The Hill: Dems push leaders to talk less about Russia

[rogue emissary]

BY MIKE LILLIS - 06/24/17 06:03 AM EDT
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/339248-dems-push-leaders-to-talk-less-about-russia

Frustrated Democrats hoping to elevate their election fortunes have a resounding message for party leaders: Stop talking so much about Russia.

Democratic leaders have been beating the drum this year over the ongoing probes into the Trump administration’s potential ties to Moscow, taking every opportunity to highlight the saga and forcing floor votes designed to uncover any business dealings the president might have with Russian figures.

But rank-and-file Democrats say the Russia-Trump narrative is simply a non-issue with district voters, who are much more worried about bread-and-butter economic concerns like jobs, wages and the cost of education and healthcare. . . .

“We can't just talk about Russia because people back in Ohio aren't really talking that much about Russia, about Putin, about Michael Flynn,” Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) told MSNBC Thursday. “They're trying to figure out how they're going to make the mortgage payment, how they're going to pay for their kids to go to college, what their energy bill looks like.

“And if we don't talk more about their interest than we do about how we're so angry with Donald Trump and everything that's going on,” he added, “then we're never going to be able to win elections.”

Ryan is among the small group of Democrats who are sounding calls for a changing of the guard atop the party’s leadership hierarchy following Tuesday’s special election defeat in Georgia — the Democrats’ fourth loss since Trump took office. But Ryan is hardly alone in urging party leaders to hone their 2018 message.

Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) has been paying particularly close attention to voters’ concerns because he’s running for governor in 2018. The Russia-Trump investigation, he said, isn’t on their radar.

“I did a 22-county tour. … Nobody’s focusing on that,” Walz said. “That’s not to say that they don’t think Russia and those things are important, [but] it’s certainly not top on their minds.”

Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) delivered a similar message, saying his constituents are most concerned with two things: dysfunction in Washington and the Republicans’ plans to repeal ObamaCare. The controversies surrounding Trump, he said, don’t tally. . . .

“If you see me treating Russia and criticisms of the president and things like that as a secondary matter, it’s because that’s how my constituents feel about it,” said Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.).
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I'm usually very critical of The Hill's reporting. As they love to take quotes out of context or promote the reporters views as fact. This article had pretty complete quotes and let the Democratic congressmen speak for themselves.

My issue with them is their dead wrong, They need to do their damn job. They better start informing their constituent about how big a problem hacking into our system is and will be in the future. I don't doubt that most people are focused on economic, health care and jobs. The issue is Russia and frankly, other aggressors are not going away.

If you're worried about paying your lighting bill. See what happens when Russians knock out your power grid.

Was Russian hacking of Ukraine's power grid a test run for U.S. attack?
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-hacking-of-ukraines-power-grid-test-run-for-us-attack/

If you want the Democrats to win elections to make progress on moving forward on Single Payer or Medicaid for All.

THE NSA CONFIRMS IT: RUSSIA HACKED FRENCH ELECTION ‘INFRASTRUCTURE’
https://www.wired.com/2017/05/nsa-director-confirms-russia-hacked-french-election-infrastructure/

If you're concerned with the dysfunction in government and why we can't get anything done.

UK Parliament hit by cyber attack
http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/24/europe/uk-parliament-cyberattack/index.html?sr=twCNN062417uk-parliament-cyberattack0540PMStoryLink&linkId=39066570

I get why Republicans are burying their heads in the sand on this issue. They won and have the power they may never see again. So their more than happy to do nothing. I just hope Democrats longing for a return to power won't join them in ignoring these threats.

[Voltaire2]

1. The hill.

Meh.

[Greybnk48]

11. The Hill posted multiple B.S. anit-Pelosi stories too. Agenda?

They seem to lean more toward anti-Democratic propaganda. I ignore their stories for that reason.

[rogue emissary]

17. I feel the same way, but these Democrats are not going away.

Even though they are not in power, they can sway the party to back off the multiple investigations.

[FreepFryer]

2. Dec 8 1941: "Dems push leaders not to talk so much about Japan"

They attacked some boats in Hawaii, but it wasn't a state at the time, so it's not like it was an attack on the US mainland or anything.

Nothing to see here.

[smirkymonkey]

14. Yep. That's a pretty accurate analogy.

What the hell! This is huge! And they think we should shut up about it?

[Wounded Bear]

3. More Tim Ryan? nt

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Can't democrats talk about BOTH issues???

[virtualobserver]

5. that lack of focus on "bread and butter" issues is why we have Trump.

Mueller will do his job. Democrats need to focus on explaining why people need to vote for THEM, and why Republican policies are so destructive. People get it that Russian interference is bad....pounding away with that as your sole message is not productive.

[Achilleaze]

6. Move along.

[Madam45for2923]

7. Hell no, we are not! Keep talking about Russia. Walking & chewing gum is a thing!

[MBS]

8. The Dems damn well better continue to push on this.

This is a fundamental issue for the survival of our democracy.

The solution, as you said, is that congressional Democrats need to educate their constituents.
Yes, also, of course, focus on the long list of other vital issues as well, such as health care, jobs, civil rights (everyone here knows the list).
But we've still got to get to the bottom of the Russia thing (both vote/computer-hacking and Trump's unholy financial and other alliances with Putin, oligarchs, and Russian mafia). The survival of our democracy is at stake. And continue to remind voters that congressional Republicans and Trump continue to try to repress these investigations.

[Lint Head]

9. Yeah who cares that we've been attacked. There's no USA anymore anyhow.

[EllieBC]

10. If the party can't do both, then they are failing.

They can talk about Russia while pushing and fighting for other issues as well.

If not then they deserve to lose.

[MoonRiver]

12. Only people who would push THAT agenda are Repukes.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

13. So, if you move your jaw up and down, up and down. With the gum

in your mouth. While you move one foot in front of other, one foot in front of the other. I believe your brain will adjyst and be perfectly OK with that.

[smirkymonkey]

15. Yes, let's take the heat off the poor republicans and roll over once again.

Jesus effing christ! Can they possibly be any more pathetic?

[Buckeye_Democrat]

16. Tim Ryan again! Ugh!

[leftofcool]

18. Tim Ryan again?

[Squinch]

19. When are they going to change their name from "the Hill" to "Lying Sacks of Shit?"

[Phoenix61]

20. There's a very valid point to this

I've seen posts where people are concerned that the media is covering Russia to the exclusion of the evil the repubs are doing with rolling back all things Obama. I get that Russia is very important but people vote on emotions. Tell them they are going to lose their health care, the river they go fishing in will be too polluted to eat the fish they catch, and their 401k is going to tank due to deregulation and you wil get their attention more than if you talk about Russia. Regional taking points would be good. Global warming in Kansas may not be that big a deal but a 1 foot sea level rise in coastal areas certainly is. Although talking about the negative impact it will have on farming in those areas could work. Hospital closures in rural areas where they are not so plentiful is a big deal in areas where there are many, not so much.

[rogue emissary]

21. The last election proved the opposite.

If they cared about Health insurance, clean drinking water or their 401K investments. They voted for a man that would harm them or didn't bother to vote to protect those things.

[Phoenix61]

22. He lied about health insurance

and he said he would "roll back regulations that were crippling business" which would bring back their jobs. He would build a wall. All of that spoke to their fears. People, lots and lots of people, act on their feelings not their thoughts. Twitler got that and tapped into their fears. I get how big a deal Russia hacking our election is. I can't imagine that anyone who is on this board doesn't but... we are outliers. We had a 50 state strategy that worked. How did they frame the message then?