Question of the day: How can Democrats best frame GOP obstructionism?

[babylonsister]

http://www.lastchancedemocracycafe.com/?p=1027

Question of the day: How can Democrats best frame GOP obstructionism?

It’s mind-boggling really: Democrats garnered 56 votes in the Senate, a strong majority, in support of Jim Webb’s bill (pdf) to protect our troops. The bill failed for one and only one reason — because obstructionist Republicans used the filibuster to prevent an up or down vote: the very same tactic, of course, they’ve been using to thwart virtually every Democratic legislative goal.

And how do major media outlets cover the story? Do they emphasize GOP obstructionism? Or the clear undermining of the will of the people? Or perhaps note the gross hypocrisy inherent in having the very same senators, who, not so very long ago, were ferociously decrying Democratic filibusters against a few judicial nominations, now using it themselves as a matter of course?

No, instead, we get this.

(AP) Senate blocks bill on Iraq combat tours

Democrats’ efforts to challenge President Bush’s Iraq policies were dealt a demoralizing blow Wednesday in the Senate after they failed to scrape together enough support to guarantee troops more time at home.

The 56-44 vote — four short of reaching the 60 needed to advance — all but assured that Democrats would be unable to muster the support needed to pass tough anti-war legislation by year’s end. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., was seen as the Democrats’ best shot because of its pro-military premise.

“The idea of winning the war in Iraq is beginning to get a second look,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who led opposition to the bill alongside Sen. John McCain.

Note the storyline: not Republican obstructionism, but Democratic failure. And that’s been the consistent theme of reporting in filibuster situations since the first day the Democrats gained majority status.

So how do we change it? Here’s my take: congressional Democrats need to make Republican obstructionism THE ISSUE for the rest of this congressional session. Forget about compromise. The only compromises that interest Bush Republicans anyway are those based upon Democratic surrender, and we’ve been down that road enough already. Besides, Beltway style deals — however much they may warm David Broder’s heart — are irrelevant to the war issue. The only “compromise” the GOP leadership will agree to now is one that maintains the status quo. The American people want us out of Iraq, period. Anything less is beside the point.

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http://www.lastchancedemocracycafe.com/?p=1027

[Sparkly]

1. Good question, and good points.

I agree they should use the words "obstruction," "obstructing," "obstructionist" as often as possible. There are too many people who don't seem to understand what's going on, or how the math works.

[Vincardog]

2. Don't let the REpigs threaten a filibuster make them do it. Make the lazy SOBs stand up and talk for

as long as they want. EVERY TIME. Then pass the Damn bills and make jr veto the damn thing time and time again.

[lligrd]

3. By Forcing Them To Actually Do It

not by giving in and just saying they will do it.

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. I can tell you exactly why this happens

Every time the Democratics fillibustered or threatened one, the Republican chorus would be on TV saying "obstructionist Democrats" over and over and over. When the Republicans do the fillibuster or threaten one, there is NO chorus of Democratics, but there is a chorus of Republicans saying "Democrat failure" over and over and over.

Why don't we have a chorus spewing talking points over and over and over?

[Bitwit1234]

5. Ask the public

about congress and what to do you get? You are correct. They blame the democrats, because they do not get the full picture, that the republicans are blocking every single bill the democrats want to bring to vote.

By doing this, bush doesn't have to use the veto and it covers him.....It is a shame that they can't get the bills to vote, because we would win an up or down. That way bush would be made the face of republican obstruction.

I think it is time the democrats started telling it like it is. Every time they get a chance to appear in public in the media that should be their "cry" REPUBLICANS ARE OBSTRUCTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

[McCamy Taylor]

6. Democrats want to look in control of an orderly Congress. The MSM

wants the GOP in control, so they alter the message to "Democrats are wimps." If the Democrats attempt to force the GOP to filibuster each bill, they are afraid that the MSM will frame it as "Democrats are out of control and Republicans are in control."

Democrats can do better than this. This is what advertising is for. Media consultants. Political strategists. The Dems have them. Use them.

[KoKo]

7. Congress raised Debt Ceiling in March...

Politics
Congress Sets New Federal Debt Limit: $9 Trillion

Listen to this story... by David Welna

The federal debt has risen from $542 billion to more than $8 trillion since 1975.
Enlarge

Federal debt has risen from $542 billion to more than $8 trillion since 1975. Debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product, once at 34.7%, is now above 60%. NPR



Morning Edition, March 16, 2006 · Faced with a potential government shutdown, the Senate votes to raise the nation's debt limit for the fourth time in five years. The bill passed by a 52-48 vote, increasing the ceiling to $9 trillion. The bill now goes to the president.

The debt now stands at more than $8.2 trillion.

Like many cash-strapped Americans who have maxed-out credit cards, the federal government has hit its limit for borrowing funds to keep operating. If the limit isn't raised, the government likely will run out of borrowing authority within days, risking a shutdown.

When President Bush took office five years ago, the national debt was at $5.6 trillion; since then, big budget surpluses have collapsed into huge deficits, and the debt has shot up nearly 50 percent.

Few lawmakers, though, wish to be on record as authorizing more debt -- the House goes so far as to hike the limit automatically. And Senate Democrats are telling their Republican counterparts not to expect any help from them, particularly in an election year.

If any amendments are attached to the Senate's debt measure, the House would be forced to vote on raising the limit -- the last thing many lawmakers seeking re-election want to be on the record as doing.

Treasury Secretary John Snow wrote congressional leaders last week, imploring them to immediately raise the $8.2 trillion debt limit. The House has put the new limit at $9 trillion.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5282521

[avrdream]

8. Agree with you.

I was disgusted when I got on the computer this morning and saw the MSNBC story about the "Democratic failures" this week.

How to get control of the media may be a better question.

Barring media control, I do feel that it will ultimately make the point of Republican obstructionism to the American people if the Senate leadership just keeps putting similar bills up over and over again to be voted against by the Repubs. It worked for the Republicans when they were in control - eventually the story became about how the Democrats were filibustering everything.