Democratic Victory on a Shoestring

[McCamy Taylor]

If Dems had an extra $100 million to $200 million just lying around, they might be able to match the media blitz being waged by the Republican Super Pacs. You know, the one that goes Dems created the deficit. Dems destroyed your jobs. Dems cut Medicare. Dems raise taxes. Dems are Socialists. Jobs and Freedom! However, the billionaire progressives are sitting this one out. Why? Maybe they secretly like the thought of gridlock in Washington. The status quo has been pretty good for them. Maybe it is a matter of principle. Rove’s campaign is basically a reworking of the Nazi’s “Bread and Freedom” radio blitz from the early 1930s. The thought of running a “No, Buy Our Bread and Freedom, instead!” campaign may not sit well with progressives.

How can Democrats counter the endlessly repeated Big Lie ? Give the American people what they want. Hint: folks who are out of a job, on the street starving and sick do not want to hear how bad things are in Washington. They do not want to hear that Democrats are just as bad as Republicans. They do not want the party of No! .

Folks in trouble want to know that someone cares . They want to be told that they are not powerless. They want to believe that Washington answers to them. They want a pep talk.

President Obama is doing his part with his poverty and unemployment tour of America. Nothing says I care more than a chief executive who rolls up his sleeves and goes out to listen to the people. (Italics mine)

And so people are frustrated and they’re angry and they’re anxious about the future. I understand that.
Snip

Instead of coming together like past generations did to build a better country for our children and grandchildren, their argument is that we should let insurance companies go back to denying care for folks who are sick, or let credit card companies go back to raising rates without any reason. Instead of setting our sights higher, they’re asking us to settle for a status quo of stagnant growth and eroding competitiveness and a shrinking middle class.
snip
I believe it’s the drive and the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs, our small businesses; the skill and dedication of our workers -- (applause) -- that’s made us the wealthiest nation on Earth. (Applause.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/us/politics/09obama-text.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1

Dems may not have the money to plaster their message on every billboard in town. They may not be swimming in so much cash that they can practically buy television and radio stations. However, if their message rings true, folks will listen to it.

I am not saying to go easy on the opposition. There are a few key points that will doom them this fall. Here are the big truths Democrats should talk about.

1. The new Right Wing is racist to its core. Note that the Tea Parties used overt anti-Black racism to attract members before the Republican primaries. Now that they have entered the general election, they are careful only to attack white Democratic politicians in their television ads. Why? They know that they will lose the suburban soccer mom vote, if she gets an eyeful of those Obama in tribal garb pics. Only about 25% of Americans will cast a vote for racism. At least 50% remember the Civil Rights movement as one of America’s greatest moments. They will not be caught dead voting for anyone who reminds them of the Alabama police officers with the fire hoses and German Shepherds.


2. The GOP has the backing of Bankers and Oil Companies. I can not think of any two groups of businessmen who are detested as much as these guys right now. The Banksters took our money---and then took our homes and credit. The Petrochemical Industry price gouged with $4/gallon gas and started a war for oil and ruined the Gulf.

3. The GOP is the party of Herbert Hoover. Bush and the GOP got us into this mess with tax cuts for the rich and a war for oil. They have obstructed Democratic efforts to get us out of it. Just give us a few more Democrats in Congress and we can get the Second New Deal going. Show pics of FDR, the most famous Democratic president of the last century. People know in their hearts that Republicans bring recession and Dems bring back jobs.




And remember, always begin and end with a message of compassion and optimism and praise for the American worker.

PS Almost forgot. Howard Dean does this one real well. Maybe doctors understand what makes people tick.

[RandomThoughts]

1. Interestingly, someone posted a picture of a fire hose and Alabama with correlations.

What is the meaning of water again? Have to remove the filters.

On a side note, I don't hold anything against FDR for his stance on that issue, but also know that society was improved by many of his actions, then the civil rights movement after that period helped many move forward in many areas.

But still much work to do.

[placton]

2. well, the party has done its best to

seek corporate money with corporate politics - how's that working out for you? Miss the contributions from the fuckers, the whiners, the progressives?

[nevergiveup]

3. Don't vote, don't contribute, keep complaining, sit on your hands

and see how that works out for you.

[dotymed]

4. The GOP (corporate) media blitz

is very effective.
The corporations are are pooling their money, blaming the Dems and claiming to be "grassroots" organizations, using very convincing sounding names.
Most Americans believe that these sympathetic sounding, "concerned citizens" groups (Association for Citizens Over Sixty, etc..) are real. They think that they are real people who have done their homework and are spending their citizen contributed, meager finances to get the bad guys out of office.
Since there are no rules about disclosure or honesty, the majority of regular people do not even suspect that these front organizations are just covers for corporate money.
"Citizens United?"
Fascism Unlimited...

[BeFree]

5. That is the Truth

And if you are a dedicated customer of those corporations, you are a contributor.

The best we can do is demand the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Which would lead to a complete disclosure of the money changers.

It's time we turn the tables on them.

[McCamy Taylor]

6. Last poll 25% liked Tea Parties, 25% dislike and 50% no opinion.

That is far from Most Americans believe.

[McCamy Taylor]

7. Here is a sample ad.

Black and white footage of police turning firehoses on Black school children. Bonus points for a Walter Cronkite voice over (since CBS is not likely to release their footage would probably have to ask Cronkite nicely to do a new commentary) describing the scene for those too young to remember. See some sample footage here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9kT1yO4MGg

Now, switch to color footage of Tea Baggers at their worst, angry, yelling, sporting racist signs...and attacking a Black man for having a beard (which they claim makes him look like a terrorist)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbiS91Ayn6c


Now, calm music and a picture of FDR looking compassionate and wise. Voice over: "There should be no bitterness or hate where the sole thought is the welfare of the United States of America." (FDR) ( you can listen to the audio here)

http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3307

"(Insert name of local Tea Party candidate here) represents the Tea Party movement. But does the Tea Party movement represent you?"

This is no more over the top than the Daisy ad. The GOP would hate it, but who really cares what they say. They have made their bed with a bunch of racist SOB Tea Baggers and now they have to lie in it.

The historical and recent scenes of violence can be mixed and matched to fit the target demographic. For instance, if you are targetting seniors, find one of the snarky Tea Bag comments about sick people. If you are targetting Latinos, find some anti-immigrant violence. Bonus points if your local Tea Bagger candidate has had his own "Macaca" moment.

The trick is to make the ad so memorable that it will pop up on YouTube, the evening news---free campaign time for the party that is not rolling in corporate money.

[McCamy Taylor]

8. Another sample ad, less over the top.

If the local Republican is getting Bankster or Oil money---either officially of via a Super Pac, do an ad about how he/she is getting Bankster and/or Oil Money. More Oil in state hit hard by the Gulf Spill (i.e Florida). More Banksters in the state with high foreclosures. Been wondering why the Banksters have temporarily halted foreclosures? It is a feeble attempt to make their money seem less toxic to those who are rolling in it. Too little, too late. This is the first time in my memory that Wall Street has chosen to take sides in such an extreme way. Make the GOP pay for all those tainted dollars.

For instance, footage of rows of "foreclosed" homes. Voice over talks about profits of (insert name of nationally recognized and despised bank). Show picture of (insert name of local Tea Party Republican). Voice over describes how banks are giving "your money" to that candidate. "What do they expect in return?" MOre foreclosed homes.

[zenprole]

9. Earth to OP

This is the same thinking that lost the safest seat in the Senate. I happened to be in MA during the final week of the election and there was a blizzard of advertising for Coakley, from broadcast media to mailings and door-stuffings, to the incredibly annoying automated phone banks. Did it help her win the election or build a base?

On the other hand, how much local organizing could $100-$200 million accomplish? Or, let's really get outside the corporate casket and look at direct aid with that money: how about a string of those barnstorming medical/dental clinics like Remote Area Medical?

Do you think such things would demonstrate that the party is interested in the well-being of average people? And what sort of response might the John Galts muster? "We won't fix your teeth or check your blood pressure, but we'll give you a $25 tax break"?

Adding more advertising to an over-saturated media environment is like giving hungry people pictures of food. It's the late innings, y'all. Half-measures aren't going to cut it.