Let's face it.
Democratic messaging needs some help and it might be up to us to fix it.
Below the fold I've listed some examples of ways I think we can improve our phrasing and messaging.
Much of it is my opinion, so feel free to take it or leave it.
These are just a few ways I feel we can drive our messages home and sell our ideas better.
This is one of many post I'll be doing on political messaging. For now, we'll talk about phrasing...
1) Republicans are not "Pro-Life", they are "Anti-Choice"
Why help the GOP's cause and image by calling them Pro-Life?
We all know they are only Pro-Life until the baby is born, then if it's not born rich or Republican, it's part of the problem.
If the GOP took the phrase and cause of "Pro-Life" seriously, they would oppose senseless wars, oppose the death penalty, be concerned about poverty and pollution, and picket health insurance companies instead of abortion clinics.
They aren't "Pro-Life", they are "Anti-Choice".
We'll call them Pro-Life when they live up to it.
2) It's Not "Capitalism" Anymore, It's "Corporatism"
I believe that the true experiment of Capitalism has been dead for some time now and that the GOP killed it.
Capitalism is a free market that is determined by consumer demand and businesses competition. Capitalism co-exists with a government that places rules to protect the common public and society while allowing the free market to operate on it's own.
This is not so anymore.
What we have now is Corporatism and Austerity. A country where corporations influence and even control vast sectors of the government and use it to serve their best interest while downsizing everyone else.
By continuing to label Corporatism and good old-fashioned Capitalism, the right is doing two things...
First, they are giving some people a negative image of Capitalism. They see the world they live in and it's blatant injustices. They think this is the heart of Capitalism and they don't like it, forever damning Capitalism in their eyes.
Second, they are convincing the other half that this system, no matter now cruel, is justified because it is Capitalism. Even though it has strayed towards Corporate Fascism, it still has the same brand name and label as Capitalism. As long as it's American, patriotic Capitalism, anything that happens because of it is just part of the game and if you don't like it or question it, you hate America.
Start calling our economic system exactly what it is. Corporatism.
As long as it's allowed to pass as Capitalism, there will be idiots who will defend it to the death because of the brand name. Corporatism is more foreign to the American public, not as warm and fuzzy as Capitalism. It's also more to the point. It's corporate rule with a weakened or even non-existent government.
We need to start introducing the concept and threat of Corporatism because it is very real and we'll experience it first hand if we don't.
3) Not "Private Health Care", but "CorporateCare"
Remember how Republicans took Health Care Reform and linked it directly to a government takeover of our healthcare system?
Do you remember how well that worked? Seriously, it worked. Don't believe me? Ask the Public Option that's no longer in Health Care Reform.
Why not turn the tables?
Besides Medicare, VA Healthcare, and Medicaid, our health care system is run by corporations. You could say it's a "Corporate takeover of our healthcare system" and you wouldn't be lying.
Corporations that are in it to make as much money as possible have taken over our health care system.
Republicans warned of "government bureaucrats coming between you and your doctor" like that's worse than the corporate bureaucrats that prevent doctors from doing their job now if they even cover you at all?
Medicare, VA healthcare, and Medicaid actually cover the people on it. They don't deal with pre-existing conditions, price-gouging, or outrageous medical bills. Not to mention they're very popular and people like them.
CorporateCare is the system with most of the problems. It is unsustainable and unethical to allow private business who operate with the #1 goal and obligation of making more money to be in control of our health and lives.
Link our health care system to corporations and corporate greed.
Remind the public that everything they fear about Government health care is not true and actually happening every day with CorporateCare.
Remember: This is the Corporate takeover of our health care system. CorporateCare.
4) Denying Equal Pay for Women is "Gender Discrimination"
We can talk all day about how Republicans vote against equal pay for women and there's a war on women happening. While these statements are true, we need a new angle on this debate.
When Republicans deny women the same pay as men for doing the same exact work, they aren't just playing politics or being radical partisans, they are enabling and practicing "Gender Discrimination".
It's a charge you can rightfully and factually throw at them.
The charge of Gender Discrimination makes the debate not just about women's rights, but more about business ethics and civil rights.
Imagine if they allowed employers to pay black people or Jewish people less because of their race. This issue is no different. They are allowing employers to pay women less because they have a vagina.
The charge of "Gender Discrimination" takes the debate to legal and ethical depths instead of just a social issue.
5) It's Not "Spending Cuts", it's "Austerity"
Spending cuts need to happen sometimes.
There's always ways to trim waste and make government more effective when it's done responsibly and rationally.
Sadly, this is not what the GOP is doing. They use a wrecking ball instead of a scalpel.
The Republicans are specifically aiming to cut parts of government that benefit the working class and/or poor, while defending the parts of government that benefit the richest people in the country.
This is called Austerity. This is a big part of how Europe got in the mess they are in.
Since taking the house in 2010, the GOP has tried or did cut the EPA, FEMA, PBS, NPR, Planned Parenthood, NEA, Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Welfare, etc.
Meanwhile, they will not even entertain the thought of taxing the richest people and corporations on the planet, ending welfare for oil companies, cutting our bloated defense budget, or closing tax loopholes.
This is not the practice of cutting spending to balance the budget, this is Austerity.
Austerity is unpopular world-wide. France just elected it's first Socialist President in a long time in a mandated rejection of austerity.
So don't help the GOP by saying they are cutting spending, or trimming the budget. If they took it seriously, they would consider all ways to cut spending, but their axe is only swinging in our direction.
The GOP are practicing Austerity.
6) Sometimes "Racists", but Mostly "Bigots"
Yes.
I believe racism exists and it is alive and well in the far corners of the Republican Party. Sometimes you can even find it right up front as well.
However, racism is a strong charge. I'm not saying you're wrong, but hear me out....
The phrase "Racism" as an attack for GOP policy or Politicians, whether true or false, has gotten stale. Republicans now expect us to call them racist, even joke about it. This has helped them in the sense that it has weakened our attack and issue with their stance of race relations and minorities.
So to be racist to a Republican these days, you have to literally be in the Klan. Simply pushing legislation aimed at weakening minorities or slipping a racist point of view or slang isn't enough anymore. We call them racists for it and they just laugh and say "Yea, yea. Another liberal calling us racist.".
In my opinion, "Bigot" is a better term.
It implies the same message that the GOP has a problem with minorities, but without the hardcore label of "Racist".
When people think of racism, they think of the klan, lynching, oppression, and blind hatred. Bigot is different. A bigot is more like someone who has the same view of minorities as a racist, but is far less vocal about it. They aren't activist for the cause, but they still feel the way they do. I believe that far more people are bigots than radical racists.
I think this simple change of phrase is a good way to get our message across while softening the charge that has grown stale anyway.
7) It's Not "Subsidies", it's "Welfare"
What is it called when the Government gives you money that you didn't work for and is not connected with an entitlement?
It's called welfare.
They are not "subsidies", they are "Corporate Welfare".
8) Everyone is a "Job Creator"
Don't let the Rich and the Corporations get all the credit for creating jobs.
You create jobs everyday. Yes, You!
You spend money and buy things from corporations that make them rich in the first place. To meet the demand to sell product or services, they have to hire to keep up with YOUR demand. Without you, they are nothing.
Don't let them take all the credit. Sure, they hire for the position and pay the employee, but without you, the customer and consumer, there's no need to hire anyone or have a business.
The rich have grown cocky and arrogant. They think that you need them more than they need you. Like our lives would be hollow shells and civilization would crumble if they ever stopped selling Coca-Cola.
You are the reason they have a business and you are the reason they are rich.
Their businesses sit on streets that your tax dollars paid for. People get to their buildings to spend money because of highways built by our tax dollars.
We live in this country too and it's time for us to stop taking the bak seat.
YOU are a job creator.
9) Not "Single Payer" or "Universal Healthcare", but "Medicare for All"
"Single payer", "Public Option", and "Universal Healthcare" sound scary to people who don't follow politics and are naturally afraid of vast change. Republican lies don't help either.
I feel "Medicare for All" should be the selling message.
Medicare is well-known, popular, and people like it.
The other phrases can sound foreign, but Medicare is homely and everyone already knows what it is which would make the job of selling the idea a million times easier.
When pushing for single-payer, use Medicare for All. It will save you the trouble of having to explain what single-payer is. Medicare is now a microcosm of single-payer healthcare. Medicare for all simply expands a popular, well liked program to everyone.