The Party of Details

[babylonsister]

Are Dems providing too much info?


The Party of Details
Posted September 24th, 2007 at 9:30 am


If the presidential race came down to which side of the aisle backs up its ideas with details, it would be a landslide.

The Democrats who are running for president are flush with policy proposals, position papers and fact sheets. The leading Republican contenders, not so much.

Rudy Giuliani has his “12 Commitments.” Mitt Romney has his “Strategy for a Stronger America.” John McCain still serves up his “straight talk.” But, whether by design or default, they leave far more to the imagination than do the Democrats in discussing the big issues.

For the Democrats, it is as if one candidate lays out a plan and others feel compelled to answer with their own. In contrast, the Republicans are more inclined to hold their fire.

“Democrats are trying to prove who’s the most committed,” said Steven Smith, a political scientist at Washington University in St. Louis. “Vagueness is seen as a sign of weakness.”

It’s almost embarrassing. Dems don’t just talk about issues important to them; they offer detailed policy proposals that flesh out how they’d tackle the issues if elected. The most high-profile policy is healthcare, but it also includes education, Gulf Coast recovery, and the environment. No can accuse these candidates of making pie-in-the-sky promises.

Republican candidates, in contrast, stick to vague generalities. They mention some of the issues important to them, repeat some poll-tested soundbites, and tell voters they can see the details after the election.

I think Dems clearly have the more admirable, respectable approach. I’m just not sure if it matters.

more...

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/12983.html#more-12983

[Sparkly]

1. True, and then we argue over who had the best semicolons in the right places...

Maybe Democrats just pay more attention and want the details. I also think the MSM will complain about Democrats who are "vague," as well as Democrats who provide "laundry lists" or are too "dry" and "wooden" and "intellectual," so go figure.

The GOP sells with feelings and images that evoke other emotions (especially fear, and calming the fear).

I think as Democrats, at least on DU, we tend to forget the role that Congress plays in legislation, and imagine that every little detail of this candidate's 'plan' vs. that candidate's 'plan' will make a difference, as though these 'plans' will be enacted exactly as they are. But they aren't so much plans as proposals, and Congress has to work it all out.

[OHdem10]

2. I agree with what you say. The GOP cannot detail their

ideas. If they did, the people would run for the "hills"
and the GOP would be gone forever.

EXAMPLE: When Bush first came on to the scene, he was
introducing himself, telling the people about his views.
He said somethings to assure people he was not a rabid
right winger without saying that. He said Government
can be used for good. (Believe it or not) SS is a
good programs, but can be reformed. On the surface
no one can attack him on this--in fact he sounds rather
moderate.

Note he never in any campaign fleshed out what he meant
by SS Reform.

We found out when tried to privatize it.

Conservative Republicans can never give the details.
Why our party never pushes the issue, I will never
know. The Media will not push for a description of
what they mean.

This is how they win plus they are real pieces of work
when it comes to creating Wedge Issues. Immigration
will be used aa a wedge this time. It brings out strong
emotions. Emotions force people to act. Action get
to polls and vote GOP.

On their policies they remain VAGUE. On Wedge Issus get
specific. This works for them. It would never work
work for Democrats.