Yeah, it's from the DLC. But you can find wisdom in the silliest places.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

For your consideration:

http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=131&subid=192&contentid=253002

Which does not mean I am ready to buy a DLC membership card.

Debate. Do not deride.

[ulysses]

1. here's the problem with the "values" thing -

It's in the wording. The right wing has successfully framed the debate in their favor, chosen the field of battle to their own advantage.

If, as the DLC has long argued, the test for Democrats is to convince voters that they will defend their country, share their values, and champion their economic interests, it's pretty clear Democrats continue to come up short on the first two tests even as they pass the third with flying colors.

We're getting creamed on the values debate because the debate centers around things where, in fact, we *don't* share the viewpoints of a lot of folks. No, I don't want to discriminate against gay folks, and I'm not going to pretend that I do in order to be more electable. No, I don't believe that America is a Christian nation in any official way, nor do I believe that it should be.

We have to reframe the debate and pick our battles. I *do* think that most Americans share my belief in personal freedom as long as what you do doesn't harm anyone, but that gets forgotten when the fundie megaphones are screaming about fear of gays and abortion.

We have to reframe the debate and pick our battles. Write off the hardcore fundamentalist vote. Let the GOP have them, because the price of appealing to them is too high.

We have to reframe the debate and pick our battles. Until we do, we will continue to lose our political soul as a party, and we will continue to lose elections anyway.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. I agree completely.

To reframe correctly, we must engage and employ experienced reframers from outside the Beltway. We cannot continue to rely on the hothouse mentality that exists there. We have to gather the words that grew in the sun and fresh air.

[ulysses]

3. yup.

We're in the wilderness now. We should embrace that, and rebuild.

[demnan]

4. I skimmed this over

as I didn't have time to read it and it had some good points. If we are ever to take charge, we are going to have to do so with a better positive message for reform.

Thank you for posting this. I didn't read the other comments. Hope you weren't flamed too bad.