The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Democrats: the exciters you’re not, but here is a message on messaging
“Alternative Facts” was a phrase coined by Kelly Anne Conway, who has lately been much less in the news. Given the White House’s “inspiration” from the alt-right and Ms. Conway’s breakthrough phrase, the term altnews (and it’s logical opposite TruThat) was inevitable. And many well meaning people are led (or should I say misled) by these alt-facts, and they are in districts that would surprise you. That’s because they included swing districts in swing states that all voted for Obama in both elections.
So Democrats, be the exciters: Kind readers, when you can, enter the “way back machine” and Google that one hit wonder of the Exciters (from 1963): “Tell Him”. The Dems should listen and listen, and ... learn. For example “tell him your never gonna leave him”, and more importantly “tell him, tell him, tell him, tell him right now.” Therein lies the failure of the party of good and fair, compassionate and lifesaving agenda. They have a great message, but God-awful presentation.
I know a lot of Republican leaning folks who deep down recognize and support background checks on gun owners, while the NRA is going in the opposite direction and wants silencers legalized (the deadly “sound of silence”?). They support healthy contraception and prenatal care (the opposite of Planned Parenthood is Unplanned Parenthood). They support affordable student loans for college (Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is destroying it). And there are even some who realize Mars is not the best backup plan if we continue to wreck this planet.
So affirmatively present arms. And your arms Democrats are your voices and presence at all the town hall meetings you can get to.
If President Trump taught us anything about messaging, it was that repetition, repetition, repetition is to politics as location, location, location is to real estate.
So then blue staters, tell them (the working class you need to reach) tell them, tell them.
Tell them that we had 75 straight months of job growth under President Obama, and I know with three more under Trump we now have 78 straight “combined”. This reminds me of one heck of a ball player named Tommy Aaron (he did make the majors), who along with his brother Henry (Hank) hit a combined total of 768 home runs (Tommy hit 13 of them).
Tell them that 30 million American human beings, most of whom are not necessarily rich, have health care under the Affordable Care Act. Remind them that many (including working class white folks) will lose it if the new administration has its way, and more than a few won’t get their Medicare, and will die.
Tell them that nonprofits such as the Tulsa Domestic Violence Intervention Services will be one of Mr. Trump’s first wave of targets in his federal budget cuts. Remind them that Domestic Violence Intervention Services rescues people and helps victims understand that their rape was not their fault.
Tell them that the Labor Department’s Senior Community Service Employment program, which pays minimum wage to senior citizens who hold jobs in the public sector will also be wiped out.
Tell them that Work Advance programs which gets manufacturing jobs for the unemployed is also on the chopping block. And a whole bunch of people whacked by these most hard-hearted of funding decisions were Trump voters. And they may still be in the future.
So Democrats, raise your message, raise your game and then repetition, repetition, repetition. Don’t patronize them and don’t blame them, just inform them.
Inform them that the Kentucky Coal Museum coowned by Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College has come up with a money saving strategy. They’re shifting to solar energy (more power to them), and they are a coal museum. This is just one example, but there are many others.
And Democrats while you’re informing them, inform yourselves. Old fashioned get out the vote (as opposed to issue politics) still works best. In Georgia, among 18 candidates running for Congress, Democrat Jon Ossoff won 48 percent of the votes in a district that’s been Republican for nearly four decades, and will be in a two candidate run off. And the same might happen in very red Montana.
Sure, our current president has record low approval and trust ratings. Sure, he’s a misogynist, and a serial avoider (the draft, releasing his taxes, his first two wives, paying his creditors and much much more). But, just saying that is not the way to defeat him down the road. It’s the reason America has to. That requires effort, compassion, involvement, and repetition, repetition, repetition of what works.
And oh yes, in the coming mid-term and the next presidential election, could the DNC arrange for regular campaign troops to Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania? Please?
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