Together, Dems can do better — with sloganeering

June 16, 2006

Remember the congressional Democrats’ slogan for the year? “[tag]Together, America Can Do Better[/tag]”? Well, forget it; as Roll Call reported last night, Dems dropped the slogan after everyone complained.

When Congressional [tag]Democrats[/tag] outline their domestic priorities [today], they also will be floating what will be their second attempt at a winning [tag]slogan[/tag] this election cycle: “[tag]New Direction For America[/tag].”

Several senior Democratic sources said they decided to adopt the new label after winning jeers both on and off Capitol Hill for their first try, “Together, America Can do Better.” Until recently, that slogan — which emerged last year — was an umbrella theme for dozens of press events and leadership speeches.

Party sources said the Democrats decided to shelve “Together, America Can do Better” because many felt it didn’t articulate change, a main focus of the party’s fall campaign theme…. And they note that while the first theme fell flat, this one seems to fit all of the major components of the party platform this cycle.

One Democratic staffer said, “Let’s just hope this one sticks. The last thing we need is more mixed messages when we’re trying to win back the House and Senate.”

For what it’s worth, Dems leaders from both chambers will host an event on the Hill in about half an hour to unveil the slogan and lay out their domestic legislative priorities. Stay tuned.

Was “Together, America Can Do Better” that bad? I didn’t hate it, even though I know everyone else did.

I’m worried that changing slogans makes us look undecided and confused. Better now than in the fall, I guess.

  • I still like Newt Gingrich’s suggested slogan: “Had enough?” It doesn’t necessarily convey a positive message, but it captures the disgust many voters feel.

    I know there’s a need for a short, catchy slogan. But given the Democrats can’t get their message out with any consistency or they don’t have a coherent message (ie. Iraq), finding a slogan seems rather trivial.

  • i dont think there is a problem with changing slogans; there is a problem with letting it sound like we had to change slogans. in music or public speaking the first rule is if you miss a note or a word, don’t let it show because most people wont notice unless you call attention to it. the Dems don’t seem to be able to handle this rule. there is nothing wrong with changing slogans every few months to emphasize a different theme, a different meme. the “Together” them was our “spring” theme showing we could unite, planting the seed that America could — and needs to — do better than Bush has done. Having spent several months laying that groundwork, we now present the logical result, the better choice: “A New Direction.” See how easy that is to sound like we have our act together instead of sounding like rank amateurs?

  • The old one was horrible. Couldn’t have been worse. The new one says the Dems are different, not just Republican lite.

    I like both together: Had enough? A new direction for America.

    But please, let’s make that a truly new direction. Not flex hours for new mothers and boring crap like that. Energy. Global warming. Tax reform. A new foreign policy. Solving problems by other than brute force. Universal health care. Etc.

  • Thanks to doubtful’s comment yesterday, I’m going to think “Nude Erection for America” every time I hear this.

    Thanks a lot, doubtful.

  • It is a sad commentary on America that we need to launch a PR campaign with a catchy slogan. I realize that is Pre-Rovian thinking but shouldn’t the policy be the driver? If we have to resort to bumper-sticker politics so-be-it but it is a bummer. We need to dumb it down for people who only understand policy positions like:

    “Pre-9/11 thinking”
    “Tax Cuts stimulate the economy”
    “Cut and Run”
    “Evil doers”
    “War on Terror (aka- war on global extremism or some such crap)”
    “fight them over there…”

    The PR campaign must act as “the decider” for the people. If voters have to consider complex policies and how best to solve problems then they have less time to drive their SUV’s to the mall and but crap. We cannot have that!

    Might I offer a back-up slogan in case “A New Direction for America” fails to win hearts and minds? I would like to see them use “F-them in the goat-ass”. It is fun to say and it projects authority and commitment. It also conjures up an image of Denny Hastert with a little goat tail which I find amusing, though I do not wish to see him in any state that may allow a view of his tail. I could go for a nice suit with a hole cut out for the tail to stick through. We can work out the details later.

  • “New Direction for America”? Ugh! What’s the matter with the Democratic Party’s OLD DIRECTION? For peace. For the poor and downtrodden. For a healthy environment. For equal justice. For better health care. Against greed and privilege. Against poverty. Against the waste of war.

    New Direction … what, like a weather vane? Which is appropriate, I guess, considering the brainless, gutless, self-satisfied bozos who came up with it.

  • I loved “Together, we can do better”. It points out the key difference between Democrats and Repugs: Democrats know that we’re all in this *together*. Repugs think it’s every man (and I do mean man, look at their reproductive rights record) for himself.

    I find “Nude Erections” to be a hilarious and miserable failure as a slogan. Bring back The Clenis, give America more Nude Erections!

    Then again, just in time for the Summer Solstice, a pagan ritual involving Nude Erections might be just the perfect antidote to “Justice Sunday”.

    IO PAN IO PAN PAN

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