Dispatch #6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 MESSAGING\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Corey Robin (+)\u00a0\u00a0The Nation, 4\/25\/2011\u00a0\u00a0\u2018Reclaiming the Politics\u00a0of Freedom\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Reviewed by Jay Gilchrist<\/p>\n
Several of us have identified Democratic Party messaging as flawed and seek a cogent series of messages to the voter.\u00a0 The above short article purports to identify the problem that causes our flawed messaging.\u00a0 The powerful establishment that surrounds Obama seems convinced that you can\u2019t win in 2012 with a progressive message.\u00a0 Indeed, Jim Messina*, the guy who succeeded Rahm Emanuel and is now slated to head the re-election campaign believes in a strong center right position and perhaps he has no faith in grassroot activism to assist in the campaign.\u00a0 It\u2019s his way or the highway.\u00a0 Progressives will have to vote for Obama, what other reasonable choice to they have?<\/p>\n
They are very likely to not vote at all.\u00a0 After the midterms the Democrats froze federal employee\u2019s wages and agreed to extend tax breaks for the rich and shied away from fixing the tax code.\u00a0 Might as well let Republicans get elected.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve selected our challenge: to give Democrats a reason to forget their disappointment and at least go vote one last time. We can\u2019t count on people dismissing the conservative line as delusional this time. They\u2019ve bought it for forty years.<\/p>\n
First we should agree why the messages are flawed.\u00a0 Then we need better ones.\u00a0 So, is it true that a pure progressive message will fail like it has in the past?\u00a0 It did not work for Mondale.\u00a0 The author claims we progressives do not understand the attractiveness of the ultra conservative message. Grasp that and maybe we have a chance.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the conservative message: \u201cThe market equals freedom; government is the threat to freedom.\u201d\u00a0 Here\u2019s ours: \u201cDemocrats support family values too.\u201d \u201cWe reduced the deficit once and will again.\u201d \u201cWe fixed welfare.\u201d \u201cWe redistribute wealth for fairness.\u201d\u00a0 It translates to \u2018Republican Light\u2019.\u00a0 Much of our Democratic messaging amounts to portraying citizens as weak, needy and passive.\u00a0 It\u2019s comes across as condescending.\u00a0 Younger voters don\u2019t even remember what these refer to. It sounds false.<\/p>\n
The author suggests we should develop the idea that \u201cThe Market is really a source of restraint and government is the true instrument of freedom.\u201d\u00a0 If we find imaginative ways to repeat this we may find voters find it so jarring a concept they may ask how can that be?\u00a0 We can posture government as the individual\u2019s instrument for liberating us from our \u2018rulers\u2019 in the private sphere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How about, \u201cLet\u2019s break the back of private autocracy\u2019<\/em>?<\/p>\n —————————————————–<\/p>\n (+) Robin\u00a0\u00a0Corey\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Professor of\u00a0 Political\u00a0Science,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n CUNY Graduate Center<\/p>\n *Obama’s Enforcer, The Nation, April 18th<\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\n Republicans are counting on seniors liking the sound of protecting their grandchildren by cutting the deficit especially if they themselves are grandfathered \u2013 protected from any change in their Social Security and Medicare.!\u00a0 We should say, \u201cDo you want to protect them from \u2018The Deficit\u2019 by taking away their schooling, health care and old age benefits?\u00a0 Let\u2019s look for a better solution.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the short course to better messaging:<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0(*John Fernandes cautioned us to first and always stress our common values with the voter)<\/p>\n 2. Remember, \u2018Security\u2019 is valued for its granting of freedom \u2013 freedom to act freely without fear<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u00a03.\u00a0 Someone with more resources can usually control me \u2013 control your freedom.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t focus on the means and lose sight of your preferred ends.\u00a0 That\u2019s what<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Washington always does.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to do it too.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0 Armed with healthcare, unemployment benefits and social security, you\u2019re<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 free to leave an oppressive situation, free to choose your own path, risky as it<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 might be, to seek more reward.\u00a0 Be free to talk back, even walk out.<\/p>\n Insist that government be the guarantor of your individual freedom.\u00a0 The Constitution says it is our<\/em> government\u2019s job to protect your freedom and well being.\u00a0 Why would you insist that it be made small enough to insure it cannot do this?<\/p>\n You want to pay some for-profit companies to do all this?\u00a0 You really believe it would be cheaper?\u00a0 Have you ever worked for somebody you\u2019ve hardly ever seen?\u00a0 You have a better chance of seeing your government representative.\u00a0<\/p>\n But like that captain if industry, don\u2019t expect your representative to listen to you alone.\u00a0 Band with your neighbors first.<\/em>\u00a0 You have a better chance of doing that with us than you have of getting your fellow employees to march on the boss to make him give up his corporate duty to keep making more sales and profits. \u00a0Capitalism requires an effective balance to its power.\u00a0 Government should be that balance.\u00a0 It is not right now.\u00a0 It has not been for quite awhile.\u00a0<\/p>\n Start pushing the Wagon of State upwards.\u00a0 Right now too many are taking the easy job of pushing it downhill.<\/p>\n Jay Gilchrist, GBVD<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dispatch #6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 MESSAGING\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Corey Robin (+)\u00a0\u00a0The Nation, 4\/25\/2011\u00a0\u00a0\u2018Reclaiming the Politics\u00a0of Freedom\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Reviewed by Jay Gilchrist Several of us have identified Democratic Party messaging as flawed and seek a cogent series of messages to the voter.\u00a0 The above short article purports to … Continue reading \n