I have a very simple idea that could leverage the messaging potential of the DailyKos diaries (that's you!) in the effort give the PUBLIC OPTION more real estate in the debate.
The idea grows out of the idea that if we work together, we can amplify our progressive voices in ways that simply cannot be done alone.
Follow me over the jump...
Update [2009-8-22 15:20:23 by Jeffrey Feldman]:
OK, folks. A spirited (ehem...) response. The point about misleading people with diary titles is taken.
Therefore, as an update to this: if you are writing a diary about the public option, do not bury that lead, but instead put it as the first two words of your diary title. That will draw attention to the phrase at a crucial time in the debate when it is rising up in the media and needs to be pushed very hard.
Now, with that additional qualification, the problem of distracting titles should be resolved. If for every diary connected to the debate about the public option, that connection is reflected in the diary title--that will help establish this key phrase in the debate.
Here's the idea:
Start every DKos diary title connected to the debate about the public option with the words PUBLIC OPTION (in caps)
That's it.
It doesn't matter what you choose to write, but for the next 24 hours put the words "PUBLIC OPTION - " as the start of your diary title.
Imagine what this would look like: the entire right column of the site would suddenly be an endorsement of the public option. Google searches would be drawn to this like flies to honey. Those of you who know how could create snapshots of the site and circulate them. News of the site would richochet across Facebook and Twitter. Broadcast media could not resist a chance to show this image on TV.
The idea of putting "PUBLIC OPTION" at the start of every diary title is a bit like a diary version of a flash mob. And if it worked, it could spread across other sites.
Why "PUBLIC OPTION"?
In support of the incredible grassroots effort to push Democrats to support a strong public option, I have tried to explain elswehere why the phrase itself has gained such currency in such a short period of time (FRAMESHOP:OBAMA CALLS "PUBLIC OPTION" SOURCE OF "CONFUSION" IN REFORM DEBATE).
In a nutshell: a month ago there was only one phrase capable of standing symbolically for the entire healthcare reform debate: death panels. As of today, there is a second: public option.
The two sides of the healthcare debate are now clearly drawn and clearly condensed on these two phrases. Either you believe healthcare reform is a trojan horse designed to harm the American people ("death panels") or you believe healthcare reform is the cavalry sent in to rescue the American people ("public option").
Big stakes political debates depend on the power of short, easily repeatable phrases to condense and stand for much larger, more complicated arguments. The right accomplished that task with "death panels." Progressives have now risen to the challenge and established that same feat with the phrase "public option."
What remains is the very difficult and very time sensitive challenge of populating the debate with this phrase.
Ergo, this idea.
I start with my own diary. If you already have a diary up, please consider joining this effort. If you plan to post a new diary, consider following this call.
Let's try to get all the diary titles starting with the phrase PUBLIC OPTION by Sunday, Aug 23, noon.
Let's band together, diarists! We have an untapped, visual resource at our disposal. Let's turn it into a powerful statement that can catch national attention.