Dems solve problems while R’s only obstruct

Conservative columnist and never-Trumper S.E. Culp recently wrote a column in The Daily News where she summed up the Republicans’ communication style:

“[S]tart with a real problem — inflation, rising gas prices, inner city crime, a border crisis — and exaggerate or even lie about the causes and severity, maligning entire groups of people in the process…

“[Then, insert] fake bogeymen like Big Bird, critical race theory, Dr. Seuss, and Kyle Rittenhouse into real issues that many voters do care about — like vaccine efficacy, parental rights, political correctness and crime.” Democrats get so flustered by the lunacy and the boldface lies that they are left stammering.

Her prescription? Turn issues around on a party that has no solutions, only grievances. Ask voters if they really want more insurrections, “[m]ore Lauren Boeberts and Marjorie Taylor Greenes, because that’s what they’ll get if the GOP wins in 2022.”

Jennifer Rubin, always a good read in WaPo, has five messages she thinks are winners for Democrats, quoted directly:

(1) Stress that there is only one pro-democracy party.

(2) Stop the hand-wringing and paint a portrait of “Morning in America.”

(3) Present themselves as the party of work and family, and Republicans as defenders of rich tax scofflaws and climate change culprits.

(4) Return to an oldie but goodie from the Clinton presidency: “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.”

(5) Call out the GOP’s war on women.

Signs at a Biden Rally in Kansas City, Mo.

(Photo Credit: Castor Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Joe Biden hugs a mother who lost a child to gun violence, while the former guy throws paper towels at hurricane victims in Puerto Rico.

(Top Photo Credit: WaPo via Getty Images)

(Bottom Photo Credit: Evan Vucci/AP)

But I saved the best for last. Recent research by Anita Dunn cited by Axios, conducted with scrupulous methodology using multiple focus groups, comes to a conclusion that is very similar to S.E. Culp’s. While the focus of the R’s and the media has been on inflation, the fact remains that the Democratic agenda, particularly with regard to lowering costs, is popular with voters.

She goes on to say that “[D]ata also shows that Republican opposition to these plans is damaging to them, and that highlighting this opposition both hurts Republicans on the ballot and raises Democratic approval.” [Emphasis hers.]

The most effective message for Dems that she tested is this:

“Republicans are opposed to plans that will lower costs for working families. Every single Republican in Congress opposes a plan to let Medicare negotiate with drug companies to lower prescription prices. And every Republican in Congress opposes plans to lower the costs of health care premiums, elderly care and childcare. If an idea helps your family, Republicans probably oppose it.”

Every Democrat in every media hit should be pounding this message home. The truth is that Democrats are delivering (okay, there’s a whole lot of drama along the way, but still…) a monumental series of laws and programs that will give a clear and effective path out of poverty to all Americans, whether they live in cities, suburbs, or rural towns and villages. It won’t all kick in before the 2022 elections, but there will be enough progress to hammer home the message that Dems help while R’s hinder.

I’ll add one more piece of advice for President Biden: Go local. One of the biggest problems we face is that the Democratic base gets their news from CNN and MSNBC, while R’s get entirely different, often entirely false, news on Fox. The way to reach normal people who don’t watch cable news all day -and even some who do- is to do interviews on local broadcast stations. It’s not just me, Pew confirms that folks across the country tune into the evening and nightly newscasts on their local stations. President Biden has just started doing this, and I hope he does a whole lot more of it.

Remember, we don’t have to win every county in America. But if we can lower the margin of victory in Republican counties, we can pull off a huge upset. Let’s do this, Dems!