General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy don't Democratic lawmakers hold a press briefing/conference each week to hold Trump to account?
It seems Democrats are having trouble getting the message out about how bad Trump is.
I suggest -
Gather together Democratic lawmakers.
Hold a weekly or twice-weekly press event.
Provide a summary of Trump's lies and the damage he has done since the last briefing.
Bring on large groups who are affected by Trump's actions, example people who have lost healthcare or dreamers and their families.
Trash his Tweets.
Throw down challenges to Trump - questions about his lies that he will be unable to answer.
Maintain continuous themes with examples - for example - Trump is corrupt. He's a liar. He is damaging America. He is callous.
Lay out the Democratic alternative.
Make the events controversial, big productions to attract maximum media exposure.
Try to get the media to talk about things that need to be talked about - too much is overlooked, and most people are unaware of how bad Trump is.
Why isn't something like this happening? Trump's approval has increased. That means he is fooling more people without an effective opposition. We shouldn't let that happen.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)He is much better for ratings.
Doodley
(9,124 posts)wrong with that. We are too passive. It is time to fight and fight hard with the same energy as Avenatti. We are sleep walking further and further into this nightmare.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)But I agree with you that Democrats need to fight more.
BSdetect
(8,999 posts)Squinch
(51,004 posts)Sophia4
(3,515 posts)It would help all of us who want to volunteer and canvas or table for the midterm elections.
Doodley
(9,124 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)concerned about the midterms are keeping quiet since the party leaders don't want to scare away possible Dem voters with too much "impeachment" type talk.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)How about higher gas prices? How about the crooked ZTE deal? How about getting rid of all the regulations that give us clean air and water? How about gun control? There are plenty of things they could be screaming about.
BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)It's a sorry state of affairs but it is unfortunately true. I think the local campaigns will bring up the issues that their specific areas are interested in. The areas that are rural and love their 2nd Amend and want to keep their rifles could vote Dems if they are reassured that no one will come for their guns. The same goes for immigration...it is very touchy. They would be upset about higher gas prices though. Places that are already blue would be interested in the issues you mentioned (gun control, clean air, etc.) and campaigning on them is a plus in theses places. The really Dem places can talk about tRump's crimes and the corruption and get more votes than the Dems who don't. In CA there are 26 candidates running for senator and only 4 are GOP candidates so Feinstein is running on solid Dem issues like gun control, healthcare for all and expanded Medicare, and so on.
vi5
(13,305 posts)What you are suggesting is pretty much what Republicans did all throughout Obama's presidency.
Politics is hard and sometimes I really do feel like too many elected Dems think it's just too much work to actually....you know....sell their message.
This is what I hear every time I hear about a red state Dem who just has to adopt this or that conservative position because "They're constituents just won't go for it!" or whatever other excuse. Well how about tell them why it's good. How about tell them why it's better than Republicans rather than just shrugging your shoulders and saying "Oh well, they'll never go for it." Would that be easy? No, but then again if you want an easy job there are plenty of other options for you out there than Democratic politician.
Along the same lines, I also think one of the worst things to happen to us is the early spate of scandal plagued republicans about 5-10 years ago. I forget whether it was the "wide stance" guy or the "actual rape" guy who basically said a stupid thing and the campaign imploded and an underdog Dem candidate won. Since that time it seems like that is too many people on our side's primary strategy. Just keep a low profile, wait for the Republican to do or say something so stupid that people end up voting for the Dem.
Doodley
(9,124 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)I think both the House and Senate leadership hold weekly press conferences.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)Doodley
(9,124 posts)tavernier
(12,400 posts)loudly and clearly, every minute of every day that they are being paid to work. Their job is not to grin and bear it, but to make certain that our country is being protected!!
So
10. I think they should be screaming their heads off
loudly and clearly, every minute of every day that they are being paid to work.
So are you saying that you want them screaming their heads off in front of the cameras every minute of every day? All the days they are paid to work?.
Wow.
Me, I would prefer them to be in the senate or congress and committee meetings actually making legislation and submitting proposals that can make it to the floor. I do not want them as a talking head on every TeeVee show promoting what will never pass unless they start doing it from the chambers we elected them for. They do the comments and appear on the news shows. They were not hired to be TV personalities.
Most of them are. All but two voted for Russian Sanctions. Only two did not...all Democrats did.
Doodley
(9,124 posts)every single lie. That is why he was elected. That is why he is being successful in screwing America and discrediting Mueller. He is the President of US and he is destroying our nation. You bet the opposition should be screaming. The consequences of being passive and camera-shy is eight years of hell, and who knows what will be left after that?
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)If everything is OMG IMPORTANT, then people start to think that nothing you say is important.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)On the one hand - you are right.
On the other hand - the media has done nothing but reward 45 for this since the day the damn thing announced it was running for President. *smdh*
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)even if it's the truth.
If others - the AARP, for instance, say that the GOP is trashing Medicare, it gets WAY more attention.
tavernier
(12,400 posts)ehrnst
(32,640 posts)I'm not the one saying that they should be screaming - I was replying to someone who thinks they should.
Is that clearer?
However, if you think that Dems have been meek, you may have missed these:
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/03/11/maxine_waters_trump_is_typical_con_man_who_diverts_attention_from_himself_by_attacking_others.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-shithole-countries-latest-john-lewis-says-president-is-racist-a8159241.html
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/nancy-pelosi-rips-trumps-hateful-transgender-troop-ban
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/chuck-schumer-trumps-foreign-policy-by-tweet-doing-serious-damage-to-us
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/377156-schumer-trump-must-back-down-from-sweeping-tariffs
https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/09/politics/democrats-health-care-fight-2018/index.html
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/370816-democrats-pan-trumps-immigration-framework
http://www.newsweek.com/trumps-travel-ban-helps-isis-stage-attacks-us-democrats-say-715512
Doodley
(9,124 posts)ehrnst
(32,640 posts)I don't.
I suggest you follow our Dem leaders on social media. You'd find that they do hold weekly press conferences; they also are quite active on Twitter and Facebook.
If the media doesn't cover it, it doesn't mean it isn't happening.
ooky
(8,929 posts)aimed at stealing our social security.
https://www.socialsecurityworks.org/2018/04/12/politicians-steal-social-security/
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)This was part of a much, much larger bill, and it failed - THAT was what was covered.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/12/us/politics/house-balanced-budget-amendment-vote.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/12/house-fails-advance-balanced-budget-amendment-counter-high-spending-levels/508665002/
This is exactly why advocacy orgs like "Social Security Networks" exist. To get that detail out to people.
ooky
(8,929 posts)I knew it because of Social Security Works but never saw it mentioned on mainstream TV. I would have least expected it on MSNBC or CNN, unless I just missed it.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)rather than hohum. And I concur. They HAVE to start getting out the message -- or perish. Or let Trump's lies stand unchallenged.
Beartracks
(12,821 posts)mcar
(42,372 posts)RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)The fact that their periodic press conferences don't get any news coverage makes them, by definition, too ho hum to cover.
mcar
(42,372 posts)Why, just remember how they covered all of HRC's very substantive rallies and policy announcements. The media always covers the real news, unless it's ho-hum.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)What did they cover instead?? THE not at all hohum Trump rallies.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)instead of doing the work that they are doing?
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)PRESS ATTENTION (esp. broadcast media) when they challenge and counter Trump's lies which they're not doing nearly enough of.
There are vast swatches of the American people who only hear (or read) the headlines, and Dems desperately need to create some headlines by DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND TELLING THE PEOPLE THE TRUTH.
They can do that AND what they're already doing, both.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)They find examples when they read headlines:
https://www.axios.com/schumer-pelosi-say-trump-agreed-to-replace-daca-without-wall-1513305491-a9965fa0-2c67-4710-8ea1-a9d581cfb11d.html
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/nancy-pelosi-rips-trumps-hateful-transgender-troop-ban
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/chuck-schumer-trumps-foreign-policy-by-tweet-doing-serious-damage-to-us
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/377156-schumer-trump-must-back-down-from-sweeping-tariffs
https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/09/politics/democrats-health-care-fight-2018/index.html
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/370816-democrats-pan-trumps-immigration-framework
http://www.newsweek.com/trumps-travel-ban-helps-isis-stage-attacks-us-democrats-say-715512
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/03/11/maxine_waters_trump_is_typical_con_man_who_diverts_attention_from_himself_by_attacking_others.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-shithole-countries-latest-john-lewis-says-president-is-racist-a8159241.html
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)That answers everything, doesn't it?
Sorry, you very clearly do not understand the point. Guess what. It's not worth my time to try to explain it to you, other than to say you missed key words and concepts like "broadcast," and "vast swaths of Americans" (who don't usually read The Hill or Axios, or Real Clear Politics or usually even Newsweek and CNN online).
So whatever. You're right; I'm wrong; you taught me a lesson and showed me up. Happy now?
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)You stated:
along with "PRESS ATTENTION (esp. broadcast media) when they challenge and counter Trump's lies which they're not doing nearly enough of."
And I posted a whole bunch of headlines, including broadcast media coverage of them DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND TELLING THE PEOPLE THE TRUTH, and challenging and counter Trump's lies.
You then got upset and snippy at being contradicted about how ineffective and sorry you think Democrats in office are with the media, and then demanded to know how "vast swaths of Americans" "who don't usually read" mainstream news sources or watch the news are going to know about how Democrats are DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND TELLING THE PEOPLE THE TRUTH.
Those who watch FoxNews, or YouTube videos of comedians who fancy themselves journalists, aren't going to believe anything that doesn't support their confirmation bias anyway.
You're welcome.
Why don't you tell us how those "vast swaths of Americans" you are talking about get their information? Why doncha stoop to everyone here's level and splain it to us?
Cha
(297,650 posts)you made my point, mcar..
37. The M$M has an agenda.. they were a big part
of the reason we have trump and his doormats.
If it's a choice between fucking trump and Democracy for The People(no tax cuts).. they'll take trump every time.
Like they did during the campaign season.
I think Dems speaking out is exciting.. the fucking corporate manufactured news apparently doesn't agree.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=10638794
mcar
(42,372 posts)Thanks, Cha!
Cha
(297,650 posts)of the reason we have trump and his doormats.
If it's a choice between fucking trump and Democracy for The People(no tax cuts).. they'll take trump every time.
Like they did during the campaign season.
I think Dems speaking out is exciting.. the fucking corporate manufactured news apparently doesn't agree.
George II
(67,782 posts)...talking about much of this.
In fact, the media IS covering most of what's been happening and they've had our Senators and Representatives almost daily on the various talk shows.
mcar
(42,372 posts)I see Dems on CNN every time I watch. This "why aren't Dems doing anything" type of argument mystifies me.
JI7
(89,264 posts)And not offering any reason to vote for them.
mcar
(42,372 posts)Stinky The Clown
(67,818 posts)Period.
No excuses.
BumRushDaShow
(129,440 posts)(at least when they are session)
The M$M however, don't find them particularly meaningful to cover unless something controversial comes up (and I mean something able to rise above the loud noise that has become the controversial "baseline" ). CSPAN would normally broadcast those.
ALSO every single week, Democrats run a "Weekly Address" to counter the Presidential "Weekly Address", and these usually air on the radio and are available on the congressional website and on Youtube. For example, the one that was released just yesterday is here -
Here is the channel for the previous ones - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrXlgSrg2WERfxeCSCf7dEbkr33ctPvUS
Also, why not encourage or DEMAND that WEALTHY Democrats (and they exist) BUY some media outlets and then WE can control the what and the when and the for how long?
Beggars can't be choosers unfortunately. When you don't own and control the microphone, few will hear your message.
c-rational
(2,595 posts)megaphone.
BlueJac
(7,838 posts)I have been mind boggled for the lack of creativity on taking him down!
elmac
(4,642 posts)but they give trumpsters 24/7 coverage.
volstork
(5,403 posts)It is incumbent upon Democrats to counter trumps blustering and to show an alternate path to show how Democratic and Progressive policies will be helpful to average Americans. A weekly press conference would provide that opportunity.
George II
(67,782 posts)BadGimp
(4,018 posts)kairos12
(12,872 posts)dalton99a
(81,570 posts)Now that Republicans are firmly in charge, all you see is a plethora of Republicans on TV attacking Democrats
mcar
(42,372 posts)I watch CNN from 5-7 most nights. Democrats are on all the time, Republicans rarely. It's a huge turnaround from previous years.
Squinch
(51,004 posts)Every week one of our people should do what Avenatti does: go on every news show that will have him and expound about the selected trump idiocy of the week.
They need to be out front and vocal. As far as most people know, the Dems are enabling trumps just like the repubs are.
John Fante
(3,479 posts)would be sitting on 60% approval ratings with this economy. Trump struggles to hit 40%.
The Dems could do a better job getting their message out there, sure. That was true even before Trump. Don't take this to mean that Dickhead is winning the message wars. He is simply too awful to do that.
Thrill
(19,178 posts)If they were better organized with their message like Republicans are. They would never be in the minority
lancelyons
(988 posts)The media is covering how bad trump is pretty good.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)Democrats could simply quote sites such as What The Fuck Just Happened Today? or The Weekly List or Presterity.
We all know that Republicans would be raising absolute hell were a Democratic president to do even a fraction of what Trump has done.
kentuck
(111,110 posts)....and answered. He gets free propaganda, almost all of it fake or false.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)And retweeting a tweet - even to rebut it, bumps it higher in algorhthm.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)ehrnst
(32,640 posts)Last edited Mon May 21, 2018, 01:11 PM - Edit history (1)
But I can tell you what I do see coming from the leadership.
https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/video/nyt-lists-every-lie-trump-has-told-as-president-976365123815
https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a20111768/donald-trump-has-managed-to-tell-3001-lies-as-president-here-are-five-of-his-best/
https://www.vox.com/world/2018/2/19/17027906/trump-russia-social-media-indictment-lies
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-04-03/what-it-s-like-living-without-health-insurance-in-america
https://www.dreamerstories.com/
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-ol-le-daca-dreamer-story-20170909-story.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/02/AR2010080203882.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-dreamer-traveled-to-mexico-now-he-cant-get-home-to-his-husband/2018/04/09/3445c736-3c35-11e8-974f-aacd97698cef_story.html?utm_term=.84901d10da9d
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/22/trump-nominees-democrats-block-314775
And I believe these count as a challenges:
https://www.axios.com/schumer-pelosi-say-trump-agreed-to-replace-daca-without-wall-1513305491-a9965fa0-2c67-4710-8ea1-a9d581cfb11d.html
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/nancy-pelosi-rips-trumps-hateful-transgender-troop-ban
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/chuck-schumer-trumps-foreign-policy-by-tweet-doing-serious-damage-to-us
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/377156-schumer-trump-must-back-down-from-sweeping-tariffs
About repeating lies:
https://www.wired.com/2017/02/dont-believe-lies-just-people-repeat/
But yes, Democrats call out his policies as harmful:
https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/09/politics/democrats-health-care-fight-2018/index.html
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/370816-democrats-pan-trumps-immigration-framework
http://www.newsweek.com/trumps-travel-ban-helps-isis-stage-attacks-us-democrats-say-715512
However, if you want examples of calling him out, Maxine Waters, John Lewis are notable examples:
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/03/11/maxine_waters_trump_is_typical_con_man_who_diverts_attention_from_himself_by_attacking_others.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-shithole-countries-latest-john-lewis-says-president-is-racist-a8159241.html
And yes, Democrats do provide alternatives: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-travel-ban-bill-block-muslim-countries-restrictions-democrats-law-latest-a8061346.html
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/353977-house-rejects-democratic-budget-alternatives
https://www.wsj.com/articles/with-eye-to-midterms-democrats-offer-alternative-tax-infrastructure-plan-1520445576
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/10/will-donald-trump-destroy-the-presidency/537921/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-racist-examples_us_56d47177e4b03260bf777e83
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/25/trumps-travel-ban-might-be-legal-but-its-bad-policy/
https://www.npr.org/2018/01/13/577808792/president-trumps-idea-of-good-and-bad-immigrant-countries-has-a-historical-prece
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/03/08/trumps-new-tariff-exemptions-are-a-bad-idea-according-to-his-own-trade-adviser-four-days-ago/?
Everyone is frustrated. Taking yours out on "Democrats" is not only off target, it's destructive.