The far-right are also superb at messaging, even if what they say isn't true, they get the majority of the public to believe them. We have to start actually talking to people who don't share our views. We need to canvass and make phone calls like crazy. Even though many of us did this the past year, more of us need to get involved.
If conservatives think we've been giving them hell so far, they have no frickin idea. Their heads would explode if we acted like them. Yet, it seems to work. So, lets start giving the far-right what they've been dishing out to us. We don't have to lie like them, but we can do everything else. Come up with some short, memorable and emotional talking points, and repeat them over and over. Explain little, just repeat talking points. Hammer away. Admit no fault. Hammer again. We've got the facts behind us if anyone decides to actually look them up.
This will be hard for liberals to digest. I understand, this goes against our grain, but it's time for us to stop being so passive. It's time to be aggressive. It's time to aggressively spread our ideas and attack the lies.
We need to get a lot louder and our message much simpler, even if it leaves out details. It's clear the majority of the voting public can't take, nor really cares for, lengthy explanations. Don't try to convince voters, just repeat until they believe. If we would have hammered home the importance of the recall this past year, Wisconsin would probably have a Governor Barrett today.
I'll start by calling Scott Walker a dictator, though I'm sure I'm not the first, because that's exactly what Walker is. Instead of doing the difficult and democratic job of negotiating with Wisconsin's workers (teachers, janitors, garbage collectors, etc.), Walker stripped their rights and dictated their working conditions and benefits in order to give tax breaks to corporations instead of taxing them appropriately. Wisconsin's workers improve all of our lives, and by screwing them, we screw ourselves.
Here's some suggestions for talking points:
- Scott Walker is a dictator over Wisconsin's workers (teachers, janitors, garbage collectors, etc.)
- Unions are essential for the economy: The smaller unions are, the less money you make
- Collective bargaining rights are rights: the right to assemble and freedom of speech
- We must invest in our children not big corporations. Teachers must get paid more and schools need more money.
- Lower our taxes, not corporations and the rich who already pay less taxes and are doing very well
- Taxing the rich more improves the economy: See the last 80 years, there's no evidence for the Tea Party's old Herbert Hoover idea that put us in the Great Depression
- Corporations and the super rich control Republicans, and their only concern is their prosperity
- All men and women are created equal, including minorities and LGBT. Only tired old bigots refuse to support equal pay for equal work legislation or gay marriage. Archaic religious views have no weight in American law.
- There is no voter fraud, but Walker or anyone else can add thousands of votes in seconds (election fraud)
Thanks = I agree that we can't all be "nice guys" about this stuff now, it is appropriate to go with your heart.
ReplyDeleteYour talking points are great, but folks need to remember, Walker's base, at least as it relates to the the typical Joe, is just acting irrationally out or emotions, hatred, and anger. They are not going to change their mind, but perhaps we can plant seeds for when they reach a "teachable moment" (but don't hold your breadth!)
The very small group of 1 percenters (mostly out-of-state) that support walker at least has a rational reason for their economic terrorism - they make boatloads of money!
Guess the points I am trying to make are:
1. Only 30 percent of WI eligible voters gave walker his self-proclaimed "mandate"
2. More than 40 percent stayed home and this was the largest turnout to elect a governor in state history
3. Real change is not going to come from convincing Walker's 30 percent to come and vote for our side. THERE'S MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING WITH TO GET OUT TO THE POLLS.
This last point, and I usually don't "shout" but I think it's appropriate here, is that we will have a larger group of people to work with and they will be more persuadable if we build comm-UNITY across diverse populations, give more of the 40%+ that stay home a dog in the fight.
Remember, negative ads exist only to keep people from voting and they work when the airwaves are blanketed with them - in this case, almost exclusively from one-site for most of the recall process.
Motivating dienfranchised voters will mean creating some resonance, emotions, and real reasons to vote.
And, IMHO, that is where your talking points will be most effective.