I am with Morning Joe about the Dems having it all laid out before them to fight the GOP. But..

[Samrob]

they seem to forget that the media plays a large part in it all. The media just doesn't cover what the Dems are saying because they are too busy printing and reporting on MTG, Trump, and the other crazies in the GOP. They just refuse to print or talk about what the Dems and Biden have done and are doing FOR people.

Biden (age aside) needs to take to the campaign trail and hold a few rallies in the crucial states. I see about 8 states he needs to hold a rally in and the media needs to give wide coverage to: NV, GA MN MI NC PA WVA OH

Biden needs to give the attack every lie they have put out there and remind folks about how the Trump tax break went mostly to the wealthy and those some wealthy took stimulus money and lied about how they used the money. In both cases the GOP and the wealthy said they would use the money to pump back into the economy and the companies were supposed to use money to keep their workers employed. Instead, almost everywhere you go for service is short staffed and has no intention of rehiring or hiring workers. Yet they still use the Pandemic as an excuse for poor or no service.

Biden needs a few of these rallies to support the Dem candidates running for office and allow them to explain what they offer and what their GOP opponent does or does not offer. They need to explain how the GOP has lied to them and continues to lie and the harm their lies have done to our respect for the law and damaged our moral compass as well as throwing a monkey wrench into our economy.

Just tell the damn truth...with some fire in the belly!

[Novara]

1. You make a good point

How much of our criticism that Dems don't know how to message really comes down to the media not covering their message?

They're constantly running after the insanity and the next shiny thing and they're ignoring the Dems. So, who can hear a message that never makes it out to people?

Even if Dems had all these rallies, the minute Perjury Taylor Greene shoots off her stupid mouth, the media will cover that and not the rallies.

I still contend that a major reason half this country is crazy and people have been brainwashed is because the media chased after the insanity and repeated the crazy and people started following it because it was always being repeated. Can you imagine if they covered the Dems like that?

[Snoopy 7]

9. No Sh!t

There are those of us who have been pointing that out for some time. We have pointed out the system: Repubs give money to donors, donors pay the media to get out their message. The media does the repubs bidding. The donors use the rest of the money to get richer and give more donations. Don't forget for every thousand they give they get back ten fold. The media doesn't work with the progressives because they don't play that game. But they do give to the blue dog dems, manchin, cinema and others (not capitalized due to lack of respect for them), who do play that game.

[Funtatlaguy]

2. Right on point! Lies and yelling & screaming by the GOP

gets most of the coverage not the “boring” normal governmental processes of Biden and the Dems.

[quickesst]

3. The media attention..

.... may favor the right, but out of the opportunities Democrats have had with the media, how many of them have been as tough as Joe Scarborough would have them be? They talk a good political game, but they just don't seem to have it in them to reach into the republican party's chest, and rip out its heart for good. Everything necessary is there. They just have to seize the opportunity to use it.

[HAB911]

4. part of the problem, including here at DU to some extent is

the "when they go low, we go high" contingent

going high precludes what needs to be done, IMO

[Vinca]

5. I agree. We're on the brink of losing our democracy and it's no time for holding hands

and singing kumbayah. Democrats - each and every one - should emulate the Michigan state senator who called out her colleague to her face for promoting the "grooming children" slur.

[HAB911]

6. I have never been so despondent

but not giving up hope

[Joinfortmill]

21. I hear you. Do something good for yourself. Don't despair. We'll win. We must. We are America

[Joinfortmill]

20. Truth is powerful, but sometimes it needs to be screamed from the rooftops.. over and over.

[certainot]

29. senator mcmorrow. i saw that too so i sent her an email, but......

i think that's who you're talking about. so i found an email form and sent this, below. but its likely sent to trash by an intern, maybe someone going to or grad from one of the major mich unis supporting RW radio!

here's the phone number, i'll prob call soon.... 517-373-2523

and this is one of of the big reasons it doesn't matter what dems do or say- the sustained buzz from 1500 think tank coordinated UNCHALLENGED radio stations is much louder. we get some messaging advantage, maybe by accident, the US and kemlin think tanks notice, they yawn and design some counter messaging, and pump it out of those stations and helped by fox long enough to get media to reverse the gains by chasing something else...... and in many cases with the loudest stations - endorsed by our universities!

and unlike fox they are locally coordinated to go after dems like mcmorrow. these universities are aiding attacks on gov whitmer!

michigan is one of the worst states for that but in Fla 5 universities support 20 x-limbaugh stations that support desantis, scott, etc and other repubs who deny global warming while it floods their state!

and one of these unis might even be in mcmorrow's disctrict! and the same intern might even be getting screamed at on the phone by idiots listening to the local blowhards from one of those stations attacking mcmorrow for sticking her head out.....

from fakenewsradio there are many more than 87 unis in the US supporting many more than 260 x-limbaugh stations and democrats complain about messaging and do nothing about that

it's fucking ridiculous

xxxxxxx

Dear Sen McMorrow,

Thank you for you defense of the LGBTQ community, as seen on MSNBC this morning, Sunday.

A major generator of Republican bigotry and disinformation is the 95% Republican talk radio monopoly and in Michigan it is a major political advantage for them. It has dominated the buzz in rural areas for 30 years, long preceding the social media propaganda that often piggybacks its well-repeated lies. Fox and social media get a lot of the blame that should be going to talk radio.

Michigan is one of a number of states where Democrats were missing a big opportunity to challenge that major Republican advantage.

Why do Democrats and their allies in states like Michigan allow their state universities and professional sports teams support Republican talk radio without complaint?

Between them, Michigan State (11), U of Michigan (7) allow their athletes to be used to attract advertisers to pay for bigotry, hate, and disinformation from 18 x-Limbaugh stations. Republican politicians all over the country are dependent on Democrats ignoring that more than 87 universities support over 260 x-Limbaugh stations. Those are often the loudest talk stations in every state.

From fakenewsradio.org - MICHIGAN 19 Michigan St. 11, Michigan 7, Western Michigan 1

There is no excuse for those schools, and all over the country, not to look for apolitical alternatives. There are many sports talk stations that would love to broadcast those games and they would be more suited to sell those licensed products, for instance. The licensing revenue for those games is dwarfed by TV broadcasting. But how much is enough for the universities to sell out their mission statements?

If Trump and the GOP would pay $1000 for a one hour radio infomercial those 19 radio stations endorsed by those universities x 15 hrs/day are worth $285,000/day, $1,425,000 /wk, or $74,100,000/yr. All over the country 1200 coordinated stations are worth $90M/wk and nearly $5B/yr. All free, paid for by advertisers and often endorsed by our universities and pro sports teams.

The political content on Limbaugh stations was nearly always 100% anti-Democratic and likely still is. If a particular host disagrees with Republican policies or candidates the usual tactic is to ignore the topic. Those stations have spent 30 years excusing racism, denying global warming, attacking teachers, opposing student debt reform, trying to defund and privatize public education, attacking immigrants, selling voter suppression, and electing more and more radical Republicans. They always oppose abortion choice, and have spent the entire pandemic following Limbaugh’s lead in calling COVID a hoax at first, then settling for opposing mandates, politicizing masks, and lying about the risks. They always oppose gun reform and are the main reason we couldn’t do it after Sandy Hook.

Those athletes were used to attack kneeling athletes protesting police brutality.

How much did/will those radio stations pollute jury pools relative to recent domestic terrorism cases?

There is significant evidence that the Kremlin has been influencing Republican talk radio since at least 2008.

In most cases the schools were associated with those stations long before they were converted to Limbaugh/Republican radio stations and the universities never reassessed those licensing associations as the stations followed Limbaugh’s lead into KKK territory. They have no excuse not to reassess those agreements.

It would freak Republicans out if the university community merely began a discussion of the issue. It wouldn’t matter what the universities actually did in reacting to hypocritical Republican complaints about politicization (those stations are often used to favor Republican university regents and presidents/chancellors). Other universities and the pro teams could follow suit. Advertisers all over the country would begin to rethink advertising on Republican radio stations. The advertising industry could begin to pressure some or many of those stations to change formats.

Could Democratic and progressive student orgs at those schools begin those discussions? Could it be a good topic for university debate teams? Almost any major issue can be protested at those universities.

etc

[OneGrassRoot]

10. Don Winslow tweeted this earlier:

"No more of this when they go low, we go high. When they go low, I'm already going to be there waiting."

It made me laugh but there's a lot of truth to the need to think and act this way now, imo.

[Joinfortmill]

18. Yup, glad this dude is on our side.

[Alpeduez21]

12. You're right that is detrimental for the Dems

I say when they go low kick the crap out of them.

There is a VERY large contingent of the left that believes conservatives will some day wake up and "get it." The naive belief of repukes deciding spontaneously to the conclude that winning rigged elections and exerting fascist control over the population is not something they want.

Repukes must be defeated in this war for our country. Make no mistake this is a war. That is another thing most Dems seem to ignore. The intensity of repuke hatred is real and growing.

[Joinfortmill]

19. Yes, yes and yes. Be tough and be relentless.

[Joinfortmill]

23. Going high can also be like Churchill, or FDR, or John Kennedy, or Martin Luther King.

Winners all.

[HAB911]

24. That is undisputed

but does not invalidate my point

[Novara]

32. abso-fuckin'-lutely!

It's clear taking the high road is a loser path, much as I hate to admit it. We have to get in the mud and wrestle with the pigs.

[betsuni]

7. Democrats were attacked for "having no message" "not standing for anything"

and it was always bullshit. Media doesn't cover Democrats. Bullshit about Democrats being out-of-touch corrupt establishment elites ignoring the working class was repeated over and over and over and gullible people believed it. This worked well to depress the vote for Democrats in 2016. Shameful. And rallies don't mean anything.

"And while I'm at it, can I say again how utterly meaningless yet carelessly thrown around the term 'message' is? It totally dumbs down and mystifies discussion about candidates and political parties. Its sole value is a weapon to throw around (as in 'She has no message.') Pundits must STOP with this 'message' business. It's sloppy, without real content, and encourages us to look at candidates as though they are products in the grocery store. Let's talk about the language of character, policy positions and agendas, not the vocabulary of advertising and branding." -- Susan Bordo

[brer cat]

35. +1

[Lonestarblue]

8. Aside from policies, the difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Democrats

generally refrain from the nasty politics of personal destruction and outright lies favored by Republicans. Republicans make outrageous claims—like accusing Democratic opponents of grooming kids to be LGBTQ—and the media laps up those claims for the sensationalism and clicks.

Democrats quietly go about trying to get things done and when they do get media attention they revert to policy points that the media finds boring. They might cover a Democratic announcement, but they quickly move on to Republican antics.

Biden is doing his job too quietly and competently. I wish he would do Roosevelt-style talks to the nation every week to tell people what his administration is accomplishing in rural areas, with infrastructure, with support for Ukraine, etc., because the media is not doing their job in reporting on favorable results except occasionally in the NYT or WaPo, which the majority of people do not read. Such talks could also address the challenges the US faces with the economy, jobs, cyber security, national security, healthcare—addressing all of these from the perspective of regular people. As just one example, he could highlight how corporations have reduced their healthcare plans to cover fewer people over the years. I don’t recall actual numbers, but in the 1960s, nearly 79% of people got health insurance through their employers. Today the number is less than 50%. That sets up a discussion for how the people without employer-based health insurance are supposed to get access.

Democrats need to educate people on the things that directly affect them and take credit for their accomplishments. A majority of people believe that the economy does better under Republicans, which hasn’t been the case in decades. That’s because Republicans are better at getting the media to assist in their lies.

[Stuart G]

11. Biden needs to talk about positive accomplishments, but the Pukes don't need any help at all bashing

us, or the nation/world... The Pukes got someone who does nation/word bashing every single day.......................

And that fellow will never stop.....He is a man who is well known, and that is enough! Time to hide again.

[Wednesdays]

27. Again, it all comes down to media coverage

This is 2022, not 1937. Biden can give weekly "fireside chats" until he keels over, but the big networks would consider them "boring" and refuse to cover them. You might find them tucked away on C-SPAN, and maybe not even there.

[Maine Abu El Banat]

13. It's sad

When showmanship outweighs a positive agenda for the American people. Our "Reality show politics" are killing our democracy.

[ewagner]

14. Need to add WI to the list of states...

...we've lost our majorities in the rural parts of the state...Biden and Democratic Party Leadership need to make appearances in "da Nortd"......Rhinelander, Ashland, Superior, Eau Claire, Wausau...break into the red-hat areas, let the working men and women know we're still here.

[Tree Lady]

15. Joe isn't really a rally kind of guy

Why not let him create some kind of fireside chat? Not necessarily that but some modern version of it. Go on Twitter or Tiktok with short messages reminding everyone of all the good things he has done, how strong we are and of the things we need to fight for.

Something more personal than a reporter asking a question.

[Joinfortmill]

17. I love this idea. Needs to be done in a way that forces the media to cover it.

[Joinfortmill]

16. He could use Kamala Harris more to get out the message.

[usonian]

22. Short message and powerful.

repost, but what the heck.
https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16606141

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16589262
I believe that this four-line message cannot be refuted by the RW's and will sway the swayable.

Fraud
Fear
Fascism, and
"Every accusation is a confession."


DNC Chair Jaime Harrison has come up with a message we can use. Simple is beautiful. This is accurate AND punchy.

From DailyKos:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/4/6/2090427/-Democratic-Party-chair-nails-the-GOP-It-is-a-party-built-on-fraud-fear-and-fascism
and
More specifically to the complete obsession with sex, IT IS ENTIRELY "PROJECTION". Yardwork stated it very clearly in a post.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16580495
"Every accusation is a confession."
We could start saying that to anybody who complains about Biden, stolen elections, brainwashing children in schools, killing babies, etc.

It's short and to the point. It doesn't use any bad words. It can be said in a mild tone of voice. I think it's right on point.

AND THAT'S IT!
Fraud
Fear
Fascism, and
"Every accusation is a confession."

[keopeli]

25. Same mistake over and over. The President is responsible for Midterm success!

Democratic Presidents do almost nothing to promote midterm elections. Most Republicans do the same.

Trump was the exception, yet he failed because he never stopped lying and he would shoot himself in the foot repeatedly.

If the President will campaign for midterms on a weekly basis and start before June, his party can win the midterms. This is also true in a presidential election year. If an incumbent will campaign weekly and start before June, s/he can win. Example: Poppy Bush did not campaign at all for his re-election until late August and he lost.

Another thing: the President must regularly make statements that shock the media. Trump excelled at this. Biden has the ability but does not do it often enough. Example: Biden suggests Putin must go (shocks the media).

IMO, if Biden does not start doing weekly campaigning in the next two months, Dems' chances of success in November go down dramatically.

I don't know why Presidents, especially Dems, don't understand this. Are they just too busy to be bothered? Do they not believe in their own ability to create news and attention? I don't know, but the pattern has been evident my whole life. I wish so much that I had the power to advise Biden.

I wonder if other DUers feel the same way.

[BlueTsunami2018]

26. Joe isn't really a rally kind of guy, I'd get President Obama out there.

And VP Harris for certain places.

Joe can use the bully pulpit when he’s able but I think it’s better if he just keeps his nose to grindstone.

[Novara]

33. I agree - the press would cover Obama ...

... if he was on the campaign trail for Dems. Especially if he dropped the nice-guy routine and told it like it is a little more. Sensationalism sells, and all he has to do is tell the truth about the anti-American motherfuckers trying to take over this country. Point out their lies, CALL THEM LIES, not "questionable statements" or other some such bullshit, and let 'em have it. It might be unusual enough that the press treats it as the next shiny thing.

For too long, Rs have counted on Dems playing nice. It's time to knock them in the jaw with the brutal, searing truth and make them have to defend themselves.

[Snackshack]

28. I have been saying this.

For sometime but instead of a discussion I get some reply about how we are not supposed to be critical of Dems…

But YES- the GOP has given Dems 1 scandal after another on a silver platter for years now. Lying about how deadly a virus is, allowing over 1 million Americans to die, attempting a coup, Emoluments, Abuse of Power etc, etc yet Dems do not take seem to have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and fight back.

President Obama let the GOP get away with everything. A war based on lies, torture, financial collapse, outing a CIA sent and it looks like President Biden is going to do the same thing.

[LLCARD]

30. So what is the answer?

I often think that the Dems need to hire a high profile marketing firm and an anti propaganda group to combat what is going on.

The Dems should also be able to leverage their ties with Hollywood to produce the right kinds of infomercials/ truthpropaganda to get it out there.

[Novara]

34. The answer is to tell the brutal truth without mincing words

That's all they need to do: Fear, fraud, and fascism, as was stated unthread.

"They want you afraid of your neighbors because when they make you afraid, they think you'll vote for them."

"They have lied continuously about the 2020 election: more than a year and a half later, no real voting fraud has been identified except for REPUBLICANS voting with their dead mothers' names, voting in three states, and cheating. Most voting fraud that has been uncovered in the 2020 election was committed by republicans."

"They talk about freedom but they ban books, shove people back in the closet, refuse women's healthcare. How is that free?"

"They abuse women and get away with it, they break laws and get away with it. Whatever happened to shame? Whatever happened to integrity? They should be ashamed of themselves."

I'm sure we all could come up with some good, attention-grabbing lines.

[Snackshack]

31. I have been saying this.

For sometime but instead of a discussion I get some reply about how we are not supposed to be critical of Dems…

But YES- the GOP has given Dems 1 scandal after another on a silver platter for years now. Lying about how deadly a virus is, allowing over 1 million Americans to die, attempting a coup, Emoluments, Abuse of Power etc, etc yet Dems do not take seem to have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and fight back.

President Obama let the GOP get away with everything. A war based on lies, torture, financial collapse, outing a CIA sent and it looks like President Biden is going to do the same thing.

[Skittles]

37. your analysis is spot on

when they can start a war based on lies and not be held accountable, everything after is small stuff

[Skittles]

36. hate gets better ratings than hope

yes indeed