Nation-Wide Democratic Ad: What Would You Choose? (Brain-storming)

[mountebank]

One thing the Democratic Party seems to need at this point is the appearance of a cohesive message, something unified and nation-wide. Anyone involved in advertising knows that brands rely on their cohesive and simple messages. Yes, issues are complex, the world is full of shades of gray - but if you're going to advertise, you need a simple message and, ideally, a brand.

I have been thinking about ideas for a nation-wide cohesive ad campaign for the Democratic Party. Something that could run on billboards from Mississippi to New England. Something simple, forceful, maybe with a few variations but all centered around an image or idea.

First of all, I'm curious why this had never been done before. I guess it's true that all politics is local to some degree - but the Democratic Party, it seems, could use a general image overhaul. Other ads could run with local candidates and local issues.

For me, the image that made a big impression was the one of Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, and Chuck Schumer as they forced the Senate into closed session to discuss the stalled Iraq Intell investigations.

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This one photo conveys the points that Democrats are united, tough, and professional. I can imagine it, or something like it, running on billboards with messages like:

The Democratic Party: Protecting Your Family
The Democratic Party: Protecting Your Freedom

The Democratic Party:
Stopping Corruption
Leaving Family Decisions to Families
Protecting the Nation

Anyway, just some ideas. I'm interested to hear other ideas for a nation-wide ad campaign that could run in any state, any county.

on edit: I just read that Harry Reid plans a red-state trip to speak about corruption. Corruption definitely seems to be a potentially unifying message that could run anywhere. Good that the Dems are realizing that early.

[wryter2000]

1. We can do better

This is a great country, and the repugs have cheapened it. "We can do better" is my slogan. It applies to so many areas: caring for the less fortunate, educating our children, protecting the country from terrorism, cleaning up the environment, speaking truthfully to the people.

[Atman]

3. "We can do better" implies that we're not trying

Maybe we're not. But psychologically, it is a negative message, like a lecture from your mother or school teacher. "We're Better Than This" would be better, because at least it is positive. Just my 2¢ and 25 years of marketing experience! I actually don't think any of the ones I've read so far to the trick. They don't convey strength, positive action, leadership.

[acmejack]

4. They have apparently decided to run with it though.

I agree that "we can do better" isn't it, but then, no one asked us (once again). Which incidentally is the Party's biggest problem, they are just so much smarter than their base. Consequentially, issues like the war are viewed with differently by the majority of the people and the leadership. Class war, there isn't any class war...

[wryter2000]

18. We can do better than the present administration

We can do better than the republicans.

[meow2u3]

30. We DESERVE better

We deserve better than the Republican culture of corruption.
We deserve better than Republican totalitarianism.
We deserve better than more Republican misrule.
We deserve better. We deserve a Democratic majority in both houses.

[wtbymark]

2. I like the 3rd

ending corruption and cronyism

in New England I would be so bold to say "The NEW Democratic Party = The End of Corperate Fascism"

[Oceansaway]

5. i like this one...

The Democratic Party:
Stopping Corruption
Leaving Family Decisions to Families
Protecting the Nation

[Laura PourMeADrink]

6. For the People. On the People's Side. The People's Party. \

or Take Back America.

[mountebank]

10. I've toyed with names involving "People." Man, it's so hard to come up

with something that doesn't carry a lot of historical baggage. Rightly or wrongly, I think the average American would associate slogans with "People's Party" with socialism (read: their negative impression of socialism) or the old People's Party of the turn of the century. Something sort of antiquated and out-moded....

"For the People" though. That one sounds good! Hard to argue with the Gettysburg Address!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Yes, know what you mean. It just seems like the overriding essence

of the difference between us is that they favor the rich and we favor the everyday man.

I don't think slogans need to be so specific, but should be catchy and embody what we are.

I think that we are for:

Truth
A peaceful world
A clean planet
Justice and fairness for all people
The right to receive health care

It seems you could take each of these and compare and contrast against their record.

We believe in TRUTH. We do not believe in secret prisons, government propaganda, and lying about wars

We believe in a PEACEFUL WORLD. We do not believe in invading sovereign countries and imposing our will.

We believe in a CLEAN PLANET. We do not believe in dropping out of world treaties that promote a good environment or relaxing the laws against polluting.

We believe in JUSTICE and FAIRNESS for all people. We do not believe in scaring people away from the polls. We do not believe an election should be paperless so that is invites fraud.

We believe in the right to HEALTH CARE as do many other countries who care about their people. We do not believe in giving big pharmaceuticals special breaks

[mrgorth]

26. Many democrats aren't for these things

read: Hillary.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

27. I only hope that she is mascarading now and that truly, deep inside

she does believe and the way she acts is only a means to an end.

[Peace Patriot]

7. THROW. DIEBOLD. AND. ES&S. ELECTION. THEFT. MACHINES. INTO.

'BOSTON. HARBOR.' **NOW**!!!

[mountebank]

8. But seriously, Peace Patriot, do you think the only problem is

secure voting instead of campaigning? Secure voting is essential and most of us have been hollering about it for years now (with some successes - it's now a mainstream topic in the news and most politicians have heard about it). But can't we also work on good old-fashioned campaigning? You know, winning the war of ideas and all?

So, come on - I've always respected your ideas here at DU - what are you thoughts on a nation-wide ad?

[Atman]

9. Winning the war of ideas is meaningless if they're stealing our votes.

Period.

[mountebank]

12. Right - but can't we run parallel efforts? Secure voting has seen a huge

surge in local and national attention. Obviously we're got a ways to go - but we can do both. Secure the vote and run a campaign. This post is about running a campaign. My beef is that posts about securing the vote interjected into threads like this come off sounding defeatist and, I'm sorry, but a little bit sactimonious, like we don't know that securing the vote is important. It ends up sounding like "We can't win - so why bother" or "If you only knew what I know, poor naive fool...."

Does every post have to be about securing the vote?

I'd to hear your ideas about a nation-wide Democratic ad campaign, Atman.

[Atman]

14. One solves the other.

It isn't defeatist to be realistic. The GOP owns the system. I'd bet money that they keep control of Congress.

Anyway, since we MUST fix the voting system in order for us even to be heard, we need to fix it FIRST. When you do that, and uncover the fraud and the lies from BushCo, Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia, et al, then you have your winning campaign issue; Repubicans stole the government, ran us into war, got us hopelessly in debt, and they can't win without cheating. Voting machines first. And if you accept that the fix was in in 2000 and 2004, then your argument about us not running good campaigns is moot...since we, in fact, WON the last two, three, four presidential elections. Without cheating.

[warrens]

11. Liars never prosper

That about sums it up about Iraq, the energy bill, the prescription bill, PlameGate, NSA, the Patriot Act, 911, Katrina, WMD, etc. etc. etc.

[alcibiades_mystery]

15. That photo is terrible: they look like a pack of mafioso

Seriously. Look at Schumer.

[mountebank]

16. Yeah, they kinda do. But isn't it more the "protecting" aspect of the

Mafia that they resemble? :) You know, the type that would break your kneecaps if you messed with their democracy?

Well, I'm not wedded to that particular photo - but I do think it makes them look strong and professional. Something along those lines, but maybe professionally shot.

[VaYallaDawg]

17. It most definitely needs professional art direction and photo work.

I agree with Atman (I work in advertising too). A positive message always works as a better call to action than a negative one. I'm not a copywriter so I'm not going to venture off onto that thin ice - but you are right also. This needs some good conceptual work, focus group testing, and delivery in the right way.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. No...it's the criminal aspect

just sayin'

[mountebank]

34. "Just sayin" is quite a pastime! I'd love to hear your ideas. nt

[Doctor_J]

19. I would have an ad with the absoulte worst of the GOP

(*, CHeney, Delay, Santorum, Lott) listening to phone conversations of ordinary people, with the voice-over first droning on about privacy, and then at the end saying, "and by the way, your tax dollars are paying to spy on your mom's phone conversations".

[mountebank]

24. God I'd love to see that on nat'l TV. But a unified positive message

is really what's needed at this point, IMO. Saying what you're against, while I think it's justified and certainly what I spend 99% of my time talking about, is not what inspires people. That's what I think a nat'l Democratic ad would be about - a positive, unified message. If we don't get that out there they'll always be able to say that we're against this and against that, but not for anything. It'll be bullshit (like all bullshit it will contain *some* element of truth, e.g. that there's a lot of defense going on by the Democrats, being a minority party and all, but will miss all the salient points) - but it will play well. Let's cut 'em off at the knees before they get that far.

[Doctor_J]

28. I must disagree

The GOP has gained power by lying, smearing, hate-mogering, and demagogueing - NEVER a positive message. What is needed to reach the heartland, libertarians, and apathetics are counterattacks. Besides the one I already mentioned, here's another I would like to see:

A Gonzales look-alike and a Cheney look-alike sitting and combing through library receipts while, in the background, actual newspaper headlines about anthrax, Katrina, abortion clinic bombs, Terry Schiavo, and CIA leaks roll.

Have I mentioned lately how much I despise these people?

[mountebank]

35. I'd guess most swing voters who end up voting GOP probably buy

into their Sunny Day in America, optimistic, action-oriented, anti-navel-gazing veneer, which we all know is bullshit, but is apparently accepted by many. I think the Repubs have done well instilling this image through marketing. The Dems haven't had much luck. Granted, the MSM does everything in their power to make Dems look like craven, poll-driven, wusses who couldn't get out of bed without a consultant to lay a pair of trousers on the bed (like they did with Al Gore). Still, I think the party itself needs an image overhaul - and you're not gonna get it with negative ads that will just be compared to MoveOn.org and discredited. Nothing against MoveOn, I think they do great work most of the time, but nothing like that is going to be accepted on Main St. in Kansas. And it didn't work in the last election. This would have to be a very mainstream campaign, I would think.

[unkachuck]

21. Let's move to a better place....

....do you need a hand? The Democratic Party can help. With over a century of proven ideas and programs we can help you build a better future in a better world. Let us work together to strengthen our country at home and abroad with honest policies, proven solutions and hard work. We can no longer afford the luxury of our present course. The day has come, the time is now, you deserve nothing less....

[eve_was_framed]

22. Losing your freedom does not make you safer

[ddeclue]

23. MoveOn had the perfect ad last year but didn't run it.

Does anyone remember "In My Country"

Video link doesn't seem to work any more...

Description from Slate Magazine:

http://www.slate.com/id/2093860/#ContinueArticle

"If judges were looking for a less mainstream, more rough-edged winner, I might have chosen a finalist called "In My Country." In it, a South Asian guy complains that his country is being reshaped by religious extremists, that his government can keep a list of everyone he calls, and that his countrymen can be held in prison without a trial or a lawyer. The payoff, of course, is that his country is the United States. Yes, it's a hackish gimmick, and you can see it coming a mile away. And yes, the production values are … indie. But there's real passion in the guy's performance. And civil liberties seems a more MoveOn-y, underrepresented cause than, say, deficit reduction. "

[bklyncowgirl]

25. I like protecting your family, protecting your freedom

It's short, it's punchy and it covers a great deal of ground.

[Lone_Wolf]

29. Democrats: Make Sound, Rational Decisions...

This of course portrays the Repukes as being unsound and irrational (which is very true). Later ads could frame the Repukes as being paranoid.

Invading Iraq over imaginary WMD's, spying on Americans, restricting our freedoms, etc.

[PWRinNY]

31. We the People...

I truly see the Democratic Party as THE Party of the People, for the People, by the People. I believe it is the Democratic Party that fights for our rights and protects the Constitution. Therefore, what I see as an idea for a nation-wide campaign is just that: "The Democratic Party: We the People...." That can be expanded on in so many ways, and it's a reminder that the nation's power comes from "We the People" right from the very beginning of our Democracy. The Republicans do nothing to fight for our rights, they only work to take our rights away, in partnership with the Radical Religious Right. I believe the Democratic Party's campaign should be to remind everyone of what our Forefathers fought for and the price we've paid for our freedom, and what they'll do to protect our precious Constitution. And I can't think of three more powerful words than the ones that start with "We the People..."

[onenote]

32. I like: Protecting America's Values

It covers everything and allows us to reclaim the mantle of being "values" oriented.

[mountebank]

33. That's a nice one - I like that.

Very much a slogan - yet true at the same time. How about that! I can see that one up on a billboard with some bad-ass looking Dems standing tall and proud.

Thanks for that one.

[livvy]

41. Upholding Traditional American Values with Dignity and Strength

Freedom
Opportunity
Prosperity
Fairness
Honest Communication
Community Building
Trust
Healthy Environment
Security

These are all progressive values, but they are also American values, things people want for themselves, their children, and their children's children.


Happy New Year, almost!
On edit: It would probably sound better without the Traditional. It makes it too long.

[NoFederales]

36. "Democracy's a wonderful thing, let's try it this year." Worried about

voter rights, wages and health care, environmental issues? Sure you care. The beauty of a Political Platform is that it supports many issues and all of them are based on sound Democratic Principles. Join us and make your voice heard.

My $0.02

NoFederales

[pinto]

37. Fighting to protect your paycheck, your family's health and our freedoms.

[mountebank]

38. Finding the right slogan for health care is key. nt

[mountebank]

39. UPDATE: After reading these posts and thinking more, it seems to me that

where the Dems really need image work is in the areas of national security and so-called "moral values." (Obviously this is not a new idea, but apparently a lot of people think we should be emphasizing domestic issues.) So while I agree 100% that Dems are on the side of the people on every major issue, I think most people know this, Dems always have a better perception when it comes to domestic issues, but people are still swayed by Repub posturing and fear mongering over national security. I think this is where Dems need to hit with a nation-wide ad.

So what do you think about the idea that a nation-wide ad campaign should strive to improve public perception of Dems ability to defend our borders instead of emphasizing domestic issues?

I also think Dems need to change the focus on the "moral values" by attempting to fracture conservative libertarians from the religious right by emphasizing how authoritarian is the idea of the gov't passing laws instead of trusting families to make decisions. From a different angle, the domestic spying program will also turn off a lot of conservative libertarians who will be ripe for a libertarian message of getting the gov't out of our personal affairs a la the Terry Shiavo debacle.

[twenty4blackbirds]

40. Defending America

The Democratic Party: Defending your Constitution http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html
The Democratic Party: Defending your Bill of Rights http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/bill_of_rights.html

The Democratic Party: Defending your America


edit: interesting -- from the same website about the frame of mind of Founding Fathers:
'During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens.'

[mountebank]

42. Yes - it's definitely worth nothing that the Bill of Rights is meant to

explicitly lay out rights that are "inalienable" to man, meaning the Bill of Rights didn't establish them, they exist with or without the Bill of Rights, which only lists a few, the few that the framers thought would be in particular jeopardy.

I like "Defending Your America." Pretty much sums it all up, foreign and domestic issues alike.

[banana republican]

43. The Democratic Party

The Democratic Party:

Good for you
Good for your family
Good for your job
Good for the Country


The Democratic Party:

Good for you
Good for your family
Good for the economy
Good for the Country


Good for Peace
Good for churches
Good for the poor
Good for ....

[mountebank]

44. UPDATE 2: Nice discussion going on at TPMCafe re: '06 election strategy

There is a nice discussion going on re: national election strategy at TPMCafe:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/12/31/141927/43

If I can summarize: there is a lot of debate about whether or not a nationalized election strategy would be useful at all, with some arguing that all mid-term elections are inherently local. Also, it seems clear that the next year for Bush will be ALL about retaining control in Congress because the political exposure for past misdeeds is too great to risk. So the Repubs will come out firing - totally focused on the election from today until Election Day - and the Dems obviously will need to counter. Running local when Bush has the national bully pulpit seems a little crazy, so I tend to feel this argues in favor of a national election strategy.

Some think this should involve a "Contract with America" type document, others think the focus should be on a "Vote the Bastards Out" philosophy. The former is more of a positive campaign, whereas the latter would obviously be much more negative.

National security is the primary foreign issue, while health care seems to be the consensus domestic issue where Dems can make positive inroads. Also in the arena of protecting American jobs, especially in the Great Lakes area and Rust Belt. And there's a slogan we missed:

Protecting American Jobs

Add that in with:

Securing American Borders

And it sounds like a winner to me.

Thoughts?

[newspeak]

45. this administration said

the adults are now in charge--we're still waiting--where are they?

[rucky]

46. By the People, For The People n/t