Democrats and the Social Security Messaging Fail

[Pharaoh]

It should come as a shock to no one that Democrats have failed miserably in developing a coherent message on Social Security. That’s the way they operate. And having no short, powerful message to sell, they’re obviously in no position to play the game Republicans have mastered over the past decade: repeating the message over and over and over again.

But just as right-wingers seem incapable of complex and nuanced thought, progressives seem incapable of simplicity and repetition. That’s a pity since the audience Democrats need to reach will only listen to simplicity and will only respond to repetition.

Take for example the Republican charge that Social Security is bankrupt, is bleeding the Treasury dry, and is largely to blame for a ballooning federal deficit. That’s all bunk, but it fits on a bumper sticker, and Republicans are disciplined enough to repeat it like a mega-church mantra.

http://beeryblog.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/dems-must-get-social-security-messaging-right/

[DJ13]

1. Its not that their message fails, its that theres no need for the message in the 1st place

If the WH were honest they wouldnt be talking about SS in relation to the deficit, as SS isnt a budgetary expense, and contributes NOTHING to the deficit.

[jaysunb]

3. That's all very true, but,

when you have to overcome the meme that's been set by the Republicans and their handmaidens in what passes as the MSM, you're already starting the race 50 yards behind.

It also doesn't help when your base follows that same meme instead of acting like the smart people they're supposed to be. :shrug:

[BeFree]

4. To be clear

The money owed the SS fund is part of the deficit. It is not a yearly debt, but it is a long term debt. That debt amounts to 2 trillion +, and if it had to be paid today, it would become a debt in this year's debt balance.

No general funds are needed to pay the SS benefits.

However, if SS needed the funds to cover outlays, more debt would have to be created to raise the funds.

I think Pelosi is speaking the message: SS is off the table.
Obama has it on the table to make the pubbies come to the table.

[KittyWampus]

5. I haven't heard anyone at the White House talking about SS in relation to the deficit.

Except where it had to respond to OTHERS mentioning it.

[ShockediSay]

2. Democrats fail in messaging period.

That's why we lost the last election to a bunch of big corporate money funded ads and that's why we continue our slide toward fascism

Right Wing
Super Wealthy Funded
Corporation
Controlled
Media
Propaganda Pumping
w/ Scapegoating
&Union Busting
=Classic Fascist Regimes of the 20th Century

Maybe the best we can do to fight the Tea Potty Movement is
to form an anti fascist party

[tekisui]

6. Very true. They consistently give up the message.

[kath]

7. yep -messenging fails keep happening over and over and over and over and over and over and over and

over and over and over.

Could the party be any more lame???

[dhill926]

9. sadly........true

and why is that? It's not rocket science. Simplify, and repeat, repeat, repeat.

[Edweird]

8. RW policy is a loser no matter how much "messaging" (lipstick) it gets. Stop advocating RW policy

and the problems will go away.

[woo me with science]

10. That is because their chosen "message" will be detested by the public and their base.

Hence all the doublespeak and trial balloons...

[Palmer Eldritch]

11. the message is that no cuts will be made to SS. Clear enough for you?

[awoke_in_2003]

12. 2010 social security income...

781.1 billion, expenditures were 712.5- doesn't sound like it is SS that is bleeding the economy.

on edit: just wanted to post a pic of what is really bleeding this economy: