David Plouffe advising White House on 2010 midterm elections

[cal04]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702402.html?wprss=rss_politics

Ask David Plouffe how Democrats can recover from their electoral setbacks over the past few months and he has a simple answer: Republicans.

"Politics is a comparative exercise," Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, told the Fix in his first extended interview since he took on a broadened political role for the White House in advance of the midterm elections. "This isn't just a referendum on Democrats or our party. It's a choice."

That choice was made explicit far too late in last month's special Senate election in Massachusetts between then-state Sen. Scott Brown (R) and state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), Plouffe noted. "Everyone would agree that the definition of Brown should have happened a lot sooner and a lot more clearly," he said.

(snip)
Though Plouffe insisted that each campaign will be unique, it is clear he feels strongly that Democrats have done a poor job in drawing contrasts with Republicans, and in making sure that voters know what a GOP majority in the House or Senate would mean for the direction of the country.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Good!

Cause we need him there!

[madrchsod]

2. he has a lot of work to do

it will be interesting if he call pull it off. one thing that needs to be done is deep six rahm. he should be shown the door but i do`t think that will happen.

this is really good news

[OHdem10]

3. Plouffe is absolutely correct.in his theory. Here is where he might

hit a snag. The Blue Dogs and DLC Centrists are Republican
Lite. How contrasting can they be, when they have always
simply competed with Republicans for the upper half of the
economic scale. They actually get Republican votes. This
is why they are so nervous right now and why the Republicans
have decided to target many of them in 2010.

[still_one]

4. The reason some Democrats in Congress did a poor job drawing contrasts with the republicans

is because their views are not that much different from the republicans

HCR is a perfect example, especially the Senate version

When you have the majority of people want a public option, and the Senate says no way, where is the contrast?

[Skittles]

5. how does one pronounce "Plouffe" please; thanks

[tomm2thumbs]

7. I believe pronounced pluhf

anyone?

[secondwind]

8. yes, it rhymes with 'FLUFF'....

[burning rain]

6. "Politics is a comparative exercise."

It's also an absolute matter. Do voters like the program of the party in power, or not? It looks like Plouffe may be overestimating the effectiveness of saying that the other party's worse. When you've been in power a while, you have to run on how you've governed, not just stated positions and promises--big difference for Democrats between 2008 and 2010. Now we have the White House and Congress, and we own the policy that's being made.

[Jim Sagle]

9. Translation: 'Where else ya gonna go, chump?'

[laughingliberal]

10. "Democrats have done a poor job in drawing contrasts with Republicans...

...and in making sure that voters know what a GOP majority in the House or Senate would mean for the direction of the country."

I'd suggest they start passing some Democratic style legislation. I don't think, "But those guys would be worse," is going to win a lot of elections for us.

[tavalon]

11. He might also inform the President about how his apparent lack of interest

and his Chief of Staff's arrogant dismissal of liberals is hurting the Democratic party. Many of us are furious at both of them and one doesn't seem to care and the other one is actively antagonistic to us - a losing combo if there ever was one.

[Triana]

12. "Democrats have done a poor job in drawing contrasts with Republicans"

I'd say. The "Blue Dogs" are right in bed with the Republicans. No contrast there. None at all. Just ask Max Baucus. Pfft.

Hell, you'd hardly know that Democrats are in the majority in both houses and in the Executive the way they're acting - incredibly timid. It's rediculous. Even Obama has not been forceful enough. Health care is gutted to Hell and back and still isn't passed. That's one reason why.

[progressoid]

14. Yep - sometimes it's really hard to see the contrasts.

Msybe we need to do a better job of drawing contrasts between blue dogs and liberals during the primaries.

[bleever]

13. You gotta push back hard against the losers when they're calling you names.

They draw their lines with crayons and fever lightning, so you need to be willing to counter that with straight up facts about who is fixing, and who broke it.