Rep. Cori Bush isn't backing down on "defund the police" slogan

[brooklynite]

Source: Axios

Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) says she's not going to stop using the slogan "defund the police" ahead of this fall's midterms — even though some of her colleagues have made that request.

Why it matters: Progressives — and that slogan specifically — were blamed for Democratic losses in 2020. The 2022 midterms are even more challenging, yet Bush said during an hourlong conversation with Black reporters that she's sticking to her activist roots.

"I always tell [fellow Democrats], 'If you all had fixed this before I got here, I wouldn’t have to say these things,'" she said.

Bush acknowledged her party needs to do a better job of explaining exactly what it means with its call to shift some law enforcement monies to preemptive social services.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/cori-bush-defund-police-2022-midterms-f78a07b5-40ae-42e2-ba0e-e50d205a1dd9.html

[JohnSJ]

1. If you have to explain what it means, you have already lost the argument. Doubling down on

a losing strategy is not how you win elections.

Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results is not the most brilliant move

[dixiechiken1]

5. This ☝️☝️☝️

[WA-03 Democrat]

2. Go Squad Go!

Oh sorry, I forgot she is not a formal member of the social media pols.

[bottomofthehill]

3. Thanks Cori, clearly this is helpful.

You stick to what you thinks is best even though it is a stupid idea and a more stupid slogan. It is polling below 20 and on its way to single digits. It will though, be tied around the Democratic Party’s neck. Thanks for the help holding the House. If you don’t enjoy being in the majority and getting some of what you want, you really won’t like being in the minority and getting nothing.

[Chicago1980]

8. It's by no means helpful...

In fact, it's kind of dumb.

[bottomofthehill]

10. I don't think you actually read the post, just the headline

[Chicago1980]

14. You got me...

I shall do better and I'll go read the whole thing.

[brush]

17. It's dumb, perhaps the dumbest political slogan ever.

And I read the post. See post 16.

[Sherman A1]

24. +1000

[JohnSJ]

21. no kidding. The sarcasm was biting, and well stated

[GoneOffShore]

20. Even without the /s at the end of the post title I knew what you were saying.

[Deuxcents]

4. I get the concept..

It’s the same with “global warming”.. most people don’t take the time to read or educate themselves.. headlines only. The idea that police can be specialized n use resources to better the community is too much. We’re used to bumper sticker ditties.. we’ve been dumbed down

[brooklynite]

6. Blaming the voter isn't a solution either.

When FDR developed Social Security, do you imagine that the average voter huddled over position papers and legislative drafts?

[Deuxcents]

9. No..even many years later

I squawked n complained about my deductibles. I was not educated..it as a tax I did not understand. Thankfully, as I got older n understood that the pay forward idea was one I could understand n agree to. My point.. communication goes a long way to progress

[brooklynite]

11. Let me tell you a story....

When I got started in politics, I jumped into the deep end of the pool and became a Ward Committeeman in Philadelphia. My district was a bunch of dorms on the University of Pennsylvania campus, so 100% of my voters were Ivy League students. I assumed therefore that they would be thoughtfully informed on the issues of the day and the candidate choices.

Nope. I could have told them to vote for anyone, and most of them would have likely taken my guidance directly for any office below President.

Its not that they weren't smart, and COULDN'T research the issues and policy proposals; its that it wasn't important enough for them to take the time to do so. That doesn't mean they're lazy; it means they prioritize other activities with their available time.

Voting for elected officials goes back about 2,300 years at this point, and it exists because most citizens DON'T want to spend their time perusing the details of tax, social services and environmental policies. They want to delegate that responsibility to some who they feel BROADLY represents their opinions and interests. If you want to go back to them and gain their support for a specific policy, your message needs to be simple and concise.

[Deuxcents]

12. Sounds like you were baptized by fire

Never ran for any office so hats off. I did work the get out to vote. Many times in
My life.I tried to say bumper sticker ditties we’re not educational n that communication is the key. I think we’re on the same page

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

13. Today I study the issues, consider the pros and cons of each argument,

then ask someone I consider a total idiot how they are going to vote -- and vote the opposite way.

[keithbvadu2]

7. I remember that there were some articles about republicans cutting back on police funding.

I remember that there were some articles about republicans cutting back on police funding and personnel.

Start emphasizing them.

Emphasize Bundy's sniper sighting in on LEO badges.

-----------------------------

Right wing militia says to kill the police.

Start about 3:40 on the timeline

?t=302

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. Defund the police is a very stupid idea and that slogan cost Democrats some winnable seats in 2020

I personally support reforms to the police. I worked hard and we got a good Democrat elected as District Attorney in my county two years ago and this cycle we got a good man elected as sheriff of my county. Our new DA has made a tremendous amount of difference in my county and I believe that the new Sheriff will also help. However, it is clear that we lost races that we should not have lost Defund the police was used very effectively by the GOP in down ballot races. A good number of races that Democrats should have won were lost due to this issue.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

The GOP ran a ton of ads using this issue

Sure enough, Republicans saw an opportunity. Painting Democrats as supporters of “defunding” the police became the focus of campaign literature, TV and digital ads, and live televised debates. That forced Democratic candidates to divert resources that might otherwise be used discussing COVID-19 relief, health care or education to be used disavowing themselves from the slogan and otherwise defending themselves.

Out of 31 broadcast TV ads that Trump and other allied campaign groups used to attack Biden and other Democrats for being soft on law and order, 11 spots ― that aired a total of 77,647 times ― explicitly mentioned “defund the police,” according to an analysis Kantar Media/CMAG conducted for HuffPost. And out of 216 Republican broadcast TV ads in congressional races blasting Democrats, 157 spots that aired 103,000 times used the phrase.

I was disappointed to seen Susan Collins re-elected. It seems that Collins was able to use the "defund the police" issue very effectively

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and the GOP’s Senate campaign arm hit her Democratic opponent, Sara Gideon, in a TV ad for links to a “defund the police” billionaire. The basis for the ad was Gideon’s attendance at a fundraiser hosted by an environmental coalition that includes NextGen America. NextGen, funded by liberal billionaire Tom Steyer, supports defunding the police

[NurseJackie]

27. Continuing to use a losing slogan is LAZY.

L... A... Z... Y... just plain lazy. And dumb. D-U-M-B... it's completely DUMB!

She's basically admitting that she wants to make this about herself. She wants attention while she sabotages the hard work of the Democrats. I wonder if she'll be excoriated in the same way that Manchin and Senima have been (and will it even be allowed) as the sabotage continues.

It's a very selfish thing to do. S-e-l-f-i-s-h.

[rogue emissary]

43. +1

[brush]

48. Yes. It's also very head strong to say "if Democrats had fixed it...

before she got to Washington, she wouldn't have to do it"...something to that effect. What a sad combination of egoism and stupidity to think it's all about her to fix things.

And to continue with a bad idea that costs Democrats votes makes one doubt her critical thinking skills. It just might cost her her seat in Congress too.

[NurseJackie]

50. With regard to that last part. I certainly hope so.

[betsuni]

51. +1

[brush]

16. Not smart. That phrase should never come out of a Democrat's...

mouth ever again as it's such a useful tool for republicans. And not to mention just stupid as it literally means no funds for police.

I repeat, IT MEANS NO FUNDS FOR POLICE. It doesn't mean re-allocate police funds. It doesn't mean get rid of bad cops. It doesn't mean get social workers involve in domestic issues. It doesn't mean train cops better. IT MEANS NO FUNDS FOR POLICE, which means NO POLICE. How dumb can you get. Even the farthest left person knows police are necessary in society.

Any one who doesn't understand how dumb that slogan is, which needs paragraphs of explaining, makes me question that person's critical thinking skills.

[LiberalLovinLug]

18. Yup. Same with "Open Borders!"

Makes me wonder sometimes if these were invented and spread by saboteurs to destabilize the left.

[brush]

19. Good thought. Both sprang up during street demonstrations...

and anyone can go to street demonstrations. It's pretty well known much of the violence and destruction during the BLM summer demonstrations was instigated by white, agent provocateurs.

[dameatball]

22. "Defund the Police" is a big gift to Republicans, wrapped up in a bow at no cost to them. Dumb to

double down on it. Yes, it was misconstrued, but the damage was done....still is being done.

[Lonestarblue]

25. You're right. That slogan is still damaging Democrats.

My local Nextdoor always has multiple comments about the police being defunded when people share posts about stolen cars or break-ins or other neighborhood crimes. The blame for police not preventing theses crimes (when did they ever?) is that the police were defunded. They weren’t, but that is still the claim being made here.

The concept behind it may be good, but that phrase needs to never be uttered again.

[Kahuna]

53. The very moment I first heard it uttered I knew and said it's a gift...

to the republicans. Many of the squad doubled down after the 2020 elections regarding their condoning the phrase.

[Sherman A1]

23. Cori is unfortunately my representative

And she looks very much like the rookie she is.

[LenaBaby61]

45. "Cori is unfortunately my representative, and she looks very much like the rookie she is."

Friends living near your district used to like her a lot, but have soured on her. They said most-often, she opens her mouth without thinking. The friend said that was understandable in the beginning as a novice will make mistates and misspeak, but the same friend is now saying that she's continuing to keep her mouth open, but that now she's starting to insert her foot into it 🥴

[NurseJackie]

26. What a dumb thing to say and do. It's an idiotic slogan.

She's HURTING her cause and making it HARDER for Democrats and EASIER for Republicans.

That's just fucking stupid! I hope her replacement does a better job than she does.

[betsuni]

30. +1

[Hav]

28. At this point, using this slogan is beyond stupid,

it's knowingly doing something that harms the party. It simply is a killer for Dems. Just like the walk away campaign, it could just as well be propaganda coming from the Repubs or a Russian bot farm. Insisting on a slogan you acknowledge needs a better explanation instead of being pragmatic and actually going for specifics, tells me you care more about virtue signaling than the actual problems.

Defund the police isn't only a braindead approach for anyone with average intelligence. She should ask other important groups of the Dem tent, particularly poc, how they feel about this. It's stupid rhetoric like this that accelerates the gains Repubs make among these groups and that might doom the Democratic party.

[betsuni]

29. Activists aren't the same as legislators.

[NurseJackie]

33. She has no idea what she's doing. Or she simply doesn't CARE that she's fucking it up...

... for the party. Apparently, there are those who openly advocate that as their goal. They literally want to "punish" the Democratic party and create situations that cause Democrats to lose. (Supposedly, by sabotaging elections and letting Republicans win, that's supposed to create "pressure" on the Democrats to swing far left. Or the other theory I've heard is that if Republicans are allowed to fuck things up even worse, then the voters will abandon the GOP and eagerly vote for ANY Democrat.)

So I wonder... does she want to be disruptive? OR, does she want to actually do the HARD WORK that's needed in order to make a difference? If she doesn't want to be a strong legislator (or if she's incapable) then it's clear to me that she's the wrong person for the job.

Activists aren't the same as legislators.

Indeed.

[madville]

31. Party leadership must love the attention she gets :sarcasm:

With her it’s either Defund the Police or something anti-Israel, it’s like a broken record at this point and a disaster for 2022 messaging.

[LenaBaby61]

46. THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[Vinca]

32. Guess she doesn't want another term in Congress. Retrain the police might be a better slogan.

[sir pball]

52. I like "Reimagine Policing" myself

It leaves the door open for pretty much any reforms anyone wants to suggest, but at the same time doesn't suggest eliminating or defunding them.

But that's like, just my opinion, man.

[George II]

34. Didn't she pay two police officers (sheriffs) for her own personal security? Not while on-duty..

...but during their off-time.

That was against the policy of the Sheriff's Department and they both got fired.

[LenaBaby61]

47. That would be her .... Yes.

[George II]

35. In other words she's disagreeing with the position of President Biden (again), who is vehemently....

....opposed to "defunding" the police. He reiterated that just a few days ago.

[Calista241]

54. While I don't like the whole 'Defund the Police' mantra

Unswerving loyalty to the President and their agenda is what Republicans and Trump do. A bigger tent should be our goal, as that will allow us to defeat more Republicans in more places. There are limits of course, but blind loyalty is not what I want in my representatives.

[brooklynite]

56. Nobody objects to her having a different policy view...

they object to her having a stupid and politically damaging policy view.

[Mike Nelson]

36. Yikes!

... someone tell her many voters don't explore exactly what she means - which I assume to mean "use funds wisely." People work all day, take care of kids and try to catch a little entertainment on TV. They hear "Defund the police!" from Democrats, alongside whatever crime has just occurred. We need to "Re-fund the police!", "Un-pack the court!" & use better three-word slogans!

[StClone]

37. Defund is not a strategy for success in policing or winning elections.

But sadly, Trans, Black, Muslim, and Asian Americans now refrain from calling the police because police training often seems to make them, the true victim, the perp so they don't even bother calling the police.

[brooklynite]

38. Perhaps she should step down from her House seat and run for Mayor of St. Louis...

...where Police policies and funding are actually addresses.

[Oneironaut]

39. It's still one of the worst slogans ever.

It’s not even what we want. It’s about police accountability and how they are overused in all situations.

How hard is it to say, “Police Reform Now!” “Defund the Police” sounds like a moronic Anarchist slogan that turns people away.

[Polybius]

40. I never understood why she always got more love than Bernie here

She's to his left.

[brush]

49. The bloom if off the rose with her. Continuing with a poor slogan...

despite being asked to stop as it costs votes shows she's probably not the best person for the job.

[LudwigPastorius]

41. "Bush acknowledged her party needs to do a better job of explaining exactly what it means..."

If you have to explain what it means, it's not a good slogan.

[Jose Garcia]

42. I hope that she enjoys serving in the minority

[cinematicdiversions]

44. Were Mandatory Masks for cats, $1 a gallon gas tax and the shoplifters bill of rights already taken?

Talk about not reading the room... Has she not noticed the various new democratic prosecutors furiously backpeddiling?

[Polybius]

55. All Bush's are trouble

Primary her.

[Polybius]

57. Bush is on the extreme left

Nice woman, but she's way too far outside of the mainstream to be viable.