"...Democrats have a nasty habit about a commitment to reality and truth..."

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026920.php

PLAYING POLITICAL HARDBALL.... NBC News' First Read had an interesting item yesterday, which generated some good discussion. If you missed it, the piece noted that Democrats "don't play political hardball as well as Republicans do." We knew that, of course, but the site pointed to an example from this week.

After House Democrats pushed Republicans into voting against middle-class tax cuts, First Read noticed that it had only seen a few press releases from the outgoing majority. "If the shoe had been on the other foot, however, Republicans would have mercilessly pounded Democrats for weeks -- if not months." Similarly, the GOP was "relentless" when it came to hyping Rep. Charlie Rangel's (D-N.Y.) ethics allegations, but Dems largely ignored Sen. John Ensign's (R-Nev.) corruption/sex criminal scandal. "Republicans just play the political message game better than Democrats do," NBC News concluded.

Entire books can be written on why this is, and how it came to be, but Jamelle Bouie had an item yesterday that rang true.

The bigger issue, I think, is that Republicans have an astounding level of ideological unity and a keen understanding of the political dynamics at work. Most Republicans agree on the big things -- tax cuts are always good, regulation is always bad, and the more belligerent the better -- and those that don't are still able to see the utility in being a team player; if Democrats lose, the party wins, and the potential naysayers gain (or at least, avoid losing, in the form of a primary challenge or poor committee assignment).

By contrast, Democrats don't have the luxury of ideological cohesion, at least not at the level the GOP enjoys. Any attempt to play hardball -- especially from the left -- is met with skepticism and opposition from members who are too liberal for their districts (and want to stay safe) or who have a reputation for "moderation" that they want to uphold (even if it's preening and vacuous). As hard as it is to find Democratic convergence on policy, it might be harder to find convergence on strategy, which is why Democrats scatter when confronted with GOP unity.

I agree with all of this, but I'd add a couple of related thoughts.

One is that the political media is wired to accept Republican arguments in a way that's awfully tough to shake. First Read's point is entirely fair, but even if Dems had flooded reporters with press releases, or screamed bloody murder about John Ensign, there's a reasonable assumption that the political establishment wouldn't have cared anyway.

The other is that Democrats have a nasty habit about a commitment to reality and truth, while their Republican counterparts have no such burden. First Read is right that Republicans "play the political message game" better than Democrats do, but this omits a relevant detail: the GOP doesn't mind blatantly, shamelessly lying.

As E.J. Dionne noted several years ago, "A very intelligent political reporter I know said the other night that Republicans simply run better campaigns than Democrats. If I were given a free pass to stretch the truth to the breaking point, I could run a pretty good campaign, too."

—Steve Benen

[stray cat]

1. Only compared to hard core radical republicans - ie mostly better than rush limbaugh

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. Isn't it about time the DNC hired a public relations company to help them

after all whatever they have now is not working.

[babylonsister]

3. I actually think that's a great idea; they're not getting it done by

themselves.

[OHdem10]

4. There is one underlying factor that we must not ignore, even if

we cannot do one darn thing about it.

The Media see the Democratic Party as Wimps unable
to truly unify and show they believe in one principle
on anything. Fairly or unfairly, this leaves the
impression they cannot really govern.

Some glaring examples: How many Democrats voted against
stimulus voted against HCR the list goes on.

There are those who excuse such acts by saying they
are from a certain state or district. Then we are
saying some Democrats believe like Republicans and
some Democrats believe like Democrats. Still no
unity.

Up on the Hill right now, how many Democratic Senators
are ready to vote Tax cuts for the rich with no need
for compromise--about 20????

For good or ill, no Democrat seems to believe Social
Justice is worth fighting as hard as Republicans
believe they must fight for tax cuts for the rich.

Yes, Virginia, we are a Moderate Republican Party.
The Media treats us likewise. Moderate Republicans
have been purged from the Republican Party. Whew eee

[okieinpain]

5. well can i say that what happens on du would never happen on

FR.