Brazile: 'Proof' that Clinton rigged nomination process broke my heart

[karynnj]

144. Interesting points

One observation. Those three items represent the goals of even the most centrist Democrats. There is no Democrat over the last 50 years who has not thought they are important.

I agree that ads are almost archaic as a means of getting a message across.

I would suggest that the three items, essential as they are, should be part of something bigger. Restoring civility and respect for others and ensuring that everyone has those 3 basic needs.

Consider GWB was able to have a major theme of restoring honor and decency that resonated even though he was known to have had drinking problems into his 40s and Gore was an Eagle Scout.

We need to capture the high ground. We need to speak of American values. White supremists do not represent the values of most Americans. Nor does the man who can not empathize with those hurt unless they are "his" people and even then, he comes first. Values are aspirational. We never truly meet them, but we try.

Oddly, one voice that could help might be Jimmy Carter. He, along with people like AL Gore and John Kerry, who are no longer active politicians, are all speaking of values, working for peace and justice, protecting the environment and protecting our democracy.

Carter said after 2000 that the US did not meet the basic standards his election monitoring required. Gore in Assault on Reason detailed broader problems. Kerry, in his last speech in the Senate, spoke of the problem of big money in our democracy.

As you note, it might be that a compelling message in today's world might not need the millions of dollars raised by past campaigns.