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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy aren't we hearing this over, and over, and over?
The president promises to carry out the laws passed by Congress, whether they like them or not. If a president doesn't like a law, they work with congress to change it. It's a crime for a president or the people who work for him to single-handedly end a program Congress created. That's not how our government works.
Why aren't we hearing it said this simply?
Leave the erudite discussions of the balance of powers and how complicated the body of law that has evolved to deal with all sorts of grey areas has become for the experts. Within all that, the basic principles are sound and true.
I think perhaps the BIGGEST problem we have within the Democratic Party is a fear of making simple statements, either because we have in our heads a myriad of complicated exceptions or caveats and we lose track of the basic truth (or we fear there are little exceptions we don't know about).
Bottom line. Over and over, we lose people because we've lost sight of the forest for the trees.
We MUST stop making that mistake.
Looking for the right "message"? Just tell it simply. Assume no knowledge. Think about explaining to a 7 year old.
And if the message is challenged with "it's not that simple," great. Any exception they come up with always boils down to an attempt to deal with a grey area in a way that preserves the basic principle, so you've actually just been given the opportunity to bring it back to the basic principle.
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senseandsensibility
(22,068 posts)not able to comprehend how simply they must speak to the average voter. And they don't seem to be open to learning.
pat_k
(11,191 posts)Last edited Wed Mar 19, 2025, 05:49 PM - Edit history (1)
... with any constituents who actually meet with them being far from the average voter, they have a warped concept of what "average voter" means .. or they have a concept, and disdain it.
Bill Bradley used to walk the boardwalk at the shore when he was in town, talking to (and more important, listening to) all comers. (And with his height, you couldn't miss the guy.) I think he was better at communicatIng with voters because of that habit.
ms liberty
(10,204 posts)When he was in Congress (Last term) he was doing video updates on the regular. He's so popular that the GOP NC redrew his district.
pat_k
(11,191 posts)
DENVERPOPS
(12,169 posts)but keep repeating it over and over, just like the Repubs have mastered for decades. All in Unison......
Hitler's guy said: The secret of propaganda, is to keep saying it over and over, and even if it is a lie, it becomes Truth.....
pat_k
(11,191 posts)The "I already said that" excuse, as if one speech three weeks ago is sufficient.
I'm not sure what's drives so many electeds in our party to be so averse to repetition. Perhaps they think they have to "keep it interesting" -- I don't know. But failure to repeat, and repeat, and repeat is another problem we can't afford to tolerate.
live love laugh
(15,314 posts)pat_k
(11,191 posts)...it doesn't stop our Democratic electeds from speaking simply and clearly. They say they are crimes without explanation or go into whole system of government explanations. It makes me want to tear my hair out when I hear how ineffectively so many of them (not all) are talking about this.
unblock
(55,115 posts)The msm controls who gets on their shows and who gets asked back, and they do not see promoting strident liberal views as part of their mission.
They only allow aoc and Bernie on at times because they are useful foils/lightning rods that republicans can use in fund-raisers. The msm if happy with them as long as they can portray them as "extreme" and "socialist" and, in aoc's case, a minority woman.
pat_k
(11,191 posts)... these are crimes, but without the simple context of a President's promise to carry out the laws passed by Congress whether they like it or not. And that if they don't like a law, they work with Congress to change it.
Without that simple context, the assertion "It is crime for people in the executive branch to end the programs Congress passed on their own" is simply an accusation.
Even framing as having taken an oath to execute the law is not simple enough. Where did the law come from? Many people have no actual idea what "execute" means and aren't too clear about where laws come from.
You don't need a big civics lesson to make a simple, 100% true, and powerful, statement.
unblock
(55,115 posts)*anything* bad republicans do, they simply deny that it's illegal, immoral, bad, offensive, racist, whatever.
The media then says, aha, republicans and democrats disagree, so it's an "issue". Let's set up a panel to debate it and we'll "moderate" and refuse to take sides, no matter how insanely wrong the republicans are.
Fine, it would be nice to hear more conviction from democrats on msm, but until the msm is willing to say "you're right", it's really, really hard to make any headway.
Hell, the msm pretty much refuses to ever use the words "gaffe" and "trump" in the same sentence, ffs. We can't win playing on that tilted a field.
pat_k
(11,191 posts)Last edited Wed Mar 19, 2025, 10:51 PM - Edit history (1)
... bullshit that started with the insanity of "fair and balanced" both sides crap has destroyed actual journalism.
I'm not saying this is not an uphill battle, but there are many ways to get coverage and get louder on social media.
One thing that would go a LONG way would be a daily, short (no more than 15 to a max of 30 minutes) press conference on the Capitol steps. Every Single Day. Strive to make every moment a great "clip" for social media and news orgs.
The format can be very simple. A small group of members of the House and Senate. Different group each day. One makes a short, simple, clear statement that puts the nature of the crimes before the American people, hands the mic to a real constituent whose life has been upended by one of the crimes to tell their story in three minutes or less. Showcase two or three examples each day. Another member of the group follows up with a short "these are the consequences" statement that ties the crimes to the destruction of the economy. For example, "These are just two/three of the thousands of our constituents being deprived of their livelihood by the crimes (farmer who relied on X program, business owner who relied on Y program, one of thousands fired at a university because Z program was ended... there are sooo many examples to highlight) and pull in the inhumane (not necessarily criminal) cuts (pediatric brain researcher whose funding has been cut off, researcher whose mRNA research has been halted -- research that is on the brink of curing a high percentage of pancreatic cancers.... ).
General structure:
1. Congressional member statement:
In America, the president promises to carry out the laws passed by Congress, whether they like them or not. If a president doesn't like a law, they work with congress to change it. It's a crime for any American president, or the people who work for them, to single-handedly end a program Congress created. That's not how our government works. President Trump, Musk, and his cabinet officials are committing such crimes every day.
2. Showcase real consequences of programs ended (or inhumane cuts) to two or three real constituents in their own words (whittle to no more than four minutes each)
3. Congressional member statement tying the crimes and inhumane cuts to the destruction of the economy, and circles back to the opening message..
Every program created by congress they illegally end has consequences. They are putting hundreds of thousands out of work in industries that rely on those programs. They are destroying businesses that count on the programs -- programs the Americans losing their jobs and businesses were right to count on because in America, our presidents promise to carry out the laws passed by Congress, whether they like those laws or not.
4. A short concluding thought, such as:
For those who want the kind of instant changes we see in countries run by dictators here in America, be careful what you wish for. Instant change creates chaos that destroys an economy. The fact We the People created a government that makes changes in an orderly way protects us against the type of chaos that causes economies to collapse.
Keep 1 and 3 substantively the same each day, just deliver from different voices. 2 can vary in whatever way is most effective -- a small group with one spokesperson, people from different states, people from a single state or industry. Just make sure there are some real stories about the cruel consequences to real people. Human stories most effectively reach hearts and minds. As days go by, the parade of abused and damaged Americans adds up in the public mind. And with new people each day, the media will not ignore the event. You're handing them new people willing to be interviewed; people willing to tell their story. And the news media will seek them out and interview them. And they will follow up with the members who spoke that day, even if only to ask “You said the same things so and so said.” Another opportunity to repeat it. I said the same thing because it is very, very simple, In America, the president promises …(rinse and repeat). They can try to pick it apart, and elicit more detail. Fine. (e.g., Q: But isn’t it up to the courts? A: Ultimately, yes, but you don’t have to be a judge to understand how simple this is. Controversies – even the most obviously wrongheaded position – take time to make it through the courts. Our judicial system rightfully gives all parties a chance to make their case, however flimsy that case may be. The thing is, you don’t need a law degree to understand that there is no defense that that makes sense. They just hope they’ll get away with these crimes while the courts deliberate. It’s a smash and grab. We won’t let them get away with it. In America, the president promises (rinse and repeat). Americans understand this and they understand what is happening is more than wrong. It is dangerous. They are tanking the economy.)
The fact they are all saying the same simple thing would drive the mainstream media noise makers nuts as they try to get something new or pull off some gotcha. And that guarantees coverage. Frankly, the more they keep saying the same thing, the more attention that thing will get as they try to “get around” it.
unblock
(55,115 posts)You've laid out some great ideas. I'll add --
Focus on social media, where we can simultaneously run multiple strategies. For instance, we can make compelling lefty content that inspires and moves us to action without watering down the message to appeal to swing voters. Separately, we can have other channels that specifically target those independents.
Layered throughout, we need to include a lot of punches. Crisp slogans and constant attacks on don the felon, his yes men cronies, and the spineless republicans in congress. I'm very tired of Republican attacks going largely unanswered. We're no longer in a media era where calm, rational logic wins the day. We shouldn't abandon it, but we have to have an *emotionally* compelling media message every day.
pat_k
(11,191 posts)In some ways, it's not so much coming up with the perfect strategy but simply getting out there and DOING SOMETHING. You learn what does and does not work by engaging.
Simon Rosenberg had a take on the CR non-showdown that I think was spot on:
II think the entire post is a must read -- he points out a number of positive signs (like members of the House and AGs stepping up) and provides some "marching orders" for the folks out here.
https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/old-dogs-and-new-tricks-a-letter
Our Democratic electeds are a long way away from being the "fighting force" we need, but I am encouraged to hear more of them are out there trying new things. I think it is sinking in that they must recreate themselves. They are figuring out that their skills as "legislators" or "administrators" are fine, but those are not the skills or capacities we need from them in the current crisis. What we need are information warriors. As Simon points out, serious investment in revamping and expanding Senate and House comms operations -- particularly the Senate -- is way overdue. I hold out hope they will get on the stick because if they don't ... too awful to think about. All we can do is keep pushing them to start acting with the level of urgency and ferocity the 47 crisis demands.
It is not all doom and gloom on the social media front either. There are signs the reach of sane voices is growing. For example, the news that the MeidasTouch podcast has left Joe Rogan in the dust. I don't know if that is driven by our success in getting louder or growing anger at 47 bringing in viewers, but whichever it is, it is good to hear.
live love laugh
(15,314 posts)Last edited Thu Mar 20, 2025, 02:10 AM - Edit history (1)
They constantly throw crap out there (Vance’s most recent “cat lady“ insult comes to mind along with all the imagery associated with the phrase.)
As an observer of media — especially broadcast and social media — editing and view suppression are tactics used to dilute messaging. Ive seen our politicians give great speeches and reporters focus on I’ve seen some of the most popular social media influencers be “shadow banned” … which is the practice of changing the algorithms so that many who would naturally see certain influencers posts do not see them and their view counts go down dramatically. Also, I think of President Biden’s too few media appearances — some stations didn’t show him speaking yet we see Trump almost daily now and before Biden.
I believe that concise succinct messaging will go a long way to help our communications, but people must recognize that there will still be obstacles preventing messaging from reaching the intended audience.
The dems need to begin any public facing conversation, whether on msm, at rallies, their own videos aimed at updates to their constituents with this simple statement of facts.
Unfortunately too many people aren't aware of the way things are supposed to work according to the constitution. Instead they believe all this noise and protesting is a difference of opinion between the parties instead of an administration acting illegally .
pat_k
(11,191 posts)I sort of brainstormed how a daily conference on the capital steps could go in a post above. I think I may be onto something.
The format can be very simple. A small group of members of the House and Senate. Different group each day. One makes a short, simple, clear statement that puts the nature of the crimes before the American people, hands the mic to a real constituent whose life has been upended by one of the crimes to tell their story in three minutes or less. Showcase two or three examples each day. Another member of the group follows up with a short "these are the consequences" statement that ties the crimes to the destruction of the economy. For example, "These are just two/three of the thousands of our constituents being deprived of their livelihood by the crimes (farmer who relied on X program, business owner who relied on Y program, one of thousands fired at a university because Z program was ended... there are sooo many examples to highlight) and pull in the inhumane (not necessarily criminal) cuts (pediatric brain researcher whose funding has been cut off, researcher whose mRNA research has been halted -- research that is on the brink of curing a high percentage of pancreatic cancers.... ).
General structure:
1. Congressional member statement:
In America, the president promises to carry out the laws passed by Congress, whether they like them or not. If a president doesn't like a law, they work with congress to change it. It's a crime for any American president, or the people who work for them, to single-handedly end a program Congress created. That's not how our government works. President Trump, Musk, and his cabinet officials are committing such crimes every day.
2. Showcase real consequences of programs ended (or inhumane cuts) to two or three real constituents in their own words (whittle to no more than four minutes each)
3. Congressional member statement tying the crimes and inhumane cuts to the destruction of the economy, and circles back to the opening message..
Every program created by congress they illegally end has consequences. They are putting hundreds of thousands out of work in industries that rely on those programs. They are destroying businesses that count on the programs -- programs the Americans losing their jobs and businesses were right to count on because in America, our presidents promise to carry out the laws passed by Congress, whether they like those laws or not.
4. A short concluding thought, such as:
For those who want the kind of instant changes we see in countries run by dictators here in America, be careful what you wish for. Instant change creates chaos that destroys an economy. The fact We the People created a government that makes changes in an orderly way protects us against the type of chaos that causes economies to collapse.
Keep 1 and 3 substantively the same each day, just deliver from different voices. 2 can vary in whatever way is most effective -- a small group with one spokesperson, people from different states, people from a single state or industry. Just make sure there are some real stories about the cruel consequences to real people. Human stories most effectively reach hearts and minds. As days go by, the parade of abused and damaged Americans adds up in the public mind. And with new people each day, the media will not ignore the event. You're handing them new people willing to be interviewed; people willing to tell their story. And the news media will seek them out and interview them. And they will follow up with the members who spoke that day, even if only to ask “You said the same things so and so said.” Another opportunity to repeat it. I said the same thing because it is very, very simple, In America, the president promises …(rinse and repeat). They can try to pick it apart, and elicit more detail. Fine. (e.g., Q: But isn’t it up to the courts? A: Ultimately, yes, but you don’t have to be a judge to understand how simple this is. Controversies – even the most obviously wrongheaded position – take time to make it through the courts. Our judicial system rightfully gives all parties a chance to make their case, however flimsy that case may be. The thing is, you don’t need a law degree to understand that there is no defense that that makes sense. They just hope they’ll get away with these crimes while the courts deliberate. It’s a smash and grab. We won’t let them get away with it. In America, the president promises (rinse and repeat). Americans understand this and they understand what is happening is more than wrong. It is dangerous. They are tanking the economy.)
The fact they are all saying the same simple thing would drive the mainstream media noise makers nuts as they try to get something new or pull off some gotcha. And that guarantees coverage. Frankly, the more they keep saying the same thing, the more attention that thing will get as they try to “get around” it.
ReadItnWeep
(63 posts)I really like your idea! It's well thought out and hits all the main points that should keep it fresh, informative, but most importantly something that ought to get media coverage!
I think it's also important to have it mostly focused on the facts. If there are too many rips on the "insanity, immorality, greediness and idiocy" (even though all that applies) then it will all come across as opinion. And I am talking about no insults just for this daily briefing. Jasmine Crockett and Raskin and AOC and the rest should absolutely keep doing what they're doing everywhere and every day!
One more thing that they can say each and every time is something along the lines of: Republicans hold the majority in both houses right now. There is no reason for the laws to be broken, as Musk and Trump are doing. We welcome the house to come and do the work the way it's been done for the last 200 years, legally. It *is* time to reevaluate these various agencies to make sure that the programs still reflect what's most important to today's people. We have no objection to working on this together, thoughtfully and lawfully. So that the changes do not harm this country and its citizens unnecessarily, or worse irreversibly.
I know there's not a whole lot of things the dems can do, but I wish they'd be a little smarter and do something like this!
pat_k
(11,191 posts)I tried to think of various things that could go in 4. Your suggestion is perfect.
Now we just have to figure out how to get the notions to the right ears!
It's probably futile, but I may take a flyer at writing up and sending to Sen. Booker, in his role as Chair of Strategic Communications Committee (and maybe cc. Schumer) and Rep. Debbie Dingell in her role as chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (maybe cc Jeffries)
pat_k
(11,191 posts)... my top lobbying priority these days. If you are up for it, perhaps make calls or write to lobby for this:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220146722
DENVERPOPS
(12,169 posts)it is estimated that 95+% of ALL Media is owned/operated by Uber Rich Republicans or Republican Corporations.......
Just look at the current hopeful Robber Barrons at WaPo, LA Times, etc and how they have ALL recently knelt at Mar-a-lago to Trump and kissed his golden ring, and given substantial Million dollar gifts to him directly..........
Krazy_Kat
(32 posts)Bumper sticker slogans!
DENVERPOPS
(12,169 posts)all the bumper stickers she put on her new car.........MAGAots vandalize stickered cars, esp "keying" them as they walk by so no one notices them doing it.........
She had stickers on her fairly new Volvo, and it was vandalized so much, the insurance company just totaled it........it looked like it had been in a demolition derby........
pat_k
(11,191 posts)How horrible. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Sanity Claws
(22,186 posts)found liable for various civil violations, and had to settle civil charges for millions of dollars.
His whole life shows a refusal to follow the law.
pat_k
(11,191 posts)Last edited Wed Mar 19, 2025, 07:12 PM - Edit history (3)
... have generally concluded they don't care about those crimes. Yes, it needs to be said, but putting front and center, and connecting to the simple explanation of why it is a crime for a president or the people who work for them to single-handedly end programs passed by Congress is more likely to get lumped in as "oh, they are just accusing him of more crimes that don't mean shit to me and my life."
I believe the more effective thing to directly connect to a simple statement like "The president promises to carry out the laws passed by Congress, whether they like them or not. If a president doesn't like a law, they work with congress to change it. It's a crime forl a president or the people who work for them to single-handedly end a program created by Congress. That's not how our government works." are the consequences. Specifically:
These crimes are destroying the economy. They are putting people out of work by the hundreds of thousands: They
1) Have directly fired tens of thousands of civil service workers and have told us they plan to fire at least 500,000 more.
2) As they Illegally end programs created by laws passed by our Congress, they are putting hundreds of thousands out of work in industries that receive grants or in businesses that count on the programs they are illegally ending -- programs the Americans losing their jobs were right to count on because in America, our presidents promise to carry out the laws passed by Congress, whether they like those laws or not.
For those who want the instant changes seen n countries run by dictators in America, be careful what you wish for. Instant change creates chaos that destroys an economy. The fact that our system is designed to make changes in an orderly way protects us against the type of chaos that causes economies to collapse.
ancianita
(40,444 posts)One MSNBC show a night?
DENVERPOPS
(12,169 posts)that MSNBC has Rachel, Lawrence, and a few others, is that those programs make the owner so damn much money. And we all know, if there is one thing more important to a Republican than the Republican Party......it is money.
The rest of the 20 hour day at MSNBC it is Republican, or Republican Leaning propaganda.....
pat_k
(11,191 posts)media ecosystem.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220155731#post25
Demovictory9
(35,747 posts)
msongs
(71,236 posts)when you're delivering information. why take a half hour to say 5 minutes worth of words
FWIW, I brainstormed a bit on what an effective daily press conference on the capital steps might look like in this post:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220155731#post26
NJCher
(40,053 posts)I mentioned to image search "division power Constitution U.S."
That's pretty simple.
And not just once, either. Over and over and over.
pat_k
(11,191 posts)... somehow "technical" -- connected to concepts that ordinary Americans have come to view as too complicated.
The sort of simple and clear statements I believe are most effective are more like little stories than statements of abstract principle.
The president promises to carry out the laws passed by Congress, whether they like them or not. If a president doesn't like a law, they work with congress to change it. It's a crime for a any American president, or the people who work for them, to end the programs Congress created on their own. That's not how our government works.
Of course, the basic principles stated as narrative is the place you start. And you start there over and over, and over. Start there and then tie it to how those crimes are destroying the economy, and in the process bring it full circle to the original story.
These crimes are destroying the economy. They are putting people out of work by the hundreds of thousands: They
1) Have directly fired tens of thousands of civil service workers and have told us they plan to fire at least 500,000 more.
2) As they Illegally end programs created by laws passed by our Congress, they are putting hundreds of thousands out of work in industries that receive grants or in businesses that count on the programs they are illegally ending -- programs the Americans losing their jobs were right to count on because in America, our presidents promise to carry out the laws passed by Congress, whether they like those laws or not.
For those who want the instant changes we see in countries run by dictators here in America, be careful what you wish for. Instant change creates chaos that destroys an economy. The fact We the People created a government that makes changes in an orderly way protects us against the type of chaos that causes economies to collapse.