In Ad Wars, Democrats Shy From Ties to Own Party

[onehandle]

Source: New York Times

Two years after arriving in Washington on a message of hope and change, Democratic candidates are not extolling their party’s accomplishments, but rather distancing themselves from their party’s agenda.

The midterm elections may revolve around a series of big issues, particularly with control of Congress at stake. But a look at the advertising themes and images being employed by Democrats shows all the ways they are trying to personalize their contests and avoid being defined as ideological partners of President Obama’s or as part of the Washington establishment.

In the last six weeks, Republicans have outspent Democrats $20 million to $13 million in television advertising, according to an analysis by The New York Times of 56 of the nation’s most competitive House and Senate races. The Republican advantage includes $9 million in spending from outside groups, compared with $3 million from left-leaning interests.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/us/politics/13ads.html

[Bigmack]

1. I think the Dems have some kind...

of Death Wish. People generally are with the Dems on the issues, but the Dems don't seem to be able to frame those issues like the Repubs can.

Boner is a slow-moving easy target as far as I am concerned.

All the Dems need to do is take a page from Jon on TDS and make ads that include video clips of Repubs saying and doing things that most people disagree with.

Is it possible that the Dems want to lose?... is the economy going to be so bad they don't want to be around?

[Cal33]

19. I think your question is sound. Some elements of the Democratic

Party do seem to want the Democrats to lose: 1. the "Blue Dog" congress people, 2. The right-wing cabinet members and
advisers in the White House. 3. Some of the DLC leaders. I sometimes wonder where their true allegiance lies.

Could these people be responsible for having pulled the Democrats away from the jaws of victory in the past?

[okieinpain]

2. you should see the ads the dem candidate for gov is running in

oklahoma. really one of the dumbest ads ever.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

3. These stupid motherfuckers will never learn, will they. nt

[bread_and_roses]

4. Oh, but, don't you know...it's Progressives

who are depressing turn-out! :shrug:

[mbperrin]

5. Yes, those far-out lefty loonies!

Who want jobs created, schools maintained, and other Commie stuff!

Damn them! Whoever they are!!!!

:)

[No Elephants]

7. "Progressive" is a funny word.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102&topic_id=4537514&mesg_id=4538244

[bread_and_roses]

10. I know - but "Liberal" is an even more deformed term

- and "Left" is just as meaningless. Just goes to show ya, the utter vacuum we have on real discourse on anything that would actually be worker/family/the common good friendly.

[SpeechlessDem]

6. Difference!

There is a difference between being a democrat and part of the democratic party
There is a difference between truly being progressive and being a member of a progressive group.

That's why it's always important to focus on the issues.
I have been a little dissapointed by Alan Grayson for example, he was a hero when fighting the FED/Bernanke, but then he just switched to being completely on the partisan bickering level.
Rachel Maddow is doing the same thing, just partisan bickering.

There is no solution that is being provided in partisan bickering, it does nothing but further divide this divided nation and further dumb down the already dumbed down population.

Sorry to say folks, but MSNBC is becoming like Fox News.
I guess whoever is in power, that side sucks!
News outlets are better while in opposition.

To disagree with me is being non-progressive.
That's why Kuccinich is always a hero of mine!

[No Elephants]

8. Please see Reply #7.

[Vincevega]

9. the problem is

We have reached a point where a trolls can be very successful attacking our candidates from the left, the democratic candidates are not running on democratic accomplishment because its simply not the democratic party's agenda. Can u imagine running on the drug importation policy? or the mandates to buy insurance from the evil insurance companies or even worse run on ending the wars? We should abandon the stupid pretense of appeasing the non existent middle.

But then again the DNCers will warn you that rescinding our support because our candidates are not progressive/liberal enough will only push them further to the right(why by the way makes absolutely no sense), say what you want about the tea baggers, they have been able to push their party to the far right, so right that people like Ronald Reagan will have a hard time getting elected.

I live in Nebraska and I have no idea what to do with Ben Nelson, theres a man who votes with republicans on 90% of the issues that matter to the middle class and yet hes still regarded as a democrat. Something needs to be done real fast to stop the drift to the right because at this rate we may loose whats left of the democratic part

[Chicago dyke]

11. vs. Citizen United: the effects begin.

(the outspending part)

i noticed this on my travels recently, in which i was driving thru four states. party ID, or rather, lack thereof, was common on campaign signs in all the places i looked. "vote for me, but don't worry about which party i'm with! i'm not the incumbent! or if i am, i'm not going to remind you of that fact!"

[totodeinhere]

12. If that's what it takes to keep the GOP out of control of Congress, then so be it. n/t

[Winterblues]

13. The Democrat running for Congress in Alaska sounds exactly like a Republican

"Washington is out of control with big spenders putting our country in jeopardy". No mention that he is running as a Democrat...I sure don't feel comfortable voting for him, so I believe I will just leave that part of the ballot blank.

[Francesca9]

14. In Ad Wars, Democrats Shy From Ties to Own Party

Source: New York Times

... The advertisements from these three vulnerable Democrats offer a window into the party’s strategy to try to keep control of the House in November at a moment when Republicans and their allies are substantially outspending Democrats and their backers.

Two years after arriving in Washington on a message of hope and change, Democratic candidates are not extolling their party’s accomplishments, but rather distancing themselves from their party’s agenda...

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/us/politics/13ads.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

---

This is a strategy? Can anyone explain why this is? I don't get it.

[kenny blankenship]

15. Because they're doing such a GREAT JOB!

Or so I keep hearing from about 6 posters here.

[Pirate Smile]

16. I've seen a lot of Chuck Grassley ads lately and it is NEVER mentioned that he is a Republican.

One actually states that he was a member of a union when he worked on an assembly line. You would have not one idea re which political party he belonged to or which political philosophy he subscribes to based on the commercials - it is all "he's not Washington, he's pure Iowa, he works hard, never misses a vote, uses twitter & facebook to stay in touch, blah, blah, blah". No issues or parties, etc. I listen to them and think - I REMEMBER THE DEATH PANELS, you jackass.

[msongs]

17. gotta give people something worth voting for and republican lite ain't it lol nt

[AlbertCat]

18. If you read the whole article...

... you will see that it is not "Democrats" shying away, but a few Democrats. and that nobody is talking much policy and everyone is trying to look like a Washington outsider. The headline is calculated to make it look much worse than it is.