We Need to Get the Message Out
by Kathy Goodman
We have spent the last several weeks encouraging (and hopefully inspiring) you to get out and talk to people about the upcoming election. Direct contact with potential voters is the best way to increase voter turnout (essential in midterm elections, when turnout is traditionally lower) and to persuade undecided or independent voters to vote for Democrats. But what should you say? Crimson Goes Blue has created a new Messaging Guide that you can access on our website.
Democratic messaging guru Anat Shenker-Osorio has shared some research-based and focus-group tested messages that will help you be the most effective advocate for Democrats this election cycle. The number one winning message for Democrats is centered around protecting our freedoms. Republicans have tried to distract voters from their action and inaction of the last two years with fear-mongering about crime and inflation. It is tempting to respond to these accusations with Republican framing; but a better response is to highlight how Republicans have taken no effective action on these issues and to emphasize how Democratic policies protect our freedoms.
For example, in response to an attack on Democrats as soft on crime, a winning response might be: “In America, we value our freedoms. Freedom to retire in dignity, decide whether and when we grow our families, and know our kids will make it home safe. But Trump Republicans want to take away our freedoms – ending Social Security and Medicare, outlawing abortion, and blocking gun safety – so they’re trying to scare us with false claims about where Democrats stand on crime. We see through these lies and will vote for Democrats to protect our freedoms.”
When Republicans try to blame Democrats for high prices, we need to remind voters of Democrats’ commitment to fight for ordinary Americans, such as when they passed (with no Republican support) the Inflation Reduction Act, which included provisions to help cut the costs of prescription drugs, healthcare and energy. Republicans have proposed no policies to reduce inflation and instead continue to support the same wealthy corporations that raise prices and then brag about record profits.
In the closing weeks of the election, we need stay on the winning issue in this election for Democrats, which is protecting our freedoms, flipping the arguments back on Republicans by highlighting their subservience to wealthy donors and corporations, their obstruction of common sense gun safety measures, their embrace of the January 6 violence, and their attacks on Medicare and Social Security. We need to remind people of what actually keeps us safe and economically secure: communities where people have what they need and care for each other.
We have just under three weeks to do our best to get as many people to the polls as possible by November 8 to protect our freedoms and preserve our democracy!
Check out our new Messaging Guide for a deeper dive on all of these messages, and specific examples you can use and share.
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