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In reply to the discussion: Squad Members Clap Back at Obama's 'Defund the Police' Clapback [View all]Gothmog
(145,563 posts)110. Why 'Defund The Police' Attacks Were So Potent Against Democrats
I personally support reforms to the police. I worked hard and we got a good Democrat elected as District Attorney in my county two years ago and this cycle we got a good man elected as sheriff of my county. Our new DA has made a tremendous amount of difference in my county and I believe that the new Sheriff will also help. However, it is clear that we lost races that we should not have lost Defund the police was used very effectively by the GOP in down ballot races. A good number of races that Democrats should have won were lost due to this issue.
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
The GOP ran a ton of ads using this issue
Sure enough, Republicans saw an opportunity. Painting Democrats as supporters of defunding the police became the focus of campaign literature, TV and digital ads, and live televised debates. That forced Democratic candidates to divert resources that might otherwise be used discussing COVID-19 relief, health care or education to be used disavowing themselves from the slogan and otherwise defending themselves.
Out of 31 broadcast TV ads that Trump and other allied campaign groups used to attack Biden and other Democrats for being soft on law and order, 11 spots ― that aired a total of 77,647 times ― explicitly mentioned defund the police, according to an analysis Kantar Media/CMAG conducted for HuffPost. And out of 216 Republican broadcast TV ads in congressional races blasting Democrats, 157 spots that aired 103,000 times used the phrase.
Out of 31 broadcast TV ads that Trump and other allied campaign groups used to attack Biden and other Democrats for being soft on law and order, 11 spots ― that aired a total of 77,647 times ― explicitly mentioned defund the police, according to an analysis Kantar Media/CMAG conducted for HuffPost. And out of 216 Republican broadcast TV ads in congressional races blasting Democrats, 157 spots that aired 103,000 times used the phrase.
I was disappointed to seen Susan Collins re-elected. It seems that Collins was able to use the "defund the police" issue very effectively
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and the GOPs Senate campaign arm hit her Democratic opponent, Sara Gideon, in a TV ad for links to a defund the police billionaire. The basis for the ad was Gideons attendance at a fundraiser hosted by an environmental coalition that includes NextGen America. NextGen, funded by liberal billionaire Tom Steyer, supports defunding the police
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And recognize that they are being destructive when they keep taking pot-shots
The Velveteen Ocelot
Dec 2020
#2
Yes indeed. People forget how Obama got his start - as a community organizer. From where I sit...
George II
Dec 2020
#102
Obama didn't lose "downticket". He won every one of his own races, both statewide & nationally.
Tarheel_Dem
Dec 2020
#138
Aw Jeez! I know "The Squad" has a fan club here, but like another failed presidential candidate,
Tarheel_Dem
Dec 2020
#158
"This is despite taking cues from Lieberman and the rest of the non-radicals."
betsuni
Dec 2020
#159
Yeah, it's not really an issue that lends itself well to electoral politics.
WhiskeyGrinder
Dec 2020
#124
We can develop all sorts of emergency responses that have nothing to do with the control-and-punish
WhiskeyGrinder
Dec 2020
#131
I mean, if a guy is attacking me, you're right -- in the moment, I'm worrying about my own
WhiskeyGrinder
Dec 2020
#133
"Again, I'm unbothered. Activism work sometimes works hand-in-hand with electoral politics.."
caber09
Dec 2020
#136
Police kill people no matter who is mayor, governor or president, or which party has the majority
WhiskeyGrinder
Dec 2020
#137
I'm not concerned about where I stand when it comes to electoral politics.
WhiskeyGrinder
Dec 2020
#125
Historically both parties have been complicit in systemic racism and policing issues.
radius777
Dec 2020
#96
Where do you guys live? I would love to know the districts you are in and see how it matches..
caber09
Dec 2020
#112
Exactly, some people who should be on our side seem not to mind more Rs in office apparently
caber09
Dec 2020
#111
I've seen at least one of "the squad" actually say this summer "abolish the police".....
George II
Dec 2020
#7
That's why there's a problem with the slogan. It's that racists can successfully twist it and turn.
LAS14
Dec 2020
#11
Any problem isn't any slogan, it's what the slogan represents and how people interpret it...
George II
Dec 2020
#13
If Katie could bottle up her passion and give it to every Democratic congressperson out there
mtnsnake
Dec 2020
#56
I Think I Would Take Political Advice from the Greatest Politician of Our Generation
Skraxx
Dec 2020
#26
I know they aren't. People are stupid and to them "defund the police" means get rid of the PD in
GemDigger
Dec 2020
#46
Obama Says 'Defund The Police' Alienates Voters, Drawing Sharp Rebuke From The Left
Gothmog
Dec 2020
#32
I remember in the 60s the slogan was "If you don't like the cops, call a hippie.".
marie999
Dec 2020
#33
The Squad needs to learn not to be so pig headed. You shouldn't continue to defend a term
Vinca
Dec 2020
#55
That was the message that was picked up by the Minneapolis City Council. Someone introduced....
George II
Dec 2020
#82
Amen, right on, 10000% Agreed...defund the PD is a great path to Republican majority rule, no thanks
caber09
Dec 2020
#80
I'm happy to see that progressives on the ground in Georgia seem to understand Obama's point.
LAS14
Dec 2020
#92
A few more paragraphs, it's a very good article. Both Warnock and Ossoff know what wins in GA:
George II
Dec 2020
#94
They seem really really attached to certain slogans. As if the slogan was more important than the
betsuni
Dec 2020
#122
Yep, and they're using that bullshit against Warnock and Ossoff in the GA run-offs.
GoCubsGo
Dec 2020
#142