Plan of ACTION to WIN Pennsylvania

We have taken a hit. It hurts. But a champion is born out of how she/he gets up and with even more skill and resiliency walks towards victory.

Here I will try to highlight 3 key battles that we will need to win over the next month to drive our movement forward:

1. The Clinton campaign has managed to instill in the mind of people that Barack for some reason doesn't have any clear plans and he doesn't know what he is doing beyond giving speeches. As you can see from many exit polls this is one area that the Clinton campaign made some outrageous claims that stuck because they went unchallenged for too long. The first thing that needs to be done is to mail this to any and everyone we can think of - the media, the people in Pennsylvania, poor, rich, educated of not - Barack's "Blueprint for Change"

http://www.barackobama.com/...
We need a million of these things dirtying up the streets of Pittsburgh, Lancaster and Allentown. If everyone just makes 100 copies of it to send or drop out we will be somehow on the way.

2. But the main problem is that we were so far just content on defending ourselves against Hillary's accusations without actually calling her out on the stupidity of those claims. "Obama is just empty", "He is too young, no experience", "HE can't lead, has no foreign relations knowledge". We need, at every stop, to start comparing head to head Barack with Hillary and forcing her on the back foot. In a clear and forceful manner. It is no longer enough to just sing the praises and talents of our candidate. We have to say: "Barack has introduced and passed TWO major laws in the US Senate to fight against lobbyists and increase transparency in Government spending. Hillary you have taken more money from lobbyist than any candidates. Explain to us Hillary how do you intend on breaking the influence of special interests. Stop hiding from the American people and explain yourself!" We have to behave like this to force the Hillary camp to react to OUR frames. To shame them in public and to push the concept of them being secretive and afraid of the American people.

3. We need to register as many new minority voters in Pennsylvania as possible between now and March 24th, which is the deadline to register as a Democrat to vote in the Pennsylvania primary. This primary will be CLOSED. And the Democratic Party of PA machine is almost entirely in the Clinton's camp. Gov Rendell, Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia and all. We need to expand our field as well as convert the people that are already registered. Here is the link for anyone of you who knows Obama leaning Independents who want to register as Democrats to vote for him on April 22nd:

http://www.registrationbyworkingasse...

All in all this needs to start now. We are the change we are waiting for. And we will carry this nomination if we stand strong and go marching firmly and squarely on:

PENNSYLVANIA HOME

•  Farm policy and mine safety

  Agriculture and mining are still big industries in PA. He needs to own those issues to win over rural white votes and counterbalance her strength in urban areas.

  (I've posted this before and I'll post it again.)

  by slaney black on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:31:24 AM PDT

  •  It's hard to own those issues...

    ...and still be progressive.  Economically vulnerable people are all too willing to accept the corporate frame of mine safety, food labeling (we've just been through that issue here), etc.  

    by Rich in PA on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:57:28 AM PDT

•  You better look at debunking

  Barack Hussein Obama.  The Southern Ohio Appalachian belt of Eastern and Southern Ohio, rural and poor, and highly evangelical, went unusually strongly for Clinton, and I think you better consider helping dispel this notion.

  by Ohiodem1 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:32:10 AM PDT

•  We need to register students too

  I think Obama would have done a lot better last night if Ohio has same-day registration. We need to make sure college students in PA get registered. This will be valuable in the general election as well.

  by democrattotheend on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:33:41 AM PDT

•  I got a flyer for you

  we can make changes for PA contact info and then you send it to supporters to print, copy and distribute - email me at bobnbob at tampabay dot rr dot com

  please.   the blueprint is huge (64 pages) - I love it, but I guard mine here at home to use when I'm phonebanking ....

  a proud Florida Democrat supporting Barack Obama

  by bobnbob on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:33:54 AM PDT

  •  Thanks bobnbob, but the idea of the Blueprint

    is not for people to read it.

    It is for people to know that it is there. It is about "the vehicle as the message". Seeing something so long and massive will dispel the easy simplification that Hillary is the only one with plans.
    I repeat again it is not so much about the nature of the plans and the issues they tackle. But about affirming their existence in the head of the average Joe who's been told by the Clinton spin machine that they have the exclusivity of ideas and plans.

    People want simple messages (not how I can do this and this better than the opponent). They have bought into the message of Hillary=plans, Barrack = no plan.

    We need only to keep in their head that this is not a an area of differentiation.

    by magatte on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:44:24 AM PDT

•  tip jar, sorry first time here.

  nt

  by magatte on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:36:58 AM PDT

  •  Welcome :)

    by speck tater on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:37:37 AM PDT

•  I'm in and ready to knock on PA doors.

  I also think we need to start several email campaigns of our own debunking the Muslim Manchurian Candidate smear. A simple biographical video to circulate virally would be a good start.

  Also donated $100.01 today. Please donate something today even if it is only $5. The campaign and Barack himself will feel the love.

  by speck tater on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:37:03 AM PDT

  •  He has to run these on TV. Short 30 second

    introductions.  At least two different ones and three would be preferable.  This is going to be expensive but very important because it is also the first leg of the general election.

    by Marie on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:00:42 AM PDT

•  Here's something we could do.

  Part of what is suppressing the Obama vote is all these viral lying emails about his religion, patriotism, etc.

  What if we created our own email, and every Obama supporter on DKos sent it to everyone in their address book.

  The title could be something like, "Barack Obama: The Lies and the Truth"

  Each entry could go something like:

  FALSE - Barack Obama is a Muslim
  TRUE - Barack Obama has been a member of the same Christian church for over twenty years, and prays to Jesus Christ daily.

  ...

  What do you think? Much of what needs to be done can only be done by the campaign, but this sounds like something constructive that we could do.

  ~Travis

  by Travis Stark on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:37:31 AM PDT

  •  Great minds, Travis.

    I completely agree with this plan. Keep it 8th grade level and add a biographical video.

    by speck tater on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:38:56 AM PDT

    •  Yes. Definitely an 8th grade level.

      This probably deserves it's own diary. I've used mine for today, but would be happy to do one tomorrow unless someone else would like to take it.

      We could take entries and suggestions from Kossacks and keep a running draft of the email in the diary, and then when we think it's good send it.

      It's very important that it goes viral as well, but given the sheer number of chain emails I get this wouldn't seem too hard.

      by Travis Stark on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:43:13 AM PDT

      •  Definitely keep it simple and the title is great.

        However this need to be a centralized effort. We need ONE version of this e-mail hitting everyone at once.

        by magatte on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:46:25 AM PDT

        •  Yes, but we can centralize it on DKos

          Anyone feel free to start a diary on it, otherwise I'll put one up tomorrow morning.

          by Travis Stark on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:50:42 AM PDT

          •  Barack Obama: Did you Know?

              1.  Did you know Barack Obama is a Christian?: attending a UCC congregation in Chicago for 20 years, being married to his wife Michelle there, etc (with a picture)

              2. Did you know Barack' granfather served in Patton's army?: granddad from Kansas and (with picture again)

              3. Did you know that Barack Obama leads the US Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance?: again with a picture.

            etc...

            by magatte on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:58:01 AM PDT

            •  Used a bible to take his oath of office.

              Did you know his Grandfather fought in Patton's army during WWII?

              Did you know about ... legislation on a few key issues would be good towards the end of the email - like child healthcare in IL, Obama-Lugar securing loose nukes and Obama-Colburn ethics reform.

              Travis. Please write a diary tomorrow and I'll help. I'm at work, but a bit "distracted" lately.

              by speck tater on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:10:50 AM PDT

  •  sad to say, but we need Hill smear emails

    about her ties to militant Hispanic organizations and/or radical feminists.

    Anti-smear emails aren't sexy; they're not gonna get forwarded around by the scared and prurient.  Counter-smears will.

    by slaney black on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:40:25 AM PDT

    •  NO WE DON'T

      And yes I did mean to yell. The candidate can do this, but I don't believe he will, and I don't think we should be negating his plan. We should remain positive.

      by Travis Stark on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:44:42 AM PDT

    •  About anti-smear emails not being sexy.

      How many Obama supporters are there on DKos. How many of them post elsewhere. How many people are in their address books. How many of them know a bunch of other non-DKos Obama supporters who'd pass around the email to their address books. How many emails do you think that is? At least 10s of thousands.

      by Travis Stark on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:47:22 AM PDT

  •  I think it's a good idea.

    But, I hesitate about repeating the smear in an e=mail even to debunk it.  There is solid research that demonstrates that denying something reinforces the link in the mind of the recipient even if you provide information to bolster the denial.

    So better than "lies and truth" is just truth.  The truth about Barack Obama.  In other words, it is really better to never say "Barack Obama is not a Muslim."

    Christian
    About his church
    brief bio/background
    Patriotism
    Substance/Experience?
    Friend of Israel (this is actually really important as this issue is getting a lot of play and a ton of Jews that I know of here will not vote for him at this point because they believe he is not a friend of Israel)

    by Mother of Zeus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:45:52 AM PDT

    •  Then it sounds just like a bio. No one wld read

      by Travis Stark on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:48:47 AM PDT

      •  Not true if you use captivating photos and humor

        by speck tater on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:15:06 AM PDT

        •  I think the email can't be pages and pages long.

          If so it would beg breaking it up. I'm also not sure about photos, given some people's email clients, dialup lines, and suspicion of unsolicited email with photos, but I'm not sure. The facts will have to be just that. Short and pithy. Little detail.

          Look at the negative viral emails. Sad to say they should almost be the model. I do like the idea about keeping it positive though ala what magatte was saying.

          by Travis Stark on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:50:45 AM PDT

    •  It is VERY important not to use Muslim in that

      e-mail.

      You have to make allusion to it somehow. But never make a juxtaposition of his name and Muslim. Even if there is a NOT between it will drive the idea into the readers' mind.

      - We ABSOLUTELY need to put a picture of his grand father from the cover of Dreams from my Father (they really look alike). And say that he fought in the World War.

      - A better title may be. Barack Obama: Did you know?

      and then have:

      1. Did you know Barack Obama is a Chrisitian?: attending a UCC congregation in Chicago for 20 years, being married to his wife Michelle there, etc (with a picture)

      2. Did you know his granfather served in Patton's army?: grand-dad from Kansas and a picture again

      3. Did you know that Barack Obama leads the US Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance?: again with a picture.

      and so forth...

      by magatte on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:54:43 AM PDT

      •  That's a great approach!

        Also should include the Kenyan granny.

        by Mother of Zeus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:50:53 PM PDT

    •  MOZ is right about the psychology of this.

      Did you know that Barack Obama is a Christian and has been a member of the same church for 20 years? Show photo of Obama in prayer and daughter getting baptized.

      Way better approach and we won't insult Muslims.

      by speck tater on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:14:43 AM PDT

  •  PA voters are old -- gotta get him on TV in

    ads that introduce him to the voters.

    Not going to be able to stop the internet crap and it doesn't seem to be hurting him with those most likely to be on-line.  He's losing with the older set, particularly women.

    by Marie on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:04:41 AM PDT

    •  I can tell you that even in New Hampshire these

      emails definitely did hurt him. I had people come up to me to say they were going to vote for Obama until they heard he doesn't say the pledge of allegiance. And they were older people. The problem is that someone gets the email, and then they repeat the contents to someone else, so it's really much more viral than it even appears.

      by Travis Stark on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:14:27 AM PDT

      •  Yup. Found the same thing in NJ

        Let's do this.

        by speck tater on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:16:03 AM PDT

      •  Might be a good idea to include an image

        of him at an event where they're all obviously reciting the pledge in the TV ad.  That will make harder for those people to believe the rumors -- most of which I think came from Clinton Hdqrs.  It's shocking to me that anyone would consider this crap important and I suspect they really don't -- they're just using that as an excuse for what they don't want to say which is that they are racists.

        by Marie on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:50:34 PM PDT

  •  It's up! Obama Viral Email Project - Draft 1

    Well, I've put up a diary to start the Obama Viral Email Project. I hope we get lots and lots of interest and input. Check it out!

    by Travis Stark on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 05:47:13 AM PDT

•  REGISTER REGISTER REGISTER

  Honestly, right now - nothing else matters.  We have 7 weeks until the primary.  Until March 24th, THE ONLY THING that matters is registering Democrats, esp. those likely to vote for Barack.  Find local groups on Barackobama.com and get in touch.  I went to our county-wide neighborhood leadership meeting last weekend and we are setting clear, quantified goals to register, register, regsiter.  We even have two high school students in our county's region (our county is divided into 14 regions and our local group covers 2) registering just high school seniors who will be eligib le to vote.

  Seriously, pick up registration forms, know the rules (you can print them out from here) and just collect registrations.  The best thing to do is to get the person to fill it out and take it back from them.  The campaign will mail them after copying the information of the person into a database for GOTV.

  So the best thing to do if you are in PA is get connected with the campaign so you know who should get the registration forms and then get out there and register.

  Everything else - responding to smears, canvassing, etc., is second priority right now.  Registration is number one.

  by Mother of Zeus on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:42:10 AM PDT

•  Friendly advice

  Clinton will hammer Obama's acceptance of the notion of a Social Security crisis that requires tough decisions...you know, like cutting benefits, privatization, and other stuff that is anathema to most seniors. You'd better come up with an answer to that, because Pennsylvania is full of old people too poor or too proud to move to Florida or Arizona.

  by Rich in PA on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:53:23 AM PDT

  •  He didn't say that Social Security was in danger.

    As far as I know, maybe you can point to where he said that it was in danger.

    by magatte on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:56:11 AM PDT

    •  Asked and answered!

      http://www.nytimes.com/...

      Avoid the temptation to shoot the messenger (Krugman).

      by Rich in PA on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:59:49 AM PDT

      •  Krugram is using scare tactics... Obama wants to

        shore up social security not destroy it. And he is clearly in opposition to conservatives on this issue:

        Clinton's False Attacks On Obama's Social Security Plan Have Been Criticized in the Past

        Al Hunt: Clinton Has "Falsely Accused Obama Of Favoring A Trillion-Dollar Tax Increase On Working Class Americans." Al Hunt wrote, "They have also falsely accused Obama of favoring a trillion-dollar tax increase on working-class Americans (that apparently derives from his idea to consider raising the payroll tax on those making more than $100,000 a year) and once supporting the Iraq war. Although every candidate makes misstatements, the various fact-check organizations and detached analysts usually find the Clinton campaign in a league of its own. It's not the depths of the duplicity; compared to other abuses, like the Swift Boat attack lies against John Kerry in 2004, these are benign. The problem is there is a pervasive pattern at a time when voters are clamoring for authenticity." [Bloomberg, 1/28/08]

        Gail Collins: "Clinton Needs To Ration Her Obfuscations" Because "It's Not Really Helpful" To Call A Solution For Social Security Solvency "A Trillion-Dollar Tax Increase On Middle-Class Families." Gail Collins wrote, "On Social Security, the underlying message seems to be that Clinton will not support any effort to keep the program solvent by eliminating the cap on Social Security taxes until she gets elected president and sets up a bipartisan commission to provide political cover. The problem with that, as Barack Obama pointed out, is that you don't arrive in the White House with a mandate for anything more daring than appointing a bunch of people to do a study. And when you're talking about taxing income above $97,500 the same way we do income of, say, $30,000, it's not really helpful to describe it as 'a trillion-dollar tax increase on middle-class families.' Clinton needs to ration her obfuscations." [New York Times, 11/2/07]

        Reich: Obama Offered A "Sensible" And "Progressive" Solution For Social Security. Robert Reich wrote, "I'm becoming increasingly concerned about the stridency and inaccuracy of charges in Iowa -- especially coming from my old friend...Obama wants to do it by lifting the cap on the percent of income subject to Social Security payroll taxes, which strikes me as sensible. That cap is now close to $98,000 (it's indexed), and the result is highly regressive. (Bill Gates satisfies his yearly Social Security obligations a few minutes past midnight on January 1 every year.) The cap doesn't have to be lifted all that much to keep Social Security solvent – maybe to $115,00. That's a progressive solution to the problem." [Robert Reich, 12/3/07]

        from: http://factcheck.barackobama.com/...

        by magatte on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:07:01 AM PDT

        •  I don't want to get into the merits...

          ..I'm only saying that it's out there, Clinton will obviously hammer him for it, and he needs a response.  Something that's less wordy than what you've provided :)

          by Rich in PA on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:09:36 AM PDT

          •  Point taken. But I was providing facts to a

            specific audience, in case there was some misunderstanding that persisted on these shores. :)

            We needs all the boots we can on the ground that's for sure.

            by magatte on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:13:57 AM PDT

  •  Rich is right.

    PA is one of the oldest (demographically) states in the country.

    Old people are less likely to get e-mails and text messages and all that hip stuff.  We need personal outreach.

    When we register the kids, make them promise to call their grandparents.

    by ManhattanMan on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:04:35 AM PDT

•  #1 - Obama needs to introduce himself

  to PA voters.  That was the mistake his campaign made -- they assumed that debates, flyers, TV ads on policy and media attention was enough for people to get to know him.  It wasn't.  Exit polls in OH indicated that the debates were irrelevant to Clinton voters.  They also made up their minds in the last three days when Clinton was defining Obama as an "empty suit."  I'm somewhat surprised that his campaign didn't see this omission after Super Tuesday.  Momentum can only carry a come from behind candidate so far if a large majority of voters have never seen and really don't know anything about a candidate.

  He needs to run three weeks of these positive, candidate definition ads.  Then go after her Clinton in the last few days before the election.

  by Marie on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 10:58:38 AM PDT

  •  I totally agree. And that's why I had it as my

    first item. We need to drown them with so much fact and achievements. We need to highlight his 20 years career so much that people get sick of it.

    But we have to ask tough questions of Clinton throughout.

    by magatte on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:10:23 AM PDT

  •  Agreed

    I just went to donate another $100.00 and there is a video playing on the website -- a combo of his keynote speech and his victory speech in SC.  It's so much more dynamic than I have heard from him in a long time.  There is a sense of urgency and responsibility that need to be injected into his rhetoric again.  It's a wonderful video.  If I could cut and paste it I would but you should probably see it for yourself (and donate )

    by genxerd71 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:37:59 PM PDT

    •  He needs bio TV spots -- can also

      put them up on his website.  But it's those non-reading TV watchers who can't be bothered with debates (OH exit polls indicated that the debates weren't important to most Clinton voters) that need to be reached.  They have no idea who he is and that is why it was so easy for Clinton to define him with smears the past week.

      by Marie on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 01:45:19 PM PDT

•  He needs to do two things as I see it

  1.) Hammer the Economy -- clearly this has become the number one concern among voters, leap-frogging Iraq.  Somehow he has to match the perception that Clinton is strong on the Economy.

  2.)  If he insists on taking the high road -- and even that I'm not sure is the best idea -- then he needs to remind voters that Hillary's campaign is all about Smear and Fear and that he believes that the American people deserve better from their candidates.  

  I am concerned that PA is just like OH.  

  by genxerd71 on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:29:06 AM PDT