Scene: Dem campaign rally in any purple or purple/red House district. Date: October 2014. Candidate stands at a bridge that’s busy but badly in need of repair, a victim of austerity. He/she outlines plan to fund repairs for infrastructure, and how it would create jobs. But, doing so is virtually impossible with Republican obstructionism. The candidate asks: “What’s our plan?”
At this point a Celebrity Guest steps forward. We could go big here, with someone like Bill, Hillary or Joe, or perhaps a rock star, or maybe just someone famous locally, like the college’s star running back. Anyway, someone who can draw a crowd and gin it up. The Celebrity Guest says “Jobs and Bridges”.
Candidate: What’s our plan?
Celebrity Guest, encouraging the crowd to join in: Jobs and Bridges!
Candidate: Can’t hear you
Crowd: JOBS AND BRIDGES!
Candidate: What’s the Republican plan?
Celebrity Guest: (pointing to bridge) Let it crumble!
Candidate: What’s their plan?
Celebrity Guest, encouraging the crowd to join in: Let it crumble!
Candidate: Can’t hear you!
Crowd: LET IT CRUMBLE!
Candidate: How do we fix that?
Celebrity Guest: Vote!
Candidate: How do we fix that?
Crowd joins in: VOTE!
Candidate: WHAT’S OUR PLAN?
Crowd: JOBS AND BRIDGES!!!
Candidate: WHAT’S THEIR PLAN?
Crowd: LET IT CRUMBLE!!!
Candidate: HOW DO WE FIX THAT?
Crowd: VOTE!!!
Next, the candidate introduces two people. Candidate explains they have low-wage jobs and suffer from the same disease. One lives locally, where Medicaid was not expanded. The other lives in the nearest blue state, where it was. The local has not been able to afford treatment, but the blue-stater has, via Obamacare and Medicaid, and is on the road to recovery.
Candidate: What’s our plan?
Celebrity Guest and both sufferers of the disease: Heal us, Doctor!
A minute later, once the crowd gets into it:
Candidate: WHAT’S OUR PLAN?
Crowd: HEAL US, DOCTOR!!!
Candidate: WHAT’S THEIR PLAN?
Crowd: LET IT FESTER!!!
Candidate: HOW DO WE FIX THAT?
Crowd: VOTE!!!!!
If enough Dem candidates adopt this tactic, and keep at it, the crowds will know what to say without prompting. These words will be the first thing anyone thinks of when they think of the midterm election. With rhythm, cadence and brevity, the red-blue divide is crystallized in terms simple enough for even a Tea Partier to understand.
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