Should The Dems Start A Generic, National Campaign Now?

[Beetwasher]

I'm thinking maybe the Dems should start airing TV ads now, or soon and keep them going for the year up to the elections in '06. Some generic ads w/ the aim of exposing Repub "Culture of Corruption" and cronyism and branding the Dems w/ a positive image. I would imagine something like using the following themes and tactics:

Clips of average people talking about Republican corruption and how they plan to vote for Dems in '06:

"Those Repubs are all about making the rich richer!"
"The Repubs have been in charge of the country for 5 years now and it's been all downhill!"
"They say they're strong on Nat'l Security, but they leak undercover CIA agent's names and there are more terror attacks than ever!"
"They all do whatever Bush wants! The refuse to hold him accountable! He lied us into a war and the Repubs in congress don't care and stonewall investigations!"
"Those Repubs always say one thing an do another! All they care about is getting your vote and covering for Bush! I plan on voting for every Dem I can get my hands on so someone will finally hold them accountable!"
"Those Repubs lie about the Dems not having any ideas or plans. If you actually LOOK, the Dems have lot's of detailed, sensible plans and ideas! All the Repubs ever want to do is cut taxes for the rich!"

Etc.

I would then suggest a message to the effect of "It's time to end the culture of corruption in washington. Those fighting Dems, they're fighting FOR YOU!"

Thoughts?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Might work

but right now, the headlines seem to be working against the Repukes. I am concerned if the DNC is overt in their ads, the GOP may play the victim card. What might work better would be organized LTTE campaigns, and local meetings on issues that are of concern to the local area, hosted by local groups.

[blm]

2. As a longtime corruption watcher I say FULL SPEED AHEAD against

them and let's expose all the corruption and get it on the table.

[tx_dem41]

3. I have a different suggestion....

Why don't the Democrats start a SPECIFIC national campaign based on what we are FOR! An actual and positive platform based on solutions to today's problems.

We've spent the last two election cycles being the anti-Republican party (and we spend 95% of our time on DU following that line of thinking). Its time to show people what we are FOR, instead of only what we are AGAINST.

[Beetwasher]

8. Too Early For Specifics

Now would be the time to lay groundwork for the general themes and make them part of the conventional wisdom: Repubs=courrupt, incompetent, liars. Dems=Fighters for the people who will hold Bush accountable.

The specific will come later, closer to the election.

But honestly, did the Repubs win w/ specifics? No, they didn't and never have. As much as it pains me, elections are NOT won on specifics, they are won by those that control the message and the debate and pull emotional strings the best. Now is the time to start laying the groundwork and framing the debate.

[tx_dem41]

12. Well, we surely haven't won using "generics" the last two

election cycles. In '94, the Repubs got as specific as you could get and gained 54 seats. Maybe there is a strategic lesson there?

[Beetwasher]

13. Uhh, We Didn't Use Generics in the Last 2 Campaigns

We used specifics and it didn't matter. Kerry had very specific detailed plans and so did Gore and it didn't matter. I guess you either weren't paying attention or you bought the Repub spin.

The Repubs used specific in '94? What, the contract on America??? LOL! Puhhleeze! That was a load of crap, empty PR stunt. To pretend otherwise is ridiculous.

And again, I'm not saying DON'T have specifics, just that NOW is not the time for specifics. Now is the time to lay the general (generic) framework. It's silly and counterproductive to lay out specifics now.

[tx_dem41]

14. I didn't say I supported it....

it was specific and it was successful, PR stunt or not.

What positive, proactive specifics did we run on in the last two election cycles?...just wondering.

[Beetwasher]

15. Strawman

Republican talking point. And if you don't know the answer to that question, you're not a Dem.

Laying out specifics now would be stupid.

[tx_dem41]

17. How is that a strawman?

Also, you might be correct on the timing. My main objection is that your strategy is based on REACTING to the Republicans. That lets them determine the way the game goes. That is a losing strategy.

I say roll out specifics beginning in January.

Can you answer my original question, now? Positive, PROACTIVE policies that were not reacting to Republican policy?

[Beetwasher]

19. Have You Been Paying Attention To Politics At All?

Seriously? Are you really a Dem? Why do you repeat bullshit Repub talking points about Dems having no specific ideas? Do your own damn research into the specifics about health care, targeted tax cuts for the middle class, environmental policy, energy independence and education reform that are VERY specific that BOTH Gore and Kerry ran on. Yeesh. I'm not here to educate you or refute your parroting of bullshit Repub talking points. Your a mere google search away from the info, if you're really interested.

You completely miss the point about framing the debate. Specifics DON'T win elections. The contract on america was NOT about specifics it was about PR and pulling emotional strings, I guarantee you most people had NO IDEA what was even IN the contract. Pulling emotional strings WINS and FRAMING the debate WINS. By framing the debate NOW about holding the Repubs accountable for their corruption and incompetence you fight on YOUR terms and put them on the defensive.

You then roll out YOUR specific plans AFTER this framework is layed. Unfortunately politics today has almost NOTHING to do w/ substance and if you don't get that then you don't understand politics today at all.

Additionally, it's a strawman because my post is not about rehashing whatever perceived mistakes the Dems made in '04 and '00, though I will say it definitely WASN'T lack of specifics. If anything they relied TOO much on specifics and not enough on emotion.

[Orangepeel]

18. it doesn't have to be specific, but it has to be focused

who the hell knew what was in the "contract with America"? Very few people who voted for it, that's for sure.

The republicans and the press keep hammering the untrue and destructive meme that "the Democrats have no message." People are believing it.

The message doesn't have to be detailed, but it has to be focused around a proactive theme. "Culture of corruption is" is reactive. Something like "Honest and responsible government" is proactive. It talks about what we are for, not what we are against. It is, however, too narrow, IMO.

[Beetwasher]

21. Agree and Disagree

I think it can be a mix of both. You want to highlight their corruption and I like the "Culture of Corruption" meme. If what you're saying is true, then the Repub meme "The Dems have no message" is ALSO reactive and shouldn't work. But it does. See?

[dkofos]

16. I second that

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[BillZBubb]

6. Hello Stresemann, Goodbye Stresemann!

Bolshevik wing of the party! Wow that's good Repug talking point stuff!

[Beetwasher]

9. Heh? You're An Idiot

That's the dumbest thing I ever heard.

[BillZBubb]

5. We should never NOT be doing what you suggest.

The Repugs never stop campaigning and spinning. They, until very recently, have been unified in their attack. And it has been effective. Their idiotic, simpleton ideas get stuck in voter's minds. "They are strong on defense", "They are better at fighting terror", "They are better leaders", etc. The Repugs repeat these themes over and over and over. It works.

Unfortunately, our party has too many who don't understand what is going on. They think a reasoned approach will work. It doesn't. Given our opponents, the only successful strategy is to fight back using their techniques against them--much like you suggest.

We still need to present our ideas for governance before the next elections, but we shouldn't do that too early. If we tip our hands, the Repugs will find the one weak item out of the 100 great ideas we propose and make the election about that one thing. They have the money to control the issues.

[Beetwasher]

11. Yup, You Got It, Exactly, See My Post #8

:thumbsup:

Now is the time to seize the initiative and frame the debate for the next year: Repubs=corrupt, incompetent liars. Dems=Fighters who will protect you and hold them accountable.

[NoFederales]

7. Yes; just as the Union folks in CA did against MSM lack of

coverage, DEM paid spots regarding an agenda for the Nation will offset the repeated talking points by the opposition that DEMs "have no plan".

NoFederales

[Nimrod2005]

10. Yes...Say something like REGIME CHANGE AT HOME

is in order...

[KingFlorez]

20. I like it

I mean we need to start when the momentum is high so we can keep it going.