Carville & Greenberg: Obama will lose unless he shifts narrative

[WI_DEM]

James Carville and Stan Greenberg sound the alarm in a new Democracy Corps memo:

"What is clear from this fresh look at public consciousness on the economy is how difficult this period has been for both non-college-educated and college-educated voters - and how vulnerable the prevailing narratives articulated by national Democratic leaders are.[1] We will face an impossible headwind in November if we do not move to a new narrative, one that contextualizes the recovery but, more importantly, focuses on what we will do to make a better future for the middle class."

"It is elites who are creating a conventional wisdom that an incumbent president must run on his economic performance - and therefore must convince voters that things are moving in the right direction. They are wrong, and that will fail."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/06/12/obama_will_lose_unless_he_shifts_the_narrative.html

[phantom power]

1. The Dems need to assign blame for the economy, and do it first.

The GOP is supremely good ad blaming Dems and Liberals for pretty much anything that's convenient. If we let them get ahead of us on this it will hurt our campaign, as it often does.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002799488

[Iggy]

8. Correct, But

terminal finger pointing does not motivate voters.

Having a _plan_ to improve the economy/achieve job growth is what the voters want.
Democrats in congress aren't doing this.

Democrats' excuse, "the eveel GOP is blocking us" isn't getting traction with the
voters. that's one reason job approval rating for congress is a pathetic 10%.

[BlueCaliDem]

2. I'm really getting sick and tired of seeing the words "Obama" and "lose" in a single sentence

because that's subliminal messaging geared to influence the electorate's thinking.

Just try to recall when was the last time any Republican has ever espoused "Romney will lose!" anywhere prominently?? They dare not even air Ann Coulter saying, on video, that {paraphrasing} "if we don't get Chris Christie, Romney will be the nom, and we will lose".

Those Dems really, really need to stop with the effing subliminal messaging. I know they always make the most profit under a Republican WH (benefiting off the anger of Progressives, Democrats, and Liberals), but that's no excuse to sell out your own, self-identified, political party!

Positive, uplifting messaging works FAR better. Look how well it works for the Republicans and they have NO reason to be positive about their candidates because their policies are CRAP. We need to do the same as they do because pessimism is self-defeating and it's not a successful marketing tool.

[tularetom]

3. I'm skeptical of anybody who demonizes "elites" without naming them

It usually means liberal elites. Or Hollywood elites.

Sounds like bullshit straight from the teabaggers.

[still_one]

4. From the Bill Clinton administration that destroyed what it meant to be a

Democrat

[DonCoquixote]

5. You know

It's funny how Bill Clinton not help Kerry when he got swift boated
and how Bill still undermines Obama, despite putting his wife in power,

Bubba really, really wants that third term in office, the one where if Hillary does not play a good sock puppet, bad stuff happens.

[Larkspur]

6. I guess they don't read Nate Sliver's blog..

Nate gives Obama a 60% chance of winning reelection in November.

[Iggy]

7. Here's One Reason Why I

feel comfortable _ignoring_ Carville:

http://www.amazon.com/40-More-Years-Democrats-Generation/dp/1416569898

Carville, like his frightening wife, are part of the talking bobblehead industry. what a
gig; stand around talking partisan BS all the time.

"40 year Democratic dynasty"; sure, Jim. dems will be lucky to hold on to the senate.

[boxman15]

9. I agree to a certain extent.

If the narrative stays as is and nothing changes, Obama would be in a position to lose. He needs to shift the blame for lingering economic woes and partisan gridlock in Congress onto the Republican Party, where it belongs.

More than that, Obama needs to make absolutely clear to the American people what he wants to do to put us back on track and let everyone know what he has done to do that so far. He needs to contrast this with the GOP's "Just Say No" strategy. If he can't do that, Romney has a very good chance to beat him. And holding press conferences at 2 in the afternoon on a weekday is not the way to get that message out.

That being said, it's still very early. Joe Six-Pack is still not paying attention to politics. They have about another 3-3.5 months to craft the message and narrative that will put them in a good spot to win, and I'm confident they'll do so. Obama's political team is very smart. They know what they're doing, but they need to act.

[JoePhilly]

10. Mary "Cheney" Matlin told James to say this so that James can get some TV time.

The two of them don't give a rats ass about anything other than getting paid to say something, anything.