, or at least only gets the older generation (50+).
August 6, 2008
An interesting Democratic game plan to win back the middle class. Many good points. Too many big government points. I don't think Pelosi-ville has read the book.
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September 16, 2008SIGNED
October 4, 2016
I've gotten very behind on my reading and I'm very happy to be done with this book that I was required to read for my internship.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews