Democrats need broader message, N.M. governor says

[Thom Little]

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday that his fellow Democrats must deliver a broad political message that encompasses national security, economic growth and moral values if they want to win state and federal races next year and the presidency in 2008.

Voters, he said, need to see Democrats as tough on terrorism but also diplomatic overseas. And when it comes to the issue of abortion rights, supported by most of the party's base, family planning and adoption should also be discussed.

"We need to talk about other issues, instead of being viewed as the party of abortionists," he told a group of Denver Post editors and reporters. "We can't just criticize the Bush administration and have Americans turn to us. We need a positive message."

He also said that the best way to get the message out was by rebuilding the party from the ground up, starting with local campaigns.



http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3292795

[Horse with no Name]

1. Fuck BIll Richardson

and the pony he rode in on.
Democrats need to get behind election fraud as well...but ole Billy Boy decided he wouldn't support that...and destroyed evidence that might have gone a long way in proving malfeasance.
So fuck him and any message he has.

[ShockediSay]

2. Sounds on-target

and on-message to me.

[Carolab]

3. WTF? He's only mouthing what Dean is already doing.

What a schmuck.

[Dr Fate]

9. I noticed some Deanisms too. I'm glad Bill is adopting them. n/t

n/t

[UTUSN]

4. Message says NM Governor Needs to be a broader Democrat n/t

[wordpix]

5. he wants to be next prez--I'm not impressed

[0007]

6. Let try a little honesty and try to understand why meaningless

liars should be listened too, 'eh Bill?

[VegasWolf]

7. Screw Richardson!!

[Dr Fate]

8. Exactly what am I supposed to be opposing here?

"national security, economic growth and moral values"

O.K.- we already do "encompass" these things- I'm assuming he means we need to talk about it more- or frame it differently.

"tough on terrorism but also diplomatic overseas"

Check- I agree. Sounds like Bill Clinton.

We need to talk about other issues, instead of being viewed as the party of abortionists..."We can't just criticize the Bush administration and have Americans turn to us. We need a positive message."

I agree. I would add that we need to frame the issue as "family privacy" for when we do adress it. Mix in Living Wills and other "hands off" private family freedoms with it.

"He also said that the best way to get the message out was by rebuilding the party from the ground up, starting with local campaigns."

I could not agree more with that either- that is my exact philosophy.

I dont have a huge problem with what he is saying.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. I agree. Other Dem's Are Speaking the Same Message. I find no fault

in this message. I think it is encouraging and I hope more dems rally behind the dems leading the way.

[SoCalDem]

11. What we really need is a NARROWER focus.

the biggest criticism I hear is how we try to do TOO MUCH and be all things to all people.. the republicans "succeeded" because they narrowed their focus and hammered away until they created tight talking points that were readily echoed by ALL their people..

The main focus for us should be the egregious secrecy, corruption and the total disregard of the public good that has been going on for so many years now..

We need to frame the issue in "real people" terms that everyone can understand..

It may not be as exciting as starting wars, stealing money and elections, but we have got to relate to people in terms they can identify with..

It may be "fun" to think about getting a brand new car, but sometimes you just have to pay for unseen repairs on the car you already have.. Republicans are out there buying fancy new cars on stolen credit cards..

Democrats have to be about "fixing the roof..filling the potholes of society...painting and fixing up the paid-for car"..etc..

All the "pet" issues of democrats will be tended to, and people in those varied groups need to just accept and understand that they will. Until we govern, NOTHING will get done, so first we must govern..THEN we can repair the damage.