Failsafe Speaking Without Lots of Words

No disrespect to anyone meant, but could I suggest that creating a stump speech is not that difficult. Yet, I find a lot of people want to complicate it and I (respectfully) submit that that only makes the process more confusing. The most important thing to remember about communicating with any size audience, whether it's on the phone, at the door, or in front of a Rotary Club, is that they will respond when they feel that you understand them. It's very similar to raising children. When a child feels your understanding, you'll see a look of relief on his face. Look for the same in any audience.

Since I left writing sitcoms and movies 12 years ago I started teaching progressive candidates how to be more focused, more passionate, and thus more attractive to any audience, leaving them with something to take away, whether a line, a word, a thought, or just, "I liked him/her." I formulated a six step series of questions which gives a candidate a template for answering the most difficult question of all: Why are you running?

Please take a look:

1. Why are you running? Because:
2. There's a problem. Who has it? (keep it anecdotal and specific to the audience you're talking to...when you see their heads nod with you, you're on track. )
3. Then comes you. What's your experience with those problems? What do you know about it? (Again, keep it anecdotal -- people always remember a story about something they know better than anything else. Trust me. I used to write sitcoms. People remember my old episodes faster than I do.)
4. Give us some hope. Got any creative solutions? I always tell my candidates to use this line of thought, "We could be....why aren't we?" And why "creative?" Because Democrats have a big dollar sign tattooed on their foreheads. Just tell us where we're spending money we shouldn't be, and what we could be doing with it.
5. What stands in your way: your opponent. However, not all opponents are incumbents, or crazy right wingers. Some of my least favorite opponents are: apathy, mistrust of all politicians, or electeds who don't have enough colleagues who feel the same way they do in order to make a majority.
6.Close the deal. What do you want? Obviously their vote, their donations, and to meet their friends, but before all that, you want them to feel emotionally invested in your value to their lives! You want them to feel that you not only "get" them, but you offer a potential way out of their present problems. (The "we could be's) You want them to feel that you're their guy/gal and boy, are they excited about your candidacy.

That's it. No other questions need be answered. The six questions constitute a scenario, with a hero, a problem, a solution, a villain, and an answer (or climax). By now I've worked with hundreds of candidates and potential candidates. First dig for the words. Real ones. Simple and anecdotal. No phrases such as "unfunded mandates," no "problem-solvers," no "broad coalitions," no political palaver. Simply care who's hurting in your district. Identify with them. Offer them your experience along with some practical hope. Tell them what stands in the way of your doing that, and tell them how much you'd appreciate their vote. Once you have done that, your passion for the job will shine through. Simple. Now, please run for office? From county clerk, to school board, to county commissioner, to state legislator, all the way to the Congress. No matter what the office, your being there will make a difference. Please. We need you!

Comments

[Lyndzy]

It is certainly a fantastic system. It would seem most any candidate could use this method to develop themselves as speakers. It is often so frustrating when progressive candidates, I agree with, can't seem to get their point across. I wish they could get your help.

Just a personal Pet Peeve. It often seems progressives attempt to appeal to the down trodden. Does one have to identify a problem, couldn't they identify a dream? And then talk about some of the ways to reach the dream. Not to sound like a new age "positive thinker", but I don't think most of us want to identify with the down trodden.

I wish I could see you in action. it must be thrilling. watching you help people find their voice.

Thanks for the incites and clarity.

Lynne

[IADemNDC]

Thank you ... Jennie Blackton. I wish all our candidates could read this. Simple is good and true stories ... making things real ... telling the story about why change is necessary in a personal way ... does connect. All too often, progressive candidates get bogged down in the "here's my credentials" and the "let me tell you about line 52.a.bc.62 of a bill" and neither works. Your plan does. While we're at it, let's remember that Jennie's 6 point plan allows for differences in regionalism ... small towns, cities, west coast, midwest, anywhere else, too, so it becomes easy for candidates and their listeners to connect on how national policies matter locally. THX again. I hope to read more from you. Best of luck, Barbara @ www.myruralamerica.org

[poll watcher]

Great post.

I saw Jennie at Take Back America this spring, and she was fantastic. Pretty much repeating what thomasinDC said, but she took a room of really green candidates, and had them giving top notch stump speeches in an hour.

And realpetpeeves, you should run for office!

[DCdefensewonk]

Thank you Jennie!
If progressives listened to you on national security issues, we'd not only win elections, we'd be a hell of a lot safer.

[socurious421]

I have to admit, I am reminded of the old adage we were taught in school. "K.I.S.S. or Keep it Simple Stupid". I often feel as though we make things harder in life, and even more so in politics than necessary. As someone who is frequently speaking in front of panels, small crowds and making presentations I often find myself intimated by my task. However, the advice you give is so relevant b/c I am simply overcomplicating it. I get the best results when I entertain similar guidelines you have listed below. Simply, keep it simple and direct and connect with my audience on the very issues we both care about. The rest will fall into place. Why can't more politicians learn that? Frankly, why can't more media consultants teach this. I agree and my thanks to Jennie.

[realpetpeeves]

Thanks for the great words Jennie. You make it easy to get a point across and get people on one's side, which is not easy to do! Obama needs you; although he did show improvement on Friday's debate. Keep it simple is so true. What do you want? As a deal closer, whether votes or money, it is so clearly important but we all forget to do it even in casual conversations. Horray for your easy roadmap through what can be treacherous. Makes me want to run for office!

[thomasinDC]

She's right - - it isn't hard. And it works.

I once watched Ms. Blackton work a roomful of total amateurs. I mean amateurs. Due respect, but these weren't even yet candidates and in my shallow mind I was thinking "umm, please, don't run as Dems".

But alas, 6 questions - - and not high-minded or esoteric ones. Sometimes I wish our presidential candidates would be forced to answer them with Jennie B. high-heeling her way all around them.

Hey Barack - - in various formats I think you've answered 1-4, now CLOSE THE DEAL, will you?

[raincityman]

Jennie Blackton is an expert at what she does; candidates sheould heed her advice.

I've seen her work now for more than 5 years, she is masterful!