Democrats need to make a historical case

[Onlooker]

For years, and even now, Democrats have been arguing that we like family values and we're fiscally responsible, too. We have never made the case that in fact our values and policies are superior to those of Republicans. We need to educate the public and do it quickly. The Democrats can do that in such a way that they marginalize the Republicans, and invite Independents into the Democratic ranks.

It amazes me that the Republicans are actually accusing Democrats of being sexist and not caring about teenage moms. And, are the Democrats responding? No. The response to this is historical:

The Democrat record on women's rights is vastly stronger than that of Republicans when it comes to equal pay, equal opportunity, anti-harassment, and anti-discrimination. Democrats are vastly more supportive of education to help young people prevent and deal with consequences of unintended pregnancy; Democrats have supported health care and other social services for these women and their children; liberals played a much bigger role in reducing the stigma against single moms and their kids. We have the facts of history on our side, why don't we use it!

We can expose those asses for their not only their failure to help women over time, but their blatant hypocrisy. For instance:

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/09/06/moss_finds_a_home/

"A funny thing happened when WRKO conservative talk host Reese Hopkins (inset) told listeners 17-year-old Bristol Palin's pregnancy makes him question VP hopeful Sarah Palin's parenting skills. Angry Republican listeners blew up his e-mail box, claiming Bristol's condition is family business. And Hopkins, who talked extensively on-air about the suspicious Gloucester teen pregnancy pact, was a little shocked. "You called these girls sluts, you said their parents were horrible," he said of his listeners. "But in 125 e-mails I have stacked in front of me, you're telling me is not a big deal." Hopkins went back to the e-mails he received on the Gloucester story and compared them to his Palin e-mails. He found 70 listeners who flip-flopped on the teen pregnancy issue and invited them to explain."

On the economic front, there's a bounty of evidence that when Democrats are in office, the economy does better.

I think the Obama campaign should run an ad directed at Republicans in order to marginalize them. The ad should be something like this, though these are not the best or most attractive charts

Wake up Republicans!

1. The deficit



2. Average income



3. Dow Jones



http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/21/markets/election_demsvreps/

4. Tax rates



For the Democrats to win the presidency, they need to educate the public and educate them now as to facts of the Democratic successes and the righteousness of liberal morality.

The Democrats can make a case that every time there's a Democrat in the office, our country is safe and our economy is strong, and our compassionate liberalism supports the unconditional love that we believe families should provide.

[BumRushDaShow]

1. It's a shame that the charts only go up to 2004

There would be an interesting shift that should be apparent if the data covered up to at least 2007.

Also regarding your argument, the problem is with the "educating the public" part. It seems that often, the "public" (in quotes) doesn't like to be "lectured to"... And Dems seem so eager to do so with vim and vigor and alot of data, but by the time they are finished, the "public" has fallen asleep or their eyes have glazed over. Meaning the same info, which IS critical, needs to be distilled down to near sound-bite length (which is sad but reality).

Repukes have tarred the Dems with the sound-bite "tax and spend" despite the fact that the repukes have taxed more and spent more than any Dem! I think the Dem's Housegate was actually the perfect illustration of using sound-bite quips to define the repuke economic policies. It dealt a severe blow, was a "game-changer" (yes it WAS!), and is still resonating. Similar illustrative sound-bite length terminology needs to be found to describe what you posted above.

The latest weekend bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac needs such treatment - emphasizing how the greedy CEOs in the financial sector have negatively impacted this country. They could even get as simplistic as showing a gambling casino where "fat cat repuke CEOs" take the public's $$$ and gamble it away - which IS the truth! And this would apply to the banks, to the commodities like oil, and to consumer mortgages.

[Indenturedebtor]

2. Yes the simple fact is that Pukes are bad for America.

Perhaps Dems should really just start puting it that simply.