Democrats suck at messaging.
Fact.
Most of their legislative and governing agenda is supported by most Americans. Yet they lose a lot. More than half the time in more than half the states.
Because their messaging sucks.
This has to change in 2020. They have to do some things they are nearly allergic to:
- ONE simple, clear headline supported by a continuing series of “proof points.”
- Use the proof points to show how Dems are different
- Repeat ad nauseam.
The clear, simple headline should be (something like):
Donald Trump Is Always Trump First.
I’ll just make one example, but there are dozens and dozens that can easily be turned into ads, debate statements, event speeches, all of them easily converted into news soundbites. Let’s just look at Saudi Arabia.
“Donald Trump Is Always Trump First. He left Saudi Arabia off Muslim ban list despite them being the ONLY country who’s citizens have actually attacked America via terrorism, uses his veto to sell them top secret nuclear technology, and protects their prince from murder charges. Why? In his own words at a July 2015 rally: “Saudi Arabia, I like the Saudis. I make a lot of money with them. They buy all sorts of my stuff. All kinds of toys from Trump. They pay me millions and hundred of millions.” Our foreign policy will, once again, be based on what is truly best for America.”
You can apply this to Russia, China, S. Korea, every Obama agreement he has torn up so he can replace it with a worse one and claim he’s the deal-maker making America better.
The list of domestic issues is even easier, ranging from tax breaks and gun control to Obamacare being attacked with no better option that will hurt millions because he wants vengeance against Obama.
The list of acts is un-ending.
Start with the simple headline, make the proof point, tell how Dems are different and the difference will be better for America.
Over and over.
It takes away a lie he tells that is at the heart of his rural, middle-America support. It undermines whether he is working for them. It is credible/believable. There are TONS of proof points. It gives a platform to say how Dems are different.
Tie every point, every topic, every statement back to how Democratic policies and actions will be better for America, while Trump’s are better for Trump because Trump always has been and always will be #TrumpFirst.
It will work.
But Democrats can’t bring themselves to simple solutions to a complex problem like Trump. And their failure to do so hurts us all. They need to be better in 2020.
(448 words)
Patrick On Politics 