All this talk about distilling concepts and focusing our message and I just keep thinking:
Truth, Justice, and the American Way.
I wonder if those six words are trademarked, because they're perfect. They probably are trademarked. Damn.
Truth: the party of science, healthy debate, open and honest government (this is a big one for me that I don't hear of much), legislation for the people and not the corporations.
Justice: social justice, economic justice, an improved and fair justice system (no more unfair sentencing for minorities or the underpriveleged).
The American Way: democracy, opportunity, dissent, freedom.
Superman has always held a strange and underappreciated niche in American culture by virtue of being the quintessential immigrant who has come, above many other things, to represent American ideals. It is all too easy to forget that Superman is from a distant land (planet). He couldn't even run for President.
In the 80s when Superman was relaunched, Lex luthor was no longer a mad scientist but a crafty businessman. Ruthless tactics and a good amount of deviousness brought Luthor financial success and, shockingly, immunity from Superman. Superman has, quite literally, not beaten Lex Luthor for 20 years. He might stop a scheme here or there, but send him to jail? Nope. A few years ago Lex Luthor was elected President of the United States, putting Superman in the dubious position of being desperately opposed to a very popular POTUS. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Mind you the comic books are, as they stand, not very good. The themes running through them, however, are pretty great.
Needless to say, it seems like Superman is most certainly a Democrat, and either officially or unofficially I think we should be able to use that. We may just have the most powerful modern myth in the world on our side.
Just a nice thought, really.