If the Obama team doesn't improve its message marketing, we will have a Republican president!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

I am totally convinced that if the Obama administration and the Democratic Party in general fail to better market their message, we will undoubtedly have a Republican president in 2011.

The Democrats and the president failed to sell their accomplishments to the American people. One of the major reasons why they lost the House--the unemployment rate notwithstanding--is that they allowed the Republicans to push a false narrative.

Now we see another major push by the Republicans to go after repealing the health care reform law. Because the mandate is unpopular across the board, the narrative is that the American people don't like the reform package *in general*.

We know that it's not true. We know that poll after poll, survey after survey, demonstrate that many Americans agree with specific elements of the reform package. The mandate is probably the most unpopular aspect of the package. But as Americans learn more about what's in the reform bill, support goes up.

We also know that Americans wanted the bill to go much further than it did. The public option polled incredibly well. The White House and the Senate squandered a great opportunity to take advantage of that, caving in to the Republican narrative and going along with Corporate America.

All that caving didn't help the Blue Dogs. They lost anyway, so what's the point?

The Democrats need to sell all the good stuff that they've done for the American people--from tax cuts in the stimulus bill to going after credit card companies to student loan reform.

If they cannot sell these and other major accomplishments, and the American people are duped into buying Republican talking points, then it's over. We already have to deal with a corporate media that refuses to hold the Republicans accountable for their lies.

We need better messaging, period!

[obxhead]

1. For many the problem is not in the messaging, but in the

actual deeds.

"caving in to the Republican narrative and going along with Corporate America." ... This is the real problem.

[emilyg]

11. Right on.

[anamandujano]

2. Can anyone explain what the difference would be?

Seriously.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. Don't understand what you mean.

[frazzled]

3. Oh my god, oh my god!

If the president doesn't take your advice he's doomed!

That is all. I can now return to reality.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. Funny, it wasn't meant as "advice," just musing.

Some of you take life too seriously. This is a forum. Is musing or ranting not allowed?

[LeftinOH]

6. The Democratic party is pretty reliable in its (our) failure to 'get the message out'

...no matter what the message is. I blame it on a culture of "insider" politicos who are only accustomed to delivering the message from the stage, but never considering how the audience receives it (figuratively speaking). Tim Kaine, anyone?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. You're right. It's been a problem for the Democrats for many, many years.

Republicans are masterful at politiking; they suck at governing. The Democrats are brilliant when it comes to governing. They suck at politics. Nothing new here. Republicans have been successful since Nixon's Southern Strategy. They know how to play on people's fears and hatred. Their message is full of that.

[LuvNewcastle]

8. The reason we didn't get a public option is

because the health insurance companies bought the politicians. We're not going to be able to get anything meaningful accomplished until something is done about the influence of corporate money on politics.

[whattheidonot]

9. correct.

that goes for the banks too. that is the big one. That was the big one. Obama is done. The economy is finished for now. Something that they call radical has to occur. These current policies to do not allow for an economy so therefore no economy. Obama has turned out to be a fake.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. True dat! But that is just one example of many issues that Democrats

frankly didn't move on in terms of giving reliable information to the public. They just ran away and allowed the Republicans to write and deliver the narrative of a "government takeover."

They succeeded not only when it came to the health care debate. They also succeeded in terms of the auto industry loan. Even after the auto industry recovered, the Democrats weren't out there bragging about what they had done.

And had they ran on the fact that the Bush tax cuts were expiring and Republicans wanted them extended, I am convinced that the Democrats would not have lost as many seats as they did. They ran away from a winning issue that could have saved their jobs.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Unfortunately, Obama's message IS Marketing.

Which in itself is a flop as he tries to transform failures into victories by saying they are.

[WiffenPoof]

12. Excellent Post...

I have been saying this for quite sometime. Framing and controlling the message is Politics 101. Why this administration is such a complete failure in this regard is beyond me. Perception is reality...unfortunately. Every politician knows that you must command the message from day one. Among the many failures of this administration, I place the loss of effective communication near the top.

*sigh*

-PLA

[Better Believe It]

15. The main problem is not ineffective even if false government propaganda.

It's the economy!

[jtown1123]

13. The payroll tax cut was not good. The health care bill did not make health care accessible or

affordable and the mandate is a load of garbage. I do not think we should be forced to buy a shitty product that we cannot afford. Most will just take the $1000 fine or w/e it is. The President had an opportunity to make some bold moves concerning financial regulation, health care reform and stimulus and everything was watered down beyond recognition. Going back to the point of messaging, yes, Democrats suck at it because Republicans lie and Dems never EVER call them out on it. So, Dems are always in the defensive, never offensive, which is a shitty place to be concerning talking points and sound bites.