For once, will the Democrats nip this crap in the bud?

[xray s]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191885,00.html

GOP Campaign to Focus on Flag Burning, Gay Marriage, Abortion
Saturday, April 15, 2006

WASHINGTON — Protection of marriage amendment? Check. Anti-flag burning legislation? Check. New abortion limits? Check.

Between now and the November elections, Republicans are penciling in plans to take action on social issues important to religious conservatives, the foundation of the GOP base, as they defend their congressional majority.

Here we go again. The Republicans are ALREADY in full campaign mode, running ads that lie about the Democrats, swift boating Generals that have the nerve to criticize the Bush catastrophe in Iraq and teeing up their old standbys; flag burning, abortion and hatred of gays.

Democrats, faced with this same scenario in the last three election cycles have ignored the Republican tactics and taken the "high road". You know, the one that leads you over a cliff.

This year we HAVE to hit back hard, and EARLY. Are Democrats running ads on Spanish stations exposing Republican lies? (last time I checked, DU does not have a Spanish edition to get the truth out).

How about hitting these creeps head on, on their "big three". Gays, abortion and flag burning. Try this; Run ads on the radio that say;

"Gas is $3.00 a gallon, we are in an endless war that our generals think is INSANE and being run by FOOLS, private health insurance is a wasteful and crappy to boot...and the Republicans want to talk about flag burning, anti-gay rights and totally banning abortion, even when a woman is raped or a victim of incest. REPUBLICANS THINK WE ARE FOOLS! Kick the bastards out in '06!!!!" (end with Bush's "fool me once" sound bite)

Now, my ad may need a little refinement, but you get the idea.

And its gratis, Mr Shrum.

(p.s., I really think the Democratic campaign "experts" really miss the boat when it comes to getting the message out on the radio. We need to stop crying about right wing radio and get our ads on mainstream stations (rock, easy listening, news, sports) Radio is cheap in rural areas and has great coverage. We need to get the message out constantly, not just a few weeks before the election. Air America is great, but lets face it, most people are not political junkies that want to hear politics 24/7. Why don't we take advantage of radio advertising? Maybe its because radio spots cost a fraction to produce than TV ads, which means someone makes less money making them, which means...you get my drift. And NO. I do not work in the radio business! :))

[AX10]

1. K/R

[Greyhound]

2. Doesn't look like it so far. There may still be time. n/t

[xray s]

4. tick...tick...tick...tick...

always running out the clock. I'm tired of this game plan.

[Mz Pip]

3. When was the last time we had

a rash of flag burning in the US? Seems like a big waste of tax dollars (and the GOP is always so concerned about tax dollars) to spend time working on an amendment for for something that rarely happens.

It's not like it's some question of national security. How about using the money to pay for more port security?

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Capn Sunshine]

5. That was GREAT!

All we need to do is pick the voice over.

I say Martin Sheen.

[xray s]

8. Not Sheen

The guy who played President Palmer from 24 is the new voice of authority

[babylonsister]

6. They repigs are picking 'soft'/wedge issues because

they have absolutely no credibility with anything else, and no ideas on how to fix what's broken.
I agree, this unholy war and its cost in terms of lives and money needs to be front and center, followed by the price of gas and health insurance, both issues which are hitting everyone in their pocketbooks.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Everyone should be mad as hell, and shouting it from their windows!!!

:mad: :spank: :grr: :nuke: :banghead:

[PetraPooh]

15. We average citizens don't have the money to contribute to make

our voices heard. If it hasn't been clear before it has been in the past three years. Shouting from anywhere except our pocket books won't matter. I'm not a big corporation, I'm not the protected rich, I can't line anyone's pockets. The push for money for the one candidate on here, Feingold wasn't it, proves that. After a week, a measly $3000+. I can't contribute, I've been unemployed too long. Hey I can't even be a paying member here yet. In these United States, money talks, and the Repubs support those organizations that trash the Dems and any nay-sayer with big bucks.

[Ignacio Upton]

9. We need to define them first

Jack Abramoff, check. Social Security privatization, check. Reckless action in Iraq, check. Reckless action in Iran, check. Katrina response from FEMA, check. Cutting sutdent loans while giving Paris Hilton a tax cut, check. Letting the AMT slide, check.

We also need use wedge issues against them. Talk about how restrictive the South Dakota law is, and talk about how the RW wants to reach into your private life (think of Terri Schiavo, but thread lightly on discussing her situation, because the GOP will, ironically in taking advantage of the public's short-term memory, accuse us of exploiting her situation!) Use things like a minimum wage increase at the ballot, and universal kindergarten as iniatives to divide the GOP. Also, on immigration, pit the Xenophobes against the Corporatists.

[xray s]

10. yes we do

and we cant wait until the second week of October to do it

[Ignacio Upton]

12. As long as we have the current clique of DC Democrats

we're might as well call the elections for the Republicans. DU and Daily Kos could manage these campaigns better than Bob Shrum or Donna Brazile.

[brazil]

11. No more distractions

I like your idea - any time the Republicans try to use a fringe issue to distract people from the real issues, change the topic back to gas, war, healthcare, and let's not forget the open class warfare that they've been engaging in over the last six years. Time to hit 'em back on that front, too.

It's the super-rich vs the remaining 98%-99% of the population... why are the super-rich winning?

[Robbien]

13. Forget the DNC, even DU can't seem to nip it.

Have you taken a look at how many theocratic threads are being started in DU recently?

[LiberalPartisan]

14. If they ever pass an amendment banning flag burning

I will be one of the first to torch Olde Glory in full public view - hopefully in front of some Federal building.

[NI4NI]

16. What gives more bang for the buck?

A television ad on selected stations that some people may or may not see repeatedly? Or. billboard images and messages alongside well traveled highways that many more will see on a daily basis? In 2004, a Democratic campaign worker told me that billboards were too costly, but not by how much?

[Telly Savalas]

19. But how substantive a message can one put on a billboard?

It's not really practical to put more than a single sentence on a sign that people will read while buzzing by at 70 MPH. I know that TV ads are typically pretty shallow, but there's still the potential to convey much more of a message.

I have zero experience in advertising, but my guess is that distributing pamphlets is the most cost-effective means of spreading a political message.

[smoochpooch]

17. We do need to challenge them,

I doubt the "values" conservative base they are targeting with these issues would vote for a Democrat. As for moderates and undecideds, we must assume they will fall for these wedge issues again unless we point out the real issues and the fact that the Repub. don't want to talk about them. We can shame Republicans with their own record. Flag burning and gay marriage won't get you health care, make you safer, or balance the budget- I'd love to see them try to prove it can.

[populistdriven]

18. Attn: DNC - I am holding my check until I can fund this ad campaign

[hvn_nbr_2]

20. Ah, but "We can do better" is so much more soothing and soporific than...

talking about real things like $3 gas, insane fools starting and running wars, and wacko priorities. Talking about real things will offend somebody somewhere, probably someone that wouldn't vote Democratic if Beelzebub was the Republican.