Carefully managed interviews and over-scripted messaging may reduce risk in the short term, but they can also erode the very trust Democrats need to rebuild.
Well, the Republican strategy seems to be to fill the room with sycophant journalists, or personally attack anyone who asks a hard question rather than address the question.
Your point was aptly illustrated in the Democratic Primary race in Maine. Do an A/B split-screen of Janet Mills literally phoning it in, “appearing” at Town Halls via Zoom and repeating obviously scripted talking points, with Graham Platner talking plainly in person. Which one was more appealing to Maine voters? Hmmm…
If democrats have to be careful of every damn thing they say or how they say it, to have to be perfect to pass the smell these in the criminal age of Trump then voters really are just stupid, emotionally reactive and deserve every ridiculous thing that comes their way for voting anything but democrat at this stage - that the dems really need is to get a backbone and fight barbarians like barbarians. This isn’t a gentleman’s war - it’s a war for the ages
Thank you, very well said, Dems have to be careful because their issues are half wrong and politically contentious.
Take immigration. Dems have been pounding "we need comprehensive" immigration reform. No we don't. We have all kinds of laws for immigration. You come over the border it is illegal. Yet Dems defend border crossing as humanitarian regardless of the fact it has encouraged millions to come here that way. No Dem has defined comprehensive reform that does not smack of open borders.
Crime and Illegal drugs. Dems seem more concerned with treating the addicts than preventing them from become addicts by going after the pushers. Enforcement efforts get challenged as racism.
Equality. The concept of reparations for sins of the past keeps coming up by Dems. US has tons of problems with the present, like homelessness. Yet they continue to beat the drum that we can undo the past with a Cadillac in every minority driveway. This is an insult to minorities, many who have become productive citizens who do not need to be treated as an underclass. Should Supreme Court Judges Thomas and Jackson get reparations?
We have much the same problems in Canada with many of the same issues. However, outright lies seem to be caught and quickly queried by the opposition . This is my ‘opinion', however, I’m quite sure others would disagree. We do say 'SORRY' reasonably well, and we, thankfully, don’t have your system of government. Even in such contentious times such as now, we respect our colleagues, our Constitution and our country.
And we are very lucky not to have an oligarch at the head. What a shambles he is making of yours and the world’s order. Sigh.❤️🇨🇦😝
David, I would like to see you and your fellow colleagues on Substack (there are others like you….outstanding) create a coalition, group, whatever…who can collectively find a way to meet with, communicate with key Democractic Leaders (candidates) at the right time and hammer and keep hammering home, the fantastic points you all make! Go over the heads of staffers if you need to in order to relay, what your and followers of others already know, all of you have taught us well. We understand what you are saying and agree with you! We can hammer it locally but we can’t reach the folks you and others collectively can!
Democrats have 3 huge problems that Republicans aren’t burdened with: they prefer not to lie, they don’t want to needlessly offend, snd they understand that the huge mess that the GOP always makes or worsens CANNOT be answered with a sound bite, and anecdote, or a slogan. The fact that Joe Rogans audience is receptive to a repulsive egomaniac who lies constantly and comfortably would seem to indicate there is no point in serious candidates going on his show, no?
You are right. However, dealing with Trump by holding a candle of truth to a hurricane of lies is not working. We have a dumb underclass that sees politics as a way to bring down the elites. If they cannot have a piece of the American pie, then make sure no one else benefits. Not sure how you can fight hate and ignorance as those forces seem to be winning.
Is it possible that Democrats want to know the questions ahead of time so that they can give detailed snd accurate answers. Maybe it’s not that they fear missteps; an alternative is they don’t want to look unprepared, which is clearly no sin for Republicans. Just watch a hearing of ANY Trump cabinet member; some bluster, some attack their questioner, some relay on paper shoved in front of them by hard-working aides; none of them ever seem to know the answer….
Sounds like they are afraid of making a mistake, or getting a question they can't answer.
In that case they could say they don't know, need to research the question, AND ask the one who asked the question how they feel about it. Then LISTEN to what they say.
Stop being chicken and stop letting "staff" tell them what to day.
As someone who’s worked in communications for almost 30 years, I’m frequently gobsmacked when I hear how stilted, dull, and toothless Democratic leaders sound. Do they not realize that, given the widespread preference for Democratic policy priorities we see in poll after poll after poll, that messaging matters? And that their messaging seems purpose built to alienate everyone except the consultants giving them the shitty advice to tack towards the anodyne every time? Don’t they see how much voters want passionate and committed public servants who are willing to fight? And will they never learn that Republicans are not their “friends from across the aisle”? And haven’t been since at least the ‘94 midterms? It’s astounding how ostensibly intelligent politicians insist on stepping on the same rakes over and over again.
I have no idea what the Democrat’s ideology or agenda is anymore. That being said, I do know what the Republican ideology and agenda is and I refuse to vote for it. That leaves me where I was last election: either vote for the least of two evils or write in a candidate that has no chance of winning.
I agree. One element you didn't directly address is that most corporate and social media is controlled by right-wingers. They are deciding what topics, posts and interviews get boosted and which ones restrained. I don't think the general public understands how tilted the playing field is, from the get go. Also some Dems are just better at communications, especially on social media, than others, and we need to realize this and act accordingly.
Hollywood is not right wing, but the silence is deafening. Colbert and Fallon are funny, but comedy is not enough as it is just played to the Dem choir. Another reason for FCC to become independent and not be the media police for the WH.
Strong leadership requires confidence, intelligence, charisma, and a willingness to take personal risk. Good governance requires such leaders. In the absence of these strong, mature voices; people will follow loud, boisterous, blow-hards that yell the loudest regardless of message (lies) or policy (no rational platform nor coherent strategy). The GOP has successfully “flooded the zone” as promised and we’re drowning as a nation.
Absolutely spot on. I know, for example, that Kamala Harris did not get to be atty. gen. of CA and a capable senator without lots of knowledge -- and compassion from what I have heard of her time as a prosecutor. Yet, I was turned off when she took a question from an audience member at a town hall and used the question, obviously, to segue into a prepared speech that made a point her campaign manager told her she needed to sell. It left the woman, who had asked a question framed in a difficult personal experience -- but one which we could all experience -- just standing there. Kamala launched into the rehearsed bit without even acknowledging the human bit, you know, "I'm sorry this happened to you." Candidates know -- or should know -- how they stand on issues, and they should can the canned junk and speak openly.
Well, the Republican strategy seems to be to fill the room with sycophant journalists, or personally attack anyone who asks a hard question rather than address the question.
Your point was aptly illustrated in the Democratic Primary race in Maine. Do an A/B split-screen of Janet Mills literally phoning it in, “appearing” at Town Halls via Zoom and repeating obviously scripted talking points, with Graham Platner talking plainly in person. Which one was more appealing to Maine voters? Hmmm…
If democrats have to be careful of every damn thing they say or how they say it, to have to be perfect to pass the smell these in the criminal age of Trump then voters really are just stupid, emotionally reactive and deserve every ridiculous thing that comes their way for voting anything but democrat at this stage - that the dems really need is to get a backbone and fight barbarians like barbarians. This isn’t a gentleman’s war - it’s a war for the ages
Thank you, very well said, Dems have to be careful because their issues are half wrong and politically contentious.
Take immigration. Dems have been pounding "we need comprehensive" immigration reform. No we don't. We have all kinds of laws for immigration. You come over the border it is illegal. Yet Dems defend border crossing as humanitarian regardless of the fact it has encouraged millions to come here that way. No Dem has defined comprehensive reform that does not smack of open borders.
Crime and Illegal drugs. Dems seem more concerned with treating the addicts than preventing them from become addicts by going after the pushers. Enforcement efforts get challenged as racism.
Equality. The concept of reparations for sins of the past keeps coming up by Dems. US has tons of problems with the present, like homelessness. Yet they continue to beat the drum that we can undo the past with a Cadillac in every minority driveway. This is an insult to minorities, many who have become productive citizens who do not need to be treated as an underclass. Should Supreme Court Judges Thomas and Jackson get reparations?
We have much the same problems in Canada with many of the same issues. However, outright lies seem to be caught and quickly queried by the opposition . This is my ‘opinion', however, I’m quite sure others would disagree. We do say 'SORRY' reasonably well, and we, thankfully, don’t have your system of government. Even in such contentious times such as now, we respect our colleagues, our Constitution and our country.
And we are very lucky not to have an oligarch at the head. What a shambles he is making of yours and the world’s order. Sigh.❤️🇨🇦😝
David, I would like to see you and your fellow colleagues on Substack (there are others like you….outstanding) create a coalition, group, whatever…who can collectively find a way to meet with, communicate with key Democractic Leaders (candidates) at the right time and hammer and keep hammering home, the fantastic points you all make! Go over the heads of staffers if you need to in order to relay, what your and followers of others already know, all of you have taught us well. We understand what you are saying and agree with you! We can hammer it locally but we can’t reach the folks you and others collectively can!
❤️ ABSOFECKINLOUTLY AGREE 💯 💙
Democrats have 3 huge problems that Republicans aren’t burdened with: they prefer not to lie, they don’t want to needlessly offend, snd they understand that the huge mess that the GOP always makes or worsens CANNOT be answered with a sound bite, and anecdote, or a slogan. The fact that Joe Rogans audience is receptive to a repulsive egomaniac who lies constantly and comfortably would seem to indicate there is no point in serious candidates going on his show, no?
You are right. However, dealing with Trump by holding a candle of truth to a hurricane of lies is not working. We have a dumb underclass that sees politics as a way to bring down the elites. If they cannot have a piece of the American pie, then make sure no one else benefits. Not sure how you can fight hate and ignorance as those forces seem to be winning.
David - This Dem/Communication problem has gone on SO LONG - I’m starting to ask ‘who exactly does this weak/nonexistent pushback BENEFIT???’
Starting to feel like ‘controlled opposition’ to me. Come onnnnn it’s ridiculous now‼️
👍🤪🤟 fancy meeting you here 😳 the Dems need to grow a spine and stop being feckless and beholden to pacs and aipac specificly 👍
This is starting to scream ‘SAME TEAM‼️⁉️’ idk
Is it possible that Democrats want to know the questions ahead of time so that they can give detailed snd accurate answers. Maybe it’s not that they fear missteps; an alternative is they don’t want to look unprepared, which is clearly no sin for Republicans. Just watch a hearing of ANY Trump cabinet member; some bluster, some attack their questioner, some relay on paper shoved in front of them by hard-working aides; none of them ever seem to know the answer….
Absolutely right. As an independent I’m getting 200 plus demands for money each week and no idea how Democrats are actually fighting.
Agree 100%. An email asking for money does not count as communication in my book.
Sounds like they are afraid of making a mistake, or getting a question they can't answer.
In that case they could say they don't know, need to research the question, AND ask the one who asked the question how they feel about it. Then LISTEN to what they say.
Stop being chicken and stop letting "staff" tell them what to day.
As someone who’s worked in communications for almost 30 years, I’m frequently gobsmacked when I hear how stilted, dull, and toothless Democratic leaders sound. Do they not realize that, given the widespread preference for Democratic policy priorities we see in poll after poll after poll, that messaging matters? And that their messaging seems purpose built to alienate everyone except the consultants giving them the shitty advice to tack towards the anodyne every time? Don’t they see how much voters want passionate and committed public servants who are willing to fight? And will they never learn that Republicans are not their “friends from across the aisle”? And haven’t been since at least the ‘94 midterms? It’s astounding how ostensibly intelligent politicians insist on stepping on the same rakes over and over again.
I have no idea what the Democrat’s ideology or agenda is anymore. That being said, I do know what the Republican ideology and agenda is and I refuse to vote for it. That leaves me where I was last election: either vote for the least of two evils or write in a candidate that has no chance of winning.
I agree. One element you didn't directly address is that most corporate and social media is controlled by right-wingers. They are deciding what topics, posts and interviews get boosted and which ones restrained. I don't think the general public understands how tilted the playing field is, from the get go. Also some Dems are just better at communications, especially on social media, than others, and we need to realize this and act accordingly.
Hollywood is not right wing, but the silence is deafening. Colbert and Fallon are funny, but comedy is not enough as it is just played to the Dem choir. Another reason for FCC to become independent and not be the media police for the WH.
Absolutely great points!
Strong leadership requires confidence, intelligence, charisma, and a willingness to take personal risk. Good governance requires such leaders. In the absence of these strong, mature voices; people will follow loud, boisterous, blow-hards that yell the loudest regardless of message (lies) or policy (no rational platform nor coherent strategy). The GOP has successfully “flooded the zone” as promised and we’re drowning as a nation.
They. Understand they're scared of their inability to tell the truth to critically expose who they really are because then they'll have to take action
Absolutely spot on. I know, for example, that Kamala Harris did not get to be atty. gen. of CA and a capable senator without lots of knowledge -- and compassion from what I have heard of her time as a prosecutor. Yet, I was turned off when she took a question from an audience member at a town hall and used the question, obviously, to segue into a prepared speech that made a point her campaign manager told her she needed to sell. It left the woman, who had asked a question framed in a difficult personal experience -- but one which we could all experience -- just standing there. Kamala launched into the rehearsed bit without even acknowledging the human bit, you know, "I'm sorry this happened to you." Candidates know -- or should know -- how they stand on issues, and they should can the canned junk and speak openly.