The Dems’ response to the GOP’s culture war

June 8, 2006

This is so crazy, it just might work.

With their foes vigorously trying to portray them as the party of gay marriage and flag burning, Democrats next week are set to unleash a counteroffensive to define themselves as defenders of “family security,” devoted to the [tag]everyday[/tag] [tag]pocketbook[/tag] issues that affect Joe Voter.

The action on domestic issues is the latest installment of the Democrats’ legislative agenda, should they win back the House or Senate in November. Earlier this year, Democrats proposed efforts aimed at lobbying and ethics reforms (the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act), foreign policy (Real Security) and high-tech goals (the Innovation Agenda).

The plan will propose such perennial Democratic domestic-policy goals as raising the [tag]minimum wage[/tag], cutting [tag]interest rates[/tag] on [tag]college loans[/tag], repealing [tag]subsidies[/tag] for [tag]oil[/tag] producers and allowing the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower [tag]prescription-drug prices[/tag].

It seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? The [tag]GOP[/tag] majority wants to spend weeks on an anti-gay amendment that won’t pass, a [tag]flag[/tag] “[tag]desecration[/tag]” [tag]amendment[/tag] that won’t pass, and yet another tax cut for the hyper-wealthy. The Dems have an idea: an alternative set of bills that actually matter to people.

“It will be a differentiation from the Republican agenda, [focusing on] issues that are immediate to the lives of the American people, immediate to their family life, and not being addressed by this Congress,” House Minority Leader [tag]Nancy Pelosi[/tag] (D-Calif.) told The Hill. “Our contention is that we have the wrong priorities, so we’re talking about a new direction for all Americans.”

What’s more, it reinforces the idea that Dems not only have specific policy ideas, but better ideas that could be implemented if they were in the majority.

Congressional Republicans will, of course, block the Dems’ proposals. One might even label them “[tag]obstructionists[/tag]”….

June 8, 2006 at 11:29 am

Ooooh…they want to talk about policy proposals that would actually do something, things that would effect hard-working people and families? Are the Dems finally “getting it”?

But burning flags and banning gay marriage saves lives…um…protects people from…um…things that make them uncomfortable…and changes the subject from far more uncomfortable things like Iraq, the economy, etc.

That is the way to go– highlight what assmonkeys the Republicans are being by proposing ideas of your own. It’s about freaking time.

Not that I’m holding my breath…

This is good development and the key to winning. If the Democrats use specifics and memorize them, the old Republican ju-ju won’t work. I’ve always thought the Democrats need to paint a picture of what a Democratic Congess would look like and do — and that it be a picture most Americans will embrace.

Finally this is what we need. He who controls (drives) the agenda, wins. Dems need to have a plan. We have heard that over and over. The problem has been that their plan has benn to oppose the Rebpublicant plan. We need to put up an alternative. We need to paint Republicants as the “obstructionator” party. Then when they are down we should kick them in the balls.

Now that the Dems have come out with good ideas and unveiled them comes the next move: campaign the hell out of it. Get Dean out on the campaign trail, have every Congressperson go to their home districts and beat it into the press’ and people’s heads and get folks on the Sunday talk shows and even late night shows who won’t take crap from anybody and who will be relentless with the message. Sound Republican? It does, but this time it’s for the nation’s good and not its detriment.

Second, figure the Repubs will have some smarmy comebacks to cut the debate short (that includes the Russerts and Matthews of the world) have retorts prepared to slam the door in their faces.

Not obstructionists – Republican’ts!

Now if we can get any coverage for these good efforts – I don’t recall a single MSM mention of the Innovation Agenda being rolled out.

If a strategy falls in the wilderness and nobody hears it is it really a strategy?

Ask the American people,
“When’s the last time you saw an American flag burned in protest?”

“When have you ever met a gay couple? If you did, did you feel threatened by them in anyway?”

“And have you ever met anyone who lost their home or farm because of the estate tax? Do you even personally know anyone who pays the estate tax? Compare that to the number of people you know who need Social Security, which The GOP in the House is once again taling about privatizing.”

“These are the issues that the GOP feels is more important than you and your family’s health costs, your children’s education and future, and making sure your job pays enough for your bills.”

Good luck getting corporate media to pay any attention.

I guess this is fine, if wonky. But unfortunately it’s not something that’ll break through and get atttention. For that you need stuff that’s a bit gimmicky, something a brainless infotainment broadcast can use as a hook.

Newt’s “Contract with America” was a stupid piece of packaging, stupid enough to get noticed, and thus be effective. If they’d named it “The GOP Smaller Government and Tax Reform Initiative” no one would remember it. It’s all about packaging, and a dumb but memorable package will beat the crap out of a dull-as-dishwater wonky one such as what the Dems have proposed.

Dems are clueless at packaging. “Together, America can do better.” Sigh.

“Then when they are down we should kick them in the balls.”
– – – – Comment by MNProgressive.

Personally, I’d just as soon drive them into the sea, make them all swim to Gitmo—and then, just leave them there. As for the MSM not providing coverage…just remind the filthy little beasts that, once things turn in the other direction, it wouldn’t be too terribly difficult to create a “new-and-improved” MSM—by reassigning things like broadcast frequencies, suspending licenses pending “investigations.” In the words of Eeyore: “Could take months…days…years. Who knows?”

Two can play the “isolation” game, y’know. Maybe the GOP should start getting their affairs in order. Judgement Day (well, I guess it’s really called “Election Day”) is coming for them, and I do not think that it will be a pretty sight….

Screw the MSM. Screw the the consultants and their demographic charts and worthless Powerpoints.

Campaign, Campaign, Campaign.

Go out to the American people, tell them what you stand for, and how they would benefit from your programs. Little towns all over the state of Nebraska are having their town celebrations and fairs. Go out and press the flesh.
Let’s bring some of that good old fashion Granger/populism back to Middle America.

Carry the battle to them. Don’t let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don’t ever apologize for anything.
– Harry S. Truman

Duh, was that so hard?

Now that the Dems have come out with good ideas and unveiled them comes the next move: campaign the hell out of it.

Actually before we start the active campaign, as JimBOB noted we need to package our initiatives. Hire some consumer marketing consultants with Coca Cola and Proctor & Gamble experience and make some nice tidy little sound bites. Then, as Petorado put it so well, develop some memorable retorts to the inevitable GOP comebacks. Get Al Franken and some other comedians on the job. A funny, if even meaningless, retort will get airplay on the radio and TV. All it has to do is ridicule the GOP response in a memorable way.

Packaging? You want some nifty packaging?

Here’s some packaging: A New Deal for a New Century. Democrats work for everyone.

I have a little Iowa-centric view here, but I would like to see the Dems take the Public Broadcasting issue )see Bibg Bird, two CB posts below) that the R leadership may well never bring to the floor, and actually force the issue.

In 2005, when the fundingwas cut and then Congress reversed course with the Obey amendment to restore funding prevailing by a wide margin, Rep. Nussle (now R candidate for Iowa’s open Governor’s seat) voted against restoring funding. Now that he is running for the statehouse in a race where education will be a huge issue, lets make him vote again. It is a no-lose proposition: he either wants to allow Dick Cheney and his hunting pals to bag Big Bird, or he is a shameless flip-flopping panderer who can’t be trusted (and who doesn’t care about educational programming for our children).

Either way, I’m happy to have us finish what the Rethugs on the appropriation subcommittee started.

Campaigning on this stuff is one thing. But first, Dems have to stand still long enough for people to realize that what they are hearing isn’t some distant dog barking or the wind rustling the leaves in the trees. It’s pretty hard to convince folks you’ve got a better idea when you’re talking through the slates in a fence. People pick up on confidence right away. They may end up disagreeing but at least they’re more likely to listen. Being afraid to speak up because of that fear of disagreement will gain nothing at all from either fence sitters or potentially in the bag supporters. It’s time for Dems to say with confidence what they’re about. If American’s want to live in a fascist, corporate state, we might as well find out and get on with it. After clearly presenting a viable and believable alternative that is.

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