The Democratic Party is in the wilderness, looking for a way back to the Congressional majority in 2018. A lesson from Donald Trump is in order.
Here is a sample of Trump’s campaign rhetoric: (see http://mashable.com/2016/09/26/trump-timeline/)
Labels: Big scam; Lying; Pocahontas; Crazy; Crooked; Pussy; Disgraceful; Lightweight; Terrible; Scum; Slease; Rapists; Loser; Fat pigs; Over-rated; Pathological; Stupid; Disgusting; Ass; Devil; Rigged; Worst; Hate; Nasty; and Bad hombres.
Here is a small sample of Trump’s claims: (see, for example, https://www.thestar.com/news/world/uselection/2016/11/04/donald-trump-the-unauthorized-database-of-false-things.html and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-administration-lies-100_us_58ac7a0fe4b02a1e7dac3ca6)
Claims: Obama tapped Trump Tower; Largest inaugural ever; Always against the Iraq war; Widespread voter fraud; Murder rate horribly increasing; Predicted Brexit; Inherited a mess; Trumpcare will make drugs cheaper than a candy bar; Slowest growth since 1929; Climate change a Chinese hoax; and the U.S. is the highest taxed nation.
What is the common thread in this list? Each is a fact-free emotional label or claim.
Now, in the last year, can anyone remember many memorable statements by Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, or Nancy Pelosi? They each delivered emotion-free facts. Clearly this approach has not worked. Ms. Pelosi retained her position as minority leader, as much for her fund-raising abilities, as for her rhetoric: flat-toned, low volume, complex sentences. The Party needs a new leader in the House.
There are at least three ways to counter Trump and his enablers. First, oppose fact-free emotions with emotional facts. Slogans count! Second, constantly ridicule nonsense. Most important, deliver a positive program appealing to a broad range of voters, especially on the economy, education, health care and jobs. Nothing complex. Everything easy to understand. Again, slogans count!
Here is a sample of some positive proposals: (see http://www.allansblog.net)
o Raise corporate taxes by exposing the myth of high corporate taxes: as a share of personal/corporate income tax revenue, corporate taxes already are less than half of their share 50 years ago: corporate taxes have to go up, not down.
o Campaign for legislation: corporations are not people!
o Provide more and better health care through Medicare for All; pay for medical education in return for ten years of salaried service to under-served communities.
o Launch the Rebuild America Corps, training and salaries for un/under-employed to rebuild and insulate their communities.
o Recruit 10 million volunteer mentors for underachieving schools.
So many possibilities, among these and many others. The Democratic Party needs to pick a few and unite around the campaign to take back the House in 2018. Time to focus and get to work!