THE 27-9-3 RULE: HONING THE MESSAGE FOR 2006

[Demeter]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_randolph_060104_the_27_9_3_rule_and_.htm


January 4, 2006

THE 27-9-3 RULE AND HONING THE MESSAGE FOR 2006
by Randolph T. Holhut


DUMMERSTON, Vt. — A friend of mine who has been in the Vermont House of Representatives for the past few years recently told me about a rule she has been telling her fellow Democrats to adhere to when describing an idea to constituents or the press.
It's the 27-9-3 rule — no more than 27 words within a time frame no longer than nine seconds with no more than three concepts discussed in that time.
In other words, keep the message simple, clear and to the point and people will know what you are talking about.
We are now in an election year and it’s time for liberals to hone the message and keep our stories straight. The 27-9-3 rule may seem excessively rigid, but it's a good exercise in disciplined thinking.
So here are some of what I think should be the Democratic Party's talking points for the 2006 elections. Use them and spread them around.
— The Republicans are the party of corruption.
— The Republicans steal from the poor to give to the rich.
— The Republicans are the party of crony capitalism.
— The Republicans reward incompetence and punish truthtellers.
— The Republicans support a foreign policy of endless war and global domination.
— The Republicans do not respect the Constitution and lie without consequence on issues of national security.
Now that you have some of the talking points, let's put them to use, applying the 27-9-3 rule.
The next time a Bush supporter talks about how great their president is, you can say, "The Republicans do not care about the environment, education, health care or anything else that doesn't involve tax cuts for the rich or blowing stuff up." (26 words)
If a Republican talks about integrity in politics, you can say, "It took the Democrats in Congress 50 years to become bloated and corrupt. It took the Republicans only 10 years to do likewise." (23 words).
If they persist, just say, "Jack Abramoff." (two words).
Message discipline is important. When Republicans talk about how much they care about minorities, you can say, "New Orleans."
When they talk about about homeland security, you can say, "Katrina."
When they talk about Bush's record in Iraq, you can say "war criminal."



The Bush administration is going to spin like mad to justify the spying, the torture, the secret prisons and countless violations of domestic and international law since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Our job will be to show that Republicans have made the world less safe and have allowed terrorism to flourish.

If liberals can't hang this sorry record around the necks of Republicans, we aren't trying hard enough.


Randolph T. Holhut has been a journalist in New England for more than 25 years. He edited "The George Seldes Reader" (Barricade Books). He can be reached at [e-mail].

[daleanime]

1. Nice and accrurate...

but if your words fall on open ears follow with ideas of serious reform.
17 words.;)