The Democratic Party is the "big tent" Party.

[kentuck]

Unlike the Republicans who are shackled to Donald Trump.

In the Democratic Party, there is room for liberals, moderates, conservatives, socialists, and even, former Republicans.

The Republican Party cannot say the same. If you do not support Donald Trump, there is no room in their Party for you. They are not a "big tent" Party.

They are a pup tent.

[beachbum bob]

1. why we need to see the moderate republicans flock to democrats both as voters and candidates

we would crush the GOP almost everywhere if that happens

[Hortensis]

11. This is how WE The People win. The only way WE win.

United we stand...

[Demsrule86]

33. +1000

[NCTraveler]

2. K&R nt

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

3. The republicans are a tent...

In Putin’s pants... that is all.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Except this is the reason we're getting criticized for not coming up with a clear message.

Because we can't. So much compromising takes place that the only thing we're good at is being the anti-Republican party.

That's not enough.

[kentuck]

5. Life is not as simple as Republicans want it to be.

It is complex and requires compromise in order to make progress and to keep our nation together.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Is it compromise? Or has the party historically thrown some of its supporters under the bus?

I think the answer is to look at the changing demographics, since the growing brown and black numbers are the biggest threat to Republicans. That's why they are being targeted. Black Americans are getting culled by our police departments, if not by gun, then by felony charges. And Latinos are getting stopped at the border.

Liberals are also targeted because they get demonized.

And, the day Asian Americans commit to the Democratic party, they will be targeted as well. IMHO.

[kentuck]

7. Hopefully we have learned from the past...

....as we should learn from the present.

We do not need a one-trick pony like Donald Trump. Either you agree with us or go somewhere else.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. My vote will always be Democratic, but, we need to talk truths, since we

will pay for any misinformation we might spread, albeit, unwittingly.

It's easy to see it when they do it, though we don't take advantage of the opportunities they give us. For example, why don't we have someone on Alex Jones watch to catch all of the misinformation he spreads about Democrats, so we can counter with the truth? Conservatives repeat his demonizing statements and there's no program the Dems have to counter loudly with the truth.

i.e. they say that Democrats are in favor of open borders, which helps their side dismiss us. How is it that they keep framing our platform like that, and no one steps up to correct them? We should start doing that NOW, instead of waiting.

If we keep doing this, by the time we make it to election time our platform and message will be very clear.

[kentuck]

9. I think that is the job of leadership.

I would agree with those that argue that we need to change leadership more often in the Democratic Party. We become stagnant without new blood, in my opinion.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. This win from Alexandria Octavia-Cortez opened my eyes.

Though she has such hard left -open borders - beliefs that I can see how that would get in the way of making it up the leadership ranks.

Something like open borders is just not taking in the facts of where we are today. You need to add something in there to show that you realize that some monitoring is necessary.

[Demsrule86]

31. She will not advance her agenda in the Congress in my opinion.

But running for office and governing are two different things. Again Congrats on her win...may she serve well and honorably.

[awesomerwb1]

34. We have let them frame issues since I remember

As you mentioned, "open borders". What the fuck is that? We have points of entry and every immigration bill we have supported in the last 15 years or so increases the amount of border patrol agents and technology CONSIDERABLY.

I would say to any of those stupid teatrumper TV pundits, "if you think we have open borders now, I dare you to try and sneak through the border without getting caught".

They came up with "open borders", "chain migration", etc.

There is no such thing as "open borders". There is no such thing as the Dems advocating for "open borders". It's ridiculous and we let them get away with it.

[Baitball Blogger]

37. They can reach their voters with just two words.

THAT's why we need a marketing team.

[Demsrule86]

15. Not true...there is no one message but health care minimum wage...social security etc. all

play well most places.

[Baitball Blogger]

18. As good as those objectives are, they are helping the right see us as the

socialist party. I don't have a problem supporting good programs which are socialist in nature, but we need to broaden that foundation. We are much more.

[kentuck]

27. Isn't it time to say?

That there is room in our Party for socialists, especially Democratic Socialists, similar to the European models?

[Demsrule86]

30. If they join the Democratic Party absolutely...but if they choose the independent route than no.

A big tent needs to reflect all points of view.

[Demsrule86]

36. Healthcare is why we are winning and the tea party held signs that said 'get your

government hands off my Medicare'. So I don't agree...open borders yes that won't play. How exactly would you 'broaden' the foundation?

[Baitball Blogger]

38. Messaging.

We already have a good platform, we just don't market it well.

[Demsrule86]

41. The platform will not work in red states. Thus we need to tailor or message...this year, we are

going after moderate to conservative seats so health care plays well and has been very effective in moderate to conservative areas in the specials. We are a big tent. Even our platform will not work everywhere...the last time we had a majority was when Dead ran his 50 state strategy...often using local issues. Tailoring messages for different states and districts. That is how we win.

[Baitball Blogger]

47. +1

[Garrett78]

43. People don't know what socialism is. Public funding is not synonymous with socialism.

A minimum wage is not socialism. Scandinavian countries are not socialist nations. There's a great deal of ignorance when it comes to socialism.

[NewJeffCT]

20. Democrats have "A Better Deal"

but, it's way too long to summarize in a series of talking points for the Nightly News or on Twitter.

I liked this one I saw a few weeks ago:

Link to tweet

?s=19

[Baitball Blogger]

22. You know, NJCT, I think the reason why the right is more successful with this is that

they know how to humanize their issues - or dehumanize them.

I like all the issues that are mentioned in that tweet, but it's like reading something on the internet on a discussion board in the nineties, versus pushing your points with all the graphics available today.

Maybe we need a marketing firm to help us with this?

[Demsrule86]

29. In my opinion, they have been more successful because of the loyalty of their voters.

They will vote for almost anyone with an 'R' next to his /her name.

[Baitball Blogger]

35. Their party has been able to dehumanize us, so they stopped listening.

How many of them even know that it was conservative Supreme Court justices who supported eminent domain to benefit a private real estate firm? This is pure evil to the right-wing anti-government faction.

[NewJeffCT]

39. The eminent domain issue

Kelo vs New London was also pushed for by then governor John Rowland, a conservative (for Connecticut) Republican

[Demsrule86]

42. I doubt any of them do.

But I see lots of issues people agree with us on ...the problem is they have to be voting issues.

[octoberlib]

40. Messaging has always been a problem for Democrats.

We rely on logic but GOP messaging uses emotion just like advertising agencies do to sell products. Republicans gin up outrage. Actually getting young people to the polls has always been and will always be our biggest problem during the mid-terms.

[Ferrets are Cool]

25. But I am not ONLY anti-republican...

I am PRO HUMAN BEING.

[Baitball Blogger]

32. We just need to shine a light on where our pro-human being platform

exposes the right for the insensitive clods they are -- where even they would agree.

[lagomorph777]

12. And GOP holds kidnapped babies in tent cities in the desert.

[world wide wally]

13. And that is why we will win this time

IF We get people out to vote

[dembotoz]

14. we babble big tent, not sure of the reality

[Demsrule86]

16. Look at the Senate...tell me how you get a majority without moderates to conservatives. It is not

possible at t his moment.

[dembotoz]

19. i continue to find folks who find no home in this party

i see bernie folks actively excluded....in one local party in particular.

didn't believe it til i saw it actually happening
i was shocked

[Demsrule86]

23. What has that to do with the Senate...and the Bernie folks vs the party meme...is divisive. Either

they are Democrats or they are not...if they are Democrats, they have a home...if you are referring to Stein supporters...they made their choice. I am seriously not interested in those who still call themselves 'Sanders supporters' this long after 16 unless they hail from Vermont.

[Demsrule86]

26. I get it now...you feel Bernie supporters don't have a place in the big tent...I have not seen that.

If you would like to explain the circumstances, I could understand better...where I volunteer...all you need is to be breathing and follow the few rules concerning voter contact.

[dembotoz]

45. i sure as hell have. most recently ganging up and putting down more lefty views then theirs

writing clearly on the wall...you are not welcome here...take your marbles and go home

and she did

[Demsrule86]

46. Is this your local party? I have never seen any left views put down...and I live in Ohio...I did

see a kid who came in ranting about Hillary Clinton asked to stop or leave as the 2016 election was over. Also, He wanted free tuition to be the centerpiece of our local elections...not working in this part of Ohio. So what views were so alarming to the party? I mean I want some sort of tuition fix...but know what works here.

[dembotoz]

48. next county over...was at an event and saw it with my own peepers

these folks are out to be very good germans

first time i heard of this it was with a friend during the obama thing.....she told me about it and i did not believe her
she is not a raving lefty...she was the best authority on obama care i ever met....

after i saw it happen again not 2 weeks ago i wrote my friend and apology....

hell i wouldn't join that county party either.....

[Blue_Adept]

24. I'm not sure we're babbling about it anymore

Depending on where you look to get your pulse of what makes up the Democratic party, perhaps.

Around these parts, we've veered heavily into tribalism the last couple of years after the various purges of members.

[octoberlib]

17. Yep

Link to tweet

The concern-trolling over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s upset is really peak, as if Democrats are at all uneased by a 28-year-old Latina winning a race that portends well for November enthusiasm-wise

[PatrickforO]

21. Well said.

We've got to be careful, though, not to let the media divide us.

Lots of stories out today about progressive candidates winning and about how that implies some kind of 'civil war' within the Democratic party.

Remember, though, that:
1. The media is about ratings - if there isn't any controversy they generate some to gin up the ratings.
2. Our founders set up this government to require vigorous debate pretty much at all levels. This slows progress, but it also prevents us from going in the wrong direction really fast, like we are under this orange dictator.

I'm voting straight Dem.

[Demsrule86]

28. I am also...and have done so for years.

[FakeNoose]

44. We need to win the independents and non-affiliateds over

Even if people don't join the Democratic Party (for whatever reason) that's OK as long as they vote with us. In 2016 too many of them went the other way, and now we're trying to fix that disaster.

Try reaching out on social media - not DU where we're safe and polite - and post your liberal/progressive views so others can reach out to you. There is a lot of hatred out there, but there are also a few thinking people who can be convinced. It's hard work and not very rewarding, but you never know when you might actually change somebody's mind.

I was an independent non-affiliated voter for many years until 2008 when I joined the Democratic Party in order to vote for Hillary in the primary. I never regretted my decision and I know that I will never vote for a Republican. But I can understand how some people have lost their way and gotten caught up in the campaign bullshit, not really paying attention to what Trump was doing to the country. Many people are ready to leave him in droves if we can give them the right message.