I was inspired to create this guide, by a Republican strategist that will go nameless.
This guide is not about me, so lets get right to it shall we...
INTRO
Most Democrats realize that Conservatives now control the White House, Senate, House of Representatives, Main Street Media, radio stations, and editorial pages. Not to mention the companies that own the touch screen voting machines, which are now in many states, and companies like Choicepoint, who are the private equivilant of "Big brother".
All we have left is public debates, town hall meetings, mailings, and the internet, to get our message out. We cant count on the media to cover the important issues anymore, or give quality television time to liberal/progressives. We certainly have our work cut out for us.
People need a reason to vote for Democrats. They want clear distinctions between the parties. Republican lite just isnt going to cut it. We will win when the voters see a difference in policy, priorities, and values. They win when they define us. Liberal policies are what makes America great. We stopped reminding the voters of this. This stops NOW. America needs a History lesson again...
BE PREPARED
1. Democrats should put up on all their websites, a history of what liberals have fought and struggled for, and tie it into what it means to Americans today. Like Social Security, which reduced the poverty rate of the elderly, from fifty percent to eight percent today. (Always use correct figures) "Imagine life without liberal ideas like Unemployment Insurance" or "Imagine life without a liberal policy like (insert every thing good that is America). The History of Liberalism" could be a twenty four hour long documentary. Starting NOW, you attach the word "Liberal" to all our great policies, every chance you get.
All material on the website MUST be factual. Suggest to visitors that they should research the facts, if they are skeptical. Use the truth to our advantage. Truth is our best weapon.
- Democrats should ALWAYS have the facts to back up statements with papers and reports, which can be handed out while doing Town Hall meetings or TV interviews. Part of the reason people dont vote, is that they dont trust politicians on either side of the aisle. so use the "we have nothing to hide" meme, by practically begging, that everyone should check out the facts. People will see that your organized and promote full disclosure. I want competant and trustworthy people running the Government, and voters do too.
- Create a database of horror stories that result from Republican/corporate policies. Tying policies to real life repurcutions is powerful. People need to actually see the ramifications. Visuals are KEY.
- Prepare papers on how many billions of taxpayer dollars that Republicans have given to corporations, as payback for their campaign contributions. Break it down to what every person has to pay and call it "The Republican Tax", OR "The Corporate Welfare Tax".
- Combat the right wing "spin tanks". Corporate spin tanks are a joke. We need to start telling it like it is. "These so called "think tanks" are just mouthpieces for polluters". "They produce junk science" "These people have no credibility" (show who funds them and provide ludicrous and misleading reports they have released)
- Focus on "Abuse of power". Voters cant stand corruption, dishonesty, or hypocracy. "Republicans are in bed with corporations for campaigm contributions". Show how corpororate lobbyists basically write Republican policies. Always make it known its not the average worker your attacking, but its the ones at the top making the callous decisions. "Its not the workers fault for what CEO's do". "Republicans are in bed with X industry" "X industry donated X amount to the Republicans and they got (show the payback legislation)" Force legislation that reigns in corporate crime and make Republicans defend it. DONT back down from this. (yes I just used the "calling you out"/"your a whimp if you dont do this" meme). Say their "soft on crime" when they oppose coporate crime laws.
- Homeland Security/Defense should always be our top priority.
- Whenever appropriate, shame the media for trying to keep their job, instead of doing their job.
CAMPAIGNING
- DO NOT make outrageous statements. No matter how much you think Republicans are out to destroy America, DONT say it. This just gives them ammuntion to call you "The Loony Left".
- DO NOT call Republicans Nazis, or say they belong to the KKK.
- DO NOT be condescending when debating or explaining your postions. DO NOT talk like you think you "know it all". I dont like it when people talk down to me, nor do voters you want to reach.
- When a Republican says "Dems believe" (insert some outrageous statement), Say "How do you know what I believe?" "Did you call the psychic network?" OR "I never saw mind reader on your resume" SAY "I will tell the people what I believe not you, thank you very much". SAY I'm sure not all Repubs "believe" in (pick their worst vote or quote) like you did. Humor and sarcasm when used properly is obviously a good thing.
- Be inventive with your rhetoric. For example "How many former Enron, Worldcom, and Tyco employees, would support Social Security Privatization"? OR "They think that pain and suffering has a limit and its two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I couldnt look into my childs eyes and tell them that their pain and suffering has a pricetag on it. Could you? "Isnt it ironic that someone who proffesses family values and morality, would accept campaign contributions from pornographers" (pay per view media).
- Take the bad votes of your opponent, and make a clear distinction that if elected, you would have voted the other way.
- NEVER let them say a false statement. Before continuing say, that statement my oppononent just said is untrue/false/not right, and say you have the facts to back it up. DO NOT call them liars. SAY "If you keep on repeating statements that are false, people are going to start to think your a liar". SAY "Hopefully my misinformed opponent will prepare a little better next time". (smile)
- Let Republicans help us win. Use their hypocricy against them. Create ads of Republican incumbants that served when Clinton was President, and use clips of them railing about how bad deficits are (Democrat President), and show them now defending massive deficits (Republican President). Even better if they served when Bush 1 was President till now. Call it "triplespeak" for three time offenders. Voters need to see the "Games Republicans Play". Hypocricy works both ways, so the best way to avoid attacks is DONT BE a hypocrite.
- Get outraged if a Republican call you "Anti-American", or that you "Hate America". NEVER let them get away with it. "Calling someone Anti-American is morally bankrupt". "This is politics of the worst kind, shame on you". "I would punish my child for talking that garbage".
- Religon is a powerful way to back up our values. Dont be afraid to incorporate religion into your speeches. I personally have no problem using God when I debate. I dont recommend everyone do it, but I play harball using religion. "God will punish them for dumping poison in his rivers and streams" "God will punish them for knowngly selling products that kill and mame"
- DO NOT be timid! Did the Republicans become a majority by being timid? NO. Did it hurt them politically, being forcefull and on the offensive? NO. Talk like a leader, not a candidate on Valium.
FRAMED
Reject ALL Republican frames when debating. When asked a question that involves their frame, DO NOT answer it in their frame. Instead answer the question in the liberal/progressive frame.
Security: The Republicans have framed us as "weak on defense". This has to stop. If voters dont think we can protect them, well like the Metallica song says, "Nothing else matters". We need voters to understand that "The difference between Democrats and Republicans are that WE support OUR troops before (increased miliatary pay), during(armor for humvees) and after(The VA) their service". First responders, port and border security, MUST be a prority. (Im still working on the defense frame)
Tort Reform: I frame it as corporations are price gouging doctors out of the medical field.
Their insatiable thirst for bigger profits are forcing doctors out of their profession, and are punishing the victims of malpractice. Capping punitive damages takes away the only deterrent to reign in immoral people, who make defective and deadly products. When California adopted caps on punitive damages, premiums still rose as fast as States without caps. Rates stopped rising until they passed a law, which forced the Insurance Industry to explain to lawmakers, why they need to raise rates. How about removing the bad doctors, and holding the corporate criminals who make products that mame and kill, "accountable" for their actions.
Bankruptcy: Every Senate candidate should take this issue and pound Republicans non stop with this. If this hurts Democrats who voted against those Democratic sponsered ammendments too, so be it.
The Insurance Industry are the biggest donors to the republican Party. Our frame is "More payback for their campaign contributors" "Everyone agrees we should stop credit card abuse, but the solution is NOT punishing innocent victims" "Democrats tried to fix the "heartless" aspects of this bill, but Republicans put their special interests before the peoples interests" "Democrats understand the real life repurcussions of this bill" "We dont believe the most profitable industry should be charging over thirty percent interest rates on credit cards. They do". "This bill is a slap in the face to our heroic soldiers who serve to protect our great country".
ATTACHMENTS
Attach these words and phrases when attacking their policies, but DO NOT make it personal. Only attach to policies to avoid the "politics of personal distruction" attack. "This isnt about YOU, Its about your (attach one of the words below) policies". Mix and match them. See how many you can cram into a soundbite.
"cruel" "heartless" "cold-hearted" "harsh" "uncaring" "shameful" "immoral" "spiteful" "disrespectful" "vindictive" "callous" "ruthless" "un-christian" "short-sighted" "despicable" "irresponsible" "borderline bribary" "unbalanced" "lack of vision" "lacking empathy" "ruthless" "disrespecting the taxpayer/elderly/troops/children/young-uns" "special laws for the rich" "regressive" "dishonering the troops" "socially irresponsible" "horrendous" "outrageous" "malicious" "selfish" "morally bankrupt" "treacherous" "mind-boggling" "absurd" "thoughtless" "arrogent" "elitist" "senseless" "scornful" "tragic" "unrealistic" "insufficient" "bait and switch" "questionable" "incorrect" "censoring the truth" "inconsistent" "threatening" "extreme" "worthless" "insensitive" "ambiguous" "dangerous" "sad" "vicious" "unjust" "partisan" "degrading" "divisive" "scary" "risky" "destructive" "factually challenged" "dictitorial" "shady" "foolish" "Orwellian" "radical" "frustrating" "inadequate" "impeding progress" "hypocritical" "unreasonable" "unconscionable" "dismal" "outsourcing our livelihoods" "out of touch" "reckless" "oppressive" "a roadblock to opportunity" "insidious" "deceptive" "corporate tyranny" "cynical"
SOUNDBITES
Unfortunately, this is the age of the soundbite, and we need to use them to our advantage like the Republicans. Heres a small sample...
"Democrats who lie get impeached, Republicans who lie get appointed Secratary of Defense" (not recommended for candidates)
"No political party should hire a private company with political ties, to deny Americans the right to vote. This SHOULD be a bi-partisan issue".
"If WE are going to be tough on crime, WE have to punish ALL criminals from Main street to Wall street"
"WE support Universal Health Care, THEY support HMO's"
"We oppose the "right to work cheap" corporate philosophy"
"WE want to reward work, THEY want to reward wealth" - Nancy Pelosi
"The reason is that the people know that the Democratic Party is the people's party, and the Republican party is the party of special interest, and it always has been and always will be" - Harry S.Truman
"THEY think taxpayers should pay to clean up pollution, WE dont believe polluters should be let off the hook"
"Democrats want to empower individuals, THEY want to empower the corporate elite"
"THEY think regulations on pollution/workplace safety are "erroneous", WE dont"
"I am not now, nor ever was, a card carrying member of the "Hate America First Club"
"The NRA opposes background checks on suspected terrorists, WE dont" (a prediction)
"We dont believe the profits of the "pollution lobby", should come before OUR clean air and water"
"THEY campaign on fiscal discipline, then give US the biggest deficits, in the history of the United States"
"America will need a baby boom to pay down the Republican deficits"
"Corporations are the new welfare queens"
"The Republicans in Congress are like corporate man-servants"
"Did any child shoot up a school after seeing Janet Jacksons breast?"
"The Republican fix to rising health care costs, is to punish the patients"
"Sometimes I feel like its 1984 and I live in Oceania"
"If Jesus were running for office, Republicans would call him a girly man"
"Republicans believe in personal responsibility for everyone, but their campaign contributors"
"Forcing a rape victim to carry her pregnancy through, is like raping her twice"
"Class Warfare is lobbying to have interest rates, in excess of thirty percent"
"Who gave the order to let a male prostitute into the White House? The American people have a right to know"
"Why do most liberal States have the lowest divorce and pregnancy rates?"
"Its the corporate greed ruining our health care system, NOT frivalous lawsuits"
"When we raised taxes on the rich (the 1993 deficit reduction plan), THEY said it would "Destroy the economy". They were wrong AS USUAL. In fact it helped to create one of the biggest economic expansions in our history".
"My opponent says one thing, then does the complete opposite"
"Democrats want to protect the environment for hunters and fisherman"
"The Santorum bill undercuts the value of hard work"
"Abstinence programs do not work and the numbers PROVE it"
"FDR gave you the NEW DEAL. Truman gave you the FAIR DEAL. Bush and the GOP are giving you the RAW DEAL". - John Kerry
"Thou shall not kill, that includes taxpayer funded executions" (sorry "pro death" people)
"The Republicans are weapons of middle class destruction" -spandrel
"If greed is a sin then the Insurance Industry decision makers are going to hell"
"Its time once again, for Democrats, to get America back on the right track"
"We will fight with everything we have, to stop them from undermining American values, like the forty hour work week"
"What do Republicans have against hard working Americans anyway"
"We are NOT anti business, we are anti greed"
Instead of "Healthy Forest Act" call it the "Leave No Tree Behind Act".
Call the "Clear Skies Plan" the "Dirty Skies Plan". You get the drift. Be Inventive, There can be hundreds more.
(Most of these quotes are my own, but not all, and I apologize for not crediting all the original quoters)
LONG TERM
- Our NUMBER ONE priority MUST be implementing "Critical Thinking" courses in school curriculums. To put it in harsh terms, this is our nuclear weapon to win the war. Not only does it improve childrens ability to learn and succeed in life, but it also has the added affect of children growing up learning to question the people in power, and recognize propoganda when they hear it. Thinking voters are good for America, good for Democrats, and very BAD for Republicans.
- Implement courses on how important voting is to America into school cirrculums. Who wants to argue against teaching the importance of voting. "Why would Republicans oppose teaching the importance of voting in school?" "Thats just UNAMERICAN" (grin)
- Alternative Energy: This is all "Energy Independance". We have free sources of energy right here at home with wind, solar, and hydro power. We need credible plans to integrate them so we dont have to rely on Middle Eastern Oil forever. Make the voters realize the cost savings this would bring. Its good for the economy and Homeland Security. It also fits right into the "putting special interests ahead of Americas interests" frame.
- Universal Health Care: This is a winner if done properly. We need smarter people than myself, to create well thought out plans to cover all Americans. Depending on the polls you look at, over sixty percent of Americans want it, as long as they have choice, and no waiting lines. Its pro personal security. "If you lose your job you wont lose your health care, like you would with the current system" The Dutch people have a system, where they spend just under seven percent GDP, and they cover all citizens. We spend over thirteen percent, with forty five million uninsured. "Are the Dutch smarter than us"?
- Progressive Tax Simplification: Take away one of their best issues, and always promote "Mom and Pop" tax breaks in the meantime.
- We need to tackle the tough issue of Immigration. Dialogue with all interested parties, to come up with working solutions. This is all about Homeland Security.
7. Candidates always say they are for stopping "waste, fraud, and abuse". Well how about we ACTUALLY do something about it (I know its easy for me to say). This would be a way of changing the perception/reality of being "Big Government Liberals".
THOUGHTS
I didnt feel the need to touch on the obvious issues like outsourcing, voting security, and such. I also didnt want to go into great detail on in-depth policy stuff, since Im trying to focus on framing and language.
I hope this guide can help get Democrats back to a majority party again. Time to play Ultra-Hardball...
Disclaimer: These views may not necessarily represent the owners or staff of Kos