Why can't Democrats package and market their agenda as effectively as

[begin_within]

republicans do? The republicans make it as easy to "subscribe" to their whole ideology and bullshit agenda as it is to drive up to a fast-food window and order combo #7. They do all the thinking for you, and you just "ditto" what they say. The result has been an extremely successful marketing campaign - the republicans are in power in all 3 branches of the fed. govt. and in many states and cities as well. Why, then don't the Democrats package and market their agenda, philosophy and ideology as effectively? Instead, it comes in bits an pieces, scattered throughout a wide variety of channels, and at irregular intervals.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Huh?

What agenda?

Democrats with an agenda?

You forgot what Will Rogers said: "I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat."

[applegrove]

2. Because they are not as comfortable lying. Speaking the truth is

harder. You are limited by reality.

[Arkana]

3. We don't own the media.

It's that simple.

[Patsy Stone]

4. It's a big tent.

There are so many messages in the Democratic platform. There's no wedge issue. Because the point of liberal thinking is to be tolerant of people, it's not the easiest thing to just narrow the message.

Not to mention there are liberal-leaning fiscal conservatives who still falsely believe we over-spend their money on lazy people.

Add to that the complacency of the media, and their eagerness to spread the talking points (for financial reasons or for fear of reprisal) and the soup is done and ready to eat.

[leesa]

5. No media access

My neighbor told me he watches Faux news "fair and balanced" is why he said. The droids are easily conned and I don't think the Dems are into conning people as much as the GOP is.

[Cha]

6. Because the rethugs own

the m$m..corporate media?

If we did have a liberal media you could damn sure depend that we would have a Wonderful Package!

[Speck Tater]

7. "I don't belong to any organized political party"

"I'm a Democrat"

[mzmolly]

8. They can say toss out a few one liners

and appeal to all the greedy bigots who support them. Democrats have a VERY diverse group of voters that they represent.

However, I was thinking that DU should form a "think tank" and establish our own weekly talking points - then we could send them out to all of our members of congress/senate and the DNC. Hopefully they'd pick up on some?

For example I recalled today that Dems did NOT sieze the moment on Katrina in regard to global warming. We have to fine tune a periodic message - and try to make sure everyone is on the same "basic" page.

[stepnw1f]

9. They Don't Have the GOP's Influence Within the Media

I believe the media has molded the type public's perception of the Democratic Party. Look at how the media went after Clinton and his family. I just don't see the same type of vorascity I did in the 90's that I do now with corporate media. If WE had a media (balance), Bush wouldn't have been elected. I am certain of that.

I do however think it's time for the DLC to take a hike!

[PowerToThePeople]

10. I was thinking about this exact thing yesterday...

The reason I came to is that it is easier to focus in on exact things you wish to repress or how you wish to abuse someone or some group.

But freeing people and expanding peoples rights/liberties is tougher, you are always finding new things which need to be addressed as we evolve through life.

Much easier to repress than free someone.

[LostInAnomie]

11. The phrase "herding cats" comes to mind.

Democrats are in the business of consensus building which is an absolute MUST it the base of your party is various cause groups. Wedge issues don't work because the use of them may alienate a group of key supporters.

The Republicans on the other hand are in the business of taking power for the purpose of funneling money into the pockets of the few. Because of this they could care less about building consensus for a healthy society. They work from the idea of shearing off those who do not agree. By overtly alienating those who are different they scare those wavering souls to their side for fear of being alienated themselves.

[NNN0LHI]

12. It requires working for a living n/t

[Lexingtonian]

13. Selling change is hard.

Selling what people have known all of their lives and fear to alter, don't have the imagination or experience or education to understand viable alternatives to, is easy.

In essence the Republicans sell a colonial society with (supposedly) soft edges as 'product'. It has a lot of advantages- a lot of immoral behavior is legalized. There is very little moral responsibility in currency, drowned out as it is by the taking of credit and conferral of blame, with material things attained the only bottom line. That also means most people never have to become either educated or psychologically real adults. You kiss up and kick down, and that's how it goes.

The perfect illustration of present day Republican Utopia, I tell anyone who will listen, is James Jones's 1953 bestseller "From Here To Eternity". (Need I mention that it's a picture of hell on Earth that will be painfully familiar to people over age 30 or so, and the book the most WW2 era American writers consider the most adequate psychological description of the sorry and depraved American condition during the early Forties.)

Btw, if it's all just marketing, why are they doing so badly right now and unable to stop the slide?

[butchcjg]

14. our message is complex! we think critically!

our messages are not black & white simplicity.

we tend to be deep thinking people who look critically at issues. we tend to be fair and try to see multiple sides of an issue. we process a lot.