Democrats: No Single Message Sums Us Up

[cal04]

Ask Democratic leaders to identify their party's election-year message and you get everything but consensus. Ahead in polls, Democrats are divided over whether they already have - or even need - a national theme that tells voters exactly where the party stands.

``One message? Hmmm. I don't know. Let me think about it,'' Alvaro Cifuentes said after a long pause. Several minutes later, the head of the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic Caucus said: ``You can't try to simplify your politics with a slogan. You can't.'' In more than a dozen interviews, Democrats who gathered here for the DNC's spring meeting rattled off lists of what they believe to be their party's message in 2006. Each had a different take.

Some said their party stands for affordable health care, lobbying reform, lower federal deficits. Others mentioned human rights, the well-being of families and the search for new energy sources. Still others cited education money, Medicare that works, a reliable Social Security program and world peace. Lots of issues. No single message.

``It's not that we don't stand for anything, it's that sometimes we stand for everything,'' said Barry Rubin, executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party. Rubin said the stand-for-everything approach invites GOP criticism. Hoping to make their election-year message clear to voters, Democrats leaders have launched a series of six policy statements. ``Honest Leadership & Open Government'' and ``Real Security'' came first, soon to be followed by positions on energy, the economy, health care and retirement.

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[porphyrian]

1. It's a concept lost on stupid binary thinkers.

Unfortunately, that's half of the people that vote.

[leftofthedial]

8. more like 85% of Americans

So the core Democratic principle is "We are too smart for all you stupid binary thinkers."

That sounds like a sure winner to me! :thumbsup:

[porphyrian]

9. That seems to be what binary thinkers believe.

Unfortunately, I contribute somewhat to that as I believe binary thinkers are stupid and I'm not restrained in expressing it. But, then, I'm not the one setting the core Democratic principle, or thinking there is only one.

[leftofthedial]

12. how about five

bullet points?

[Sinti]

2. How about that 10-word or less one I saw earlier.

"The Democratic Party: People are our only 'Special Interest.' "

Considering the current state of affairs, all the other fine points could fall under this rubric.

From here:
http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/4/14/25422/8445

[Bill McBlueState]

10. that's good

You could even build a platform around that.

We're pro-people, not pro-business
We're pro-people, not pro-fetus
We're pro-people, not pro-gun
We're pro-people, not pro-war
...

[Klukie]

3. KISS (keep it simple stupid)...

The repubs are so good at this (go figure), but when you have a bunch of smart free-thinking people trying to formulate a simple message it is chaos. It is thoughts run amok. We absolutely need a strong, simple and concise message.

[sam sarrha]

4. why show your cards to a bunch of Thieves before you play your hand.!!

you dont want them ho have too much time to put together a bunch of swift boat liars

and this time we need to sue the hell out of them when they lie, it will at least muzzle the Liars during the campaign

[Orlandodem]

5. From that list it looks like the Dems are the party of the

common man, civil liberties, and competent government. I'd add strong defense.

When Dems articulate that simple message they'll win.

[Klukie]

6. Agreed...

The Party of Common Sense!

[Geek_Girl]

7. We're such a big tent party

and it seems we are getting bigger. But I can't understand why we can't come up with a single one liner slogan that everyone under the sun the can get behind.

[LSK]

11. i think Contract with America came out very late in the season