It is day 16 (or 17 or 18) of the shut down that regular citizens are already sick of and are already moving from blaming Trump to blaming both parties. Within a week or so, the shift will be complete, Democrats will “compromise” on some amount, and progressives will, once again, wonder how we ended up there.
The answer is the same; Democrats suck at positioning and messaging. The Wall is just the latest example. This issue looks like all others:
Stage 1: Dems position/policy/proposal is one most Americans agree with. In this instance, most are against the wall, most blame Trump who was dumb enough to say he’d own the shutdown.
Stage 2: It shifts to stalemate. GOP quickly figures out 1 to 3 simple, key points that will swing opinion in their direction and begin a relentless cycle of repeating it over and over. In this instance it is: “we are fighting to keep Americans secure,” “of course a wall will help,” “Dems are doing this just to hurt Trump (or because they want open borders).” EVERY conservative commentator on every network, every local, state, and national politician, and the GOP marketing arm will constantly say this over and over and over. Dems either default to Pelosi’s now common refrain of “He’s not getting his wall” or a loose collection of personal perspectives that leave no cohesive argument in the public mind other than the GOP one.
Stage 3: Public opinion shifts enough for Dems to cave. The Republicans dig in and wait because they know they can change public perception and wear down the Dems who eventually compromise, which the GOP then calls a win for themselves.
It does not have to be this way. In unison, have EVERY Democrat say the same things: “If Trump were serious about border security he would focus on measures that work, not a boondoggle campaign stunt that will cost $50B,” “Trump can’t keep his promise to make Mexico pay so now he is trying to force the cost of his failed campaign promise on American taxpayers,” “We were sent here to be a check on that sort of “Trump First” behavior that has harmed America long enough.”
But we all know that won’t happen, so get ready for Dems to lose favorability points while giving Trump money for his wall (which he will claim as a win). It’s coming. Just like it always does.
(399 Words)
Patrick On Politics 