This Is NOT Class Warfare, This Is SELF-Defense.

[kpete]

WASHINGTON — With Tuesday’s primaries reinforcing the Republican establishment strength, House Democrats are reassessing their electoral strategy based on a major internal research project that shows their candidates stand a better chance when they portray Republicans as unsympathetic to the economic situation of working Americans while protecting the wealthy.

.................


In doing the research, Democratic consultants tested several advertisements with voters and found that the most effective one featured a fictitious Republican congressman who backed the government shutdown but continued to collect his check while the House gym remained open. It accused the make-believe House member of being more interested in the perquisites of office than representing his constituents.


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/us/politics/democrats-seek-issue-to-buoy-turnout-in-midterms.html?hp

[Mnemosyne]

1. I wonder why use a fictitious R hypocrite when there are sooo many actual ones. nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

3. Because there was not an identified gop general election candidate ...

in the study area(s).

[Mnemosyne]

4. Ok, thanks! nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. I should have added ...

"when the studies were conducted." This type of study probably took 3-4 month, if not more, to put together.

[Mnemosyne]

7. Appreciate the info. nt

[Orsino]

2. It's both, as it always is for the working classes. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. I wonder how many here will take away ...

the exact wrong message from this report ... A campaign centered around the DU to "energize the base", "to give people something to vote for" favorites (e.g., increasing minimum wage, raising taxes on the wealthy, putting banksters in jail, etc.) is a losing proposition, as it will not increase voter turn-out; rather, Democrats should campaign on what the electorate will likely lose, should the gop win.

This is a tried and true, academically supported, campaign strategy, as people are far more moved to action to protect against a loss, than to achieve a gain. That's why, the gop message of "they're gonna take away your guns!", is a more effective strategy than, "I'm gonna increase the minimum wage", or any other "put money in your pocket" strategy.

[stillwaiting]

8. I don't think that can be overstated.

The economic conditions that continue to worsen year after year are literally leading to horrible things happening to people.

And right-wingers just don't care. They simply must not have any empathy at all. I can't imagine fighting for the policies they support.

[1StrongBlackMan]

9. Would you consider fight AGAINST the policies they support? ...

Get Out The Democratic Vote 2014!

[pansypoo53219]

10. they only call it 'class warefare' when we fight back.

[rhett o rick]

11. We have been the butt of class warfare for decades. When do we start fighting back? nm