I'm beginning to think that a Dem Strategy should be to inform the uninformed--they are voting.

[Sheepshank]

low informed people and voters are subject to the messaging thay have been bombarded with, and do not take the time to check out the reality of the messaging. They believe what they are told and they belieive their homework has been done for them.

Dems have not directed the messaging, they have permitted the Reps to distort, misrepresent important issues, and misinform the uninformed or politically naive voter.

[oldandhappy]

1. And we need to inform ourselves.

I noticed local ads and mailers said nothing about the positive stuff that has happened in the last six years. Huh?

[Sheepshank]

3. trying to get the younger electorate to GOTV

whether the younger group "think" about politics not in question...they simply don't think about it at all. But they hear and see names that have lots and lots of baggage attached to that name. As fas as they are concerned the homework has been done for them, and when they vote, they vote with the information that have been exposed to.

And you are right, the DEMS did a piss poor on clarifying and touting accomplishments.

[True Blue Door]

2. At this point, information has to take the form of counter-prop.

The media is under such tight right-wing ideological control that they can just get away with straight up lying.

Entire news media sources - well beyond Fox News - functioned as arms of the RNC during this election season.

[Sheepshank]

4. yup..

and I think this is why social media can play a role. Not the DNC info bombing I had been receiving for 3 weeks leading up to the election. That was overwhleming and just too much...but peer to peer stuff.

We need grassroots, on the street involvement where kids listen to one another.

[Chathamization]

42. Yep. The mainstream media is a right-wing organ at the moment, and the more people who shut it off

the better. Constant talk about how the ACA is failing, then silence when it ends up working. Remember when places like the New York Times were reporting that the ACA would cost millions of jobs (because of a report that said that millions of individuals who wanted to retire but were forced to work because they needed healthcare could finally afford to retire)? Or when they spent weeks pushing the fake IRS scandal, then didn't bother to correct it at all when it turned out to be garbage (which was actually evident if they had read the initial report - but they didn't bother to)?

Or the constant barrage of crises of the week we've been bombarded with? Nothing changed with Ebola, or ISIS, or Boko Haram, or Ukraine, or Syria, or undocumented children, but though we hear barely any news about these things now, there was a time when the media was screaming "HOW COULD OBAMA LET THIS HAPPEN SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!" Of course, as soon as it was revealed that these things were complicated and there were no quick fixes, the media dropped each issue and jumped on to the next one.

Or the coverage of the Republican shut down of the government? Republicans were bragging to their base about how they would shut the government down (eliciting many cheers), and then when they did it the media started talking about how both sides were to blame; and then after the shutdown, proceeded to trash the ACA 24/7 so no one would remember it. Republican numbers were in the tank a year ago, before the MSM rescued them.

Shutting off the MSM, and encouraging others to, is one of the best things someone can do.

[JonLP24]

5. I live in reddest of red cities

It is really hard to counter -- it helps to have facts on hand.

Conversations are at a disadvantage where a lot of nonsense is spread and hard to counter without something to show them. Even when there is so much "New World Order" "Freemasons" talk here. Also, racism is common which isn't based in logic either.

[Sheepshank]

6. I know what you mean... I live in Utah

*sigh*

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Republicans have proven that irrational emotional arguments motivate

people to vote while "informing" voters puts them to sleep.

We could continue to repeat the same failed mistakes of the last 30 years, or perhaps we can learn from our enemies how to motivate our voters to get the fuck out and vote.

[Sheepshank]

9. I hate to use Repubican strategy....but....

wouldn't it be of worth to illustrate the negative effects of implementing Republican Policey. Using that and comparing it to Dem way of approaching the problem, as part of the Dem messaging be of use? I'm thinkin of the bullshit of the trickle down theory when it comes to income and taxes. I would never want to impart lies they way they do, but seriously some of their policies should instill plenty of fear.

[hfojvt]

11. I think it would

but most others don't seem to care

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025697641

[JonLP24]

30. Public opinion polls don't favor tax cuts for the rich

among other liberal issues. Why they elect those candidates, well for one we didn't have the 50-50 split in generals, I don't know otherwise. Republicans are good at confusion, distracting, and pretending to be Democrats when they need to.

[Warren Stupidity]

12. it would require unabashed class war rhetoric by Democrats

and that is the problem. Our party is bought and paid for by wall street and the corporate elites and the money stream will dry up if the rhetoric goes working class.

[Sheepshank]

17. but isn't that what I've been saying, avoid MSM

and employ the social media so much more used by the younger group.

Besides, Wall Street isn't the only group pouring miney into directing media.....there are other sources.

Besides, I am not convinced that money beats out all.....otherwise Mayor Butts and his $50K in campaign funds would have lost against Chevorn and their $3M investment in alternate Chevron-Friendly candidates. He didn't lose, he won by a wide margin. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/11/05/361875792/chevron-spends-big-and-loses-big-in-a-city-council-race

[Warren Stupidity]

20. Oh I agree, I'm just pointing out why the Idiots In Charge

will continue the same failed strategy they have been following since Reagan.

[Blanks]

33. Ross Perot had the right idea...

Instead of spending so much money advertising in 30 seconds spots. Have an infomercial - take the time to explain the issues. Respond to what's going on in the world.

Realistically show both sides of an issue. Let people have a voice in choosing the direction.

I think that would get more people involved, more interested.

[Warren Stupidity]

39. Explaining the issues doesn't work.

Perot got nowhere with that. He was a one hit wonder who got what turned out to be an entirely negligible vote count.

Effective persuasion is irrational and emotional. What we need to be messaging is that Republicans are clowns buffoons bed-wetters bullies, and the passive sexual partners to corporate tycoons. Or something like that. Sorry if that offends anyone. Our messaging has to be at least as outrageous as theirs, but aimed at their weaknesses.

[Blanks]

40. We can explain that they're clowns, buffoons and bed wetters...

Better in a half hour program (that can be viewed at any time on YouTube after it originally airs).

Perot got a pretty good percentage of the vote the first go around. The second time he ran he didn't do very well. He lost the reform party primary but ran anyway (or something like that).

It's the sound bites between programming that I don't think is effective because it's negative and annoying - that's all it has time to be. If the democrats want to win they have to lay out a program that refutes the right wing talking points item by item.

Competing with the simplistic message that the republicans have toe to toe is the wrong approach. IMHO

[woodsprite]

26. It really does have to be a grass roots effort then. They can't control what info we

put out (at least not easily), and we can't be bought (hopefully).

[Sheepshank]

34. Yes!!!!! +100 n/t

[LittleBlue]

8. Talk is cheap

Let us publicly fight for something everyone can support. Huge reductions in tuition, or a massive jobs bill.

Instead we've authorized $1tr to fight ISIS. How many credits does $1tr buy?

[Sheepshank]

10. Fight? if not by words and voting, how do you mean? n/t

[LittleBlue]

16. Propose legislation, have the president sell it

and watch it get blocked by Republicans. Then make it a referendum in 2016. Make the election about one thing that everyone cares about. Don't confuse them with long lists and things they don't understand.

[Sheepshank]

18. you mean, like ACA, Gun Control, immigration, equal pay for women, and Increasing Min Wage....?

it was all blocked.

But the uninformed voter probably doesn't know who did the blocking. All they know is that Obama didnt' sign into law.

[LittleBlue]

23. Too much information

ACA was passed. Gun control, nobody cares about. Immigration, that's a mixed bag. You've got some support in certain areas, but opposition elsewhere. Equal pay for women, again, what can you give women voters? Equal pay is like saying "if you're discriminated against, you can go through this legal process and get compensation." 98% of women will never encounter this process in their lifetimes. It sounds really good, but when women ask for proof of what they're getting, it's hard to show in specific terms.

Increased minimum wage is the best one on that list. Fortunately most people are subject to their state's minimum wage. Don't quote me on this, but I'd guess most of the US population lives in states with min wage higher than federal. Now, if you're talking about a moderate rise in minimum wage, that will get a little support. A huge rise like the one in Seattle, like say $12-$15 per hour, now you're talking. People would turn out big for that.

Jobs, tuition, retirement, these are what inspire people and get multi-generational loyalty. Most of the stuff we tout are interesting only to small groups. The whole country is not like DU, they don't give a shit about most of the stuff that sets our hair on fire. And they have very small attention spans, so we need to focus on three things or less. Trotting out a list of bills Obama has signed is confusing and pointless.

[Sheepshank]

35. you are wrong about no one caring about gun control

all the consumer poll state otherwise.

To discount the Hispanic and others affected by immigration is not accurate either.

The message is simply being touted only in one direction.

[B2G]

13. Isn't that the entire point of campaigns??

If we weren't doing just that, what the hell were we doing?

[dragonlady]

14. This plus just the nuts and bolts of politics

In canvassing low-income areas I've learned that quite a few just don't understand how their government works. They are confused about the difference between members of Congress, state legislators, and aldermen. They do understand the president and vote at a greater rate for that office. Midterm elections, local elections, and primaries are not on the radar. I don't know if this is caused by a failure of the schools to teach civics adequately or the distraction caused by their many social and economic problems. The Democratic Party needs to understand that many voters aren't political junkies and require some basic information in order to participate and affect their government.

[Sheepshank]

19. you are so right!! n/t

[world wide wally]

15. There is something important we have to always keep in mind.

We complain about turnout and point to 2008 and 2012 as examples of what we " should" be getting to show up. However, consider what drove that turnout. We had a charismatic black man leading the charge and minorities showed up in droves. This was actually an anomaly, not the norm.
People actually had something to vote "for".
So, now these are the questions we need to ask before we count our chickens.
What can we give them to vote "for" in the future?
Will the fact that Hilary is a woman be enough?
Does she also need to give rousing speeches to masses of people?
Is she capable of that?
Is she charismatic enough against a Jeb Bush or Chris Christie?
Will we try running on issues next time or just pretend to be more moderate Republicans?

What will we give people to vote "FOR" and "HOW"?

[JonLP24]

32. There was a 4% increase in African-American turnout from 2004

Young voters saw the most significant (which I feel 2016 will be a key area) jump from 2004.

However, compared to overall midterm figures, there is a consistent wide turnout gap going back among young, women, and minorities from midterms to general elections and this is going back.

[Recursion]

21. Never works

People have said that since 1789 and it's never worked

[MANative]

22. Two words: Willful ignorance. n/t

[MBS]

24. Al Franken shows how it's done

&list=UU5i9ufhR7yeOAlKN6z1mu1w&index=4

Much more of this conveniently collated for you on youtube.

A message that is simple, clear, direct, and real.
And a candidate (in this case, Franken) who is also clear, direct and real.The candidate, of course, ultimately seals the deal.
But the ads also present his message really effectively, too.
Franken and his ad folks have a thing or two to teach the Dems for 2016.

The other thing I like about these ads, and about Franken, is that while he has some fun with his hapless opponent (Charles Pierce wrote that his opponent "makes Mitt Romney look like Henry Wallace" : )), he never is really mean. The ads convey positive democratic principles, and positive, straightforward, old-time (pre-Scott Walker) midwestern values, real and consistent concern about people. ("I don't work for them; I work for you." )

If 2014 taught anything (in addition to the real, disastrous consequences of voter suppression and dark money, and Republican slander tactics-- but that's another post), it's that overthought strategies, created solely out of operatives' ideas of voter demographics, massaged to the last decimal point of multiple polls on presidential popularity, and designed to run away from things or people you believe in just because of those polls, etc, etc, DO NOT WORK.

Franken and Elizabeth Warren show another path. Stand proudly for your values, for democratic values. Learn how to explain those values, and yourself, to those voters. Be in the game for the right reasons, and explain those reasons to voters, too. Do your job, and explain your accomplishments. Assemble an effective team to carry that message.

Just STAND UP.

PS. Charlie Pierce has a point: why NOT consider Al as a 2016 possibility? http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/Why_Not_Al
or failing that, at LEAST get this man to show the Democratic Party how to explain itself to the American people?

[Sheepshank]

25. Franken has the 'no fear, and tell it like it is' feel about him and I like it

the only other Dem with the strong, no fear messaging, is Elizabeth Warren....and to some extend Bernie Sanders, but I find him more devisive than team building for some reason.

[MBS]

29. Ditto

No fear, standing up for what he believes in, uses humor , not fear-mongering, to nail his opponent, wittily, to the cross.
Smart, but can explain everything in clear language that relates to people's everyday lives.
Great style that builds on real substance.
And, yes, Elizabeth Warren has many of the same qualities.
They should co-teach a class for current and potential Dem candidates, and their campaign teams.

I also agree with you about Bernie: I like him a lot, but I also agree with you about your "more divisive than team building" sense.

[riqster]

27. It requires a sustained effort on the part of all of us.

Because the mass media is on board with the GOPee.

[on point]

28. Dems need to explain and fight for their positions. Not retreat always

50 state strategy, make the case for dem positions, call out lies, ignorance of right. Don't play nicey nice with them. If it is a lie or a failed policy shown by empirical info then say so and don't mince words trying to be polite. Call them liars to their face

Get some dem leadership that express the dem positions and think on their feet. No more turd say compromise sell out types who cave at every opportunity.

[Sheepshank]

37. I do believe there are strategies and speaking classes that would help

as mentioned up thread, Al Franken and Elizabeth Warren are adept at making strong points that seem to stick. They would be good mentors for those with weaker constitutions.

[badtoworse]

31. I think we need to deal with the voters who really do understand the issues, but don't agree with us

Based on what I've been seeing here these past few days, it seems like many assume there aren't any except rich white guys.

[kelliekat44]

36. I have been trying to get this message out to our leaders everywhere for the past 6 years. No one

is listening. Otherwise we would have seen a ground swell of folks out for state and local elections, massive town hall meetings, money spent in red state red zones. I have not seen it.

[Sheepshank]

38. true dat

I honestly believe it's the fix that ails the Dems...but why are they not listening?

[Brigid]

41. You are assuming that they would listen.

You may be assuming too much.