Monday, May 08, 2006
The Democratic Disconnect and How To Bridge the Gap
After the 2004 election I was puzzled as to why a majority of the voters would vote for the party that would benefit them the least. You know who I'm talking about - the working class, the security moms, the NASCAR dads. These are the people who won't see any benefits from eliminating the estate tax, but they're all for it because it sounds like a tax cut. Why can't the Democrats reach these people? What is the hold that the Republicans have over these voters? Well, I think I've finally figured it out and I'm here to tell you it's a lot simpler than you might think.
The problem lies in the fact that the Democratic party is giving the American voter too much credit. Our elected officials treat them with too much respect. I know that sounds condescending, but stick with me on this. I think it will make sense in the end.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average family has two children and makes about $44,389 per year. Between work, children, and family, it stands to reason that a lot of Americans don't have time to follow all the ins-and-outs of their elected officials. If you've got kids, you know what I'm talking about - homework, school plays, Little League, swim lessons, etc. etc. etc. So most Americans tend to get their news from what they hear on the radio on the way to and from work and what they can catch on the nightly news between the answers to "How was your day?" and "What's for dinner?" They have to rely on the traditional media's Reader's Digest version of the goings on in our country. So after they've sifted through the stories about Tom and Katie, Brad and Angelina, and the parade of missing white girls, it's no real mystery why most of America is less than informed. For instance, how much do you suppose they know about the recent scandal involving Cunningham, Foggo, poker, the Watergate Hotel, and hookers? Judging by what I've seen in the traditional media, I'd say none. But the Democrats don't get it. They act as though everyone is privy to the same information they are. If you need proof, check out this exchange between House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Tim Russert from yesterday's Meet the Press:
WTF? I'm not sure I even understand what the hell she's saying. She's assuming that anyone watching knows the whole story. But the majority of people don't. Yeah, yeah, I know, most people probably don't watch MTP either, but this problem isn't confined just to Sunday morning gab fests. It's pervasive. Check out almost any statements made by our party's leadership. It's like a puzzle or something.
A long time ago I saw an episode of Mad About You where Paul was trying to register Jamie for classes. He was so confused that he ended up saying "Talk to me like I'm four." This is how the Republicans have managed to ensnare the security moms and the NASCAR dads - they talk to them like they're four! They don't assume that they know what's going on. In fact, Republicans assume that Americans don't have a clue about what's happening and they lay out the issue in the simplest, most self serving terms and they use the most inflammatory language possible. Republicans spoon feed the American voter only the information they want them to know. Pelosi and the rest of the Democrats could learn a lesson from them. Instead of the cloak-and-dagger insinuations, Pelosi's answer could have been much more effective had it gone like this:
Short, simple, and to the point. It assumes that the average viewer doesn't know what's going on and it gives them the high points in terms they can understand. Everyone understands gambling and hookers and while they might enjoy it for themselves, it's not something they want to hear about their elected officials.
For too many years now, the Democratic party has been giving America more credit than it deserves. If they want to bridge the gap and connect with the apathetic voter, the first step is to get America to understand what the hell they're talking about. Plain language for plain people. As a teacher, I've learned that you can't assume anything about what people know. You have to start with the simplest facts and then you can work up from there. The Democrats need to simplify if they really want to bridge that gap.
BTW - Georgieboy's now below the freezing point. He's at 31% and falling.
The problem lies in the fact that the Democratic party is giving the American voter too much credit. Our elected officials treat them with too much respect. I know that sounds condescending, but stick with me on this. I think it will make sense in the end.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average family has two children and makes about $44,389 per year. Between work, children, and family, it stands to reason that a lot of Americans don't have time to follow all the ins-and-outs of their elected officials. If you've got kids, you know what I'm talking about - homework, school plays, Little League, swim lessons, etc. etc. etc. So most Americans tend to get their news from what they hear on the radio on the way to and from work and what they can catch on the nightly news between the answers to "How was your day?" and "What's for dinner?" They have to rely on the traditional media's Reader's Digest version of the goings on in our country. So after they've sifted through the stories about Tom and Katie, Brad and Angelina, and the parade of missing white girls, it's no real mystery why most of America is less than informed. For instance, how much do you suppose they know about the recent scandal involving Cunningham, Foggo, poker, the Watergate Hotel, and hookers? Judging by what I've seen in the traditional media, I'd say none. But the Democrats don't get it. They act as though everyone is privy to the same information they are. If you need proof, check out this exchange between House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Tim Russert from yesterday's Meet the Press:
- MR. RUSSERT: Friday, this was the scene in the Oval Office when President Bush suddenly announced the resignation of Porter Goss as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Your reaction?
REP. PELOSI: The intelligence community is in disarray right now. The American people, in order to be protected, must have the best possible intelligence. We want the president and the Congress to have that. The—this administration has not managed the intelligence community well. We have questions that have arisen about the effectiveness of the new direct—Office of the—of National Intelligence that was formed. We have a CIA that is demoralized. We have a fierce competition between the Department of Defense in a power struggle with the entire rest of the intelligence community. We have to do better, it’s very important to the American people. We need competent leadership, we need objective collection, analysis and dissemination of information, and we need this to be done in a very, very non-partisan way.
MR. RUSSERT: Do you think Mr. Goss left voluntarily?
REP. PELOSI: No.
MR. RUSSERT: Why, why was he relieved?
REP. PELOSI: Well, depending on the story, he’s been on his way out for at least one month because of the struggle between him and Mr. Negroponte. But I think that this dismissal was triggered by what has been happening on the scandal front for the Republicans with the third in command, who was hired by Mr. Goss to, to be involved in these card games and whatever else it was.
MR. RUSSERT: Do you have any evidence to base that judgment?
REP. PELOSI: Just a strong political instinct and the timing of it all.
MR. RUSSERT: That Porter Goss is caught up in...
REP. PELOSI: No, no, not—he isn’t. But the CIA and person that he appointed, who was a questionable appointee to begin with, is caught up in that, and it’s a reflection on his leadership and his management.
MR. RUSSERT: But you have no evidence of that?
REP. PELOSI: I have no thought that Mr. Goss is caught up in any of this, no. I know him, I, I haven’t any thought that he would be caught up in it. But it’s all a reflection on the president of the United States, and they were going to take that off the table as soon as possible.
WTF? I'm not sure I even understand what the hell she's saying. She's assuming that anyone watching knows the whole story. But the majority of people don't. Yeah, yeah, I know, most people probably don't watch MTP either, but this problem isn't confined just to Sunday morning gab fests. It's pervasive. Check out almost any statements made by our party's leadership. It's like a puzzle or something.
A long time ago I saw an episode of Mad About You where Paul was trying to register Jamie for classes. He was so confused that he ended up saying "Talk to me like I'm four." This is how the Republicans have managed to ensnare the security moms and the NASCAR dads - they talk to them like they're four! They don't assume that they know what's going on. In fact, Republicans assume that Americans don't have a clue about what's happening and they lay out the issue in the simplest, most self serving terms and they use the most inflammatory language possible. Republicans spoon feed the American voter only the information they want them to know. Pelosi and the rest of the Democrats could learn a lesson from them. Instead of the cloak-and-dagger insinuations, Pelosi's answer could have been much more effective had it gone like this:
- MR. RUSSERT: Friday, this was the scene in the Oval Office when President Bush suddenly announced the resignation of Porter Goss as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Your reaction?
REP. PELOSI: The intelligence community is a wreck right now, Tim. America deserves better. What we need is competent leadership, who will make sure that our intelligence agencies are doing whatever they can to keep us safe and, quite frankly, the Bush administration has failed to provide that.
MR. RUSSERT: Do you think Mr. Goss left voluntarily?
REP. PELOSI: No.
MR. RUSSERT: Why, why was he relieved?
REP. PELOSI: He was relieved because one of his top officials is being investigated for taking part in lobbyist sponsored poker games at the Watergate hotel where they were allegedly supplied with hookers.
MR. RUSSERT: Do you have any evidence to base that judgment?
REP. PELOSI: There's an investigation isn't there?
MR. RUSSERT: That Porter Goss is caught up in...
REP. PELOSI: Tim, maybe Porter Goss is involved and maybe he isn't, but people from his agency are being investigated and he's suddenly resigned. To me, that looks suspicious.
MR. RUSSERT: But you have no evidence of that?
REP. PELOSI: Here's what I know, the CIA director has resigned and one of his top officials is being investigated for his involvement with corrupt lobbyists that may have provided him with hookers. We'll have to see how the investigation plays out before we know how deep this goes and who all is involved. But with the recent revelations about the Republicans party's involvement in scandals I wouldn't be surprised if this goes all the way to the top.
Short, simple, and to the point. It assumes that the average viewer doesn't know what's going on and it gives them the high points in terms they can understand. Everyone understands gambling and hookers and while they might enjoy it for themselves, it's not something they want to hear about their elected officials.
For too many years now, the Democratic party has been giving America more credit than it deserves. If they want to bridge the gap and connect with the apathetic voter, the first step is to get America to understand what the hell they're talking about. Plain language for plain people. As a teacher, I've learned that you can't assume anything about what people know. You have to start with the simplest facts and then you can work up from there. The Democrats need to simplify if they really want to bridge that gap.
BTW - Georgieboy's now below the freezing point. He's at 31% and falling.
