This is a short diary about messaging for the fall 2010 elections.
I have one, and only one centralized proposal to fix the entire Democratic Party 2010 strategy for the elections and it is this:
DRILL BABY DRILL.
That's all democrats, on every talkshow, in every debate, in every press appearance, should be sarcastically repeating. "My opponent's philosophy? Drill Baby Drill. That's what led to the catastrophe in the Gulf. That's what led to the invasion of Iraq. And it is no strategy to lead."
The republicans want to make this election a referendum on Obama. While Obama has plenty of successes, and there is no need to run from Obama for our candidates, elections always hinge, ultimately, on trashing the opponent.
This is how they beat Kerry. This is how they beat Gore. This is how they won in 2002 and 2004 (Democrats are namby pamby wussies afraid of terrorists). This is also how we won in 2006 and 2008 (republicans are morons who screwed things up and wrecked the economy).
So how do we win in 2010?
We have the most powerful visual element of disaster we could ever want to convey a message that words can't.
The oil spill.
This is an unmitigated disaster, and we have clips of the republican party chanting "Drill Baby Drill."
PUT IT TOGETHER, DEMOCRATS.
THIS IS YOUR KEY TO WINNING.
People feel the oil spill in their guts. They know it is tragic and horrible. It is not complex. It is not policy wonk boring stuff. They don't need to feel lectured to on policy specifics.
It is real. It is undeniable. And it is horrific.
So our candidates ask the American people this:
Do you want the party of "Drill Baby Drill" leading us forward in the future? Can we risk another disaster?
Our ads should relentlessly beat this into people's heads.
Who do you want leading America in 2010? The Party of Hope? Or the Party of "Drill Baby Drill"?
Brave New Films gets it:
Will the Democratic Party get it?
Will our candidates get it?
EDIT: Deleted second YouTube clip for strange violent drill imagery.