Obama energizes House Dems: 'We've got a lot more work to do'

[applegrove]

Obama energizes House Dems: 'We've got a lot more work to do'

By Mike Lillis at the Hill

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/231237-obama-tells-dems-weve-got-a-lot-more-work-to-do

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Addressing the Democrats gathered in Philadelphia for their annual issues retreat, the president warned that recent economic gains haven't reached everyone, and called on the lawmakers to keep battling for the party's priorities until they do.

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"It’s not that the Democrats don’t have a message. It’s that we had too many," Pelosi said, explaining why the Democratic message got muddled last year.

The Democrats have every reason to stick with the same policy script, as public opinion polls consistently show that voters favor the central provisions of their economic agenda, including a minimum wage hike, immigration reform, an extension of emergency unemployment benefits and more generous childcare benefits.

But that popular support hasn't translated into election gains in recent cycles, leaving the Democrats scrambling for a messaging strategy that compels voters to the polls.

Obama, for one, thinks he has the prescription.

"We need to stand up and go on offense and not be defensive about what we believe in," he told the Democrats Thursday night, to a raucous standing ovation.




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