Swing voters respond better to ‘99 percent’ than ‘Occupy Wall Street’

[slipslidingaway]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/swing-voters-respond-better-to-99-percent-than-occupy-wall-street/2011/10/24/gIQAvbmFDM_blog.html

"Can Occupy Wall Street go mainstream? Part of that will depend on how independent voters respond to the burgeoning movement. So far, it’s not “Occupy Wall Street,” but its companion slogan, “We are the 99 percent,” that most effectively captures independent support, according to preliminary findings by Celinda Lake, a leading Democratic pollster.

Lake recently conducted a handful of focus groups — comprised mostly of white, blue-collar, and middle-class voters from swing states — and found that “Occupy Wall Street was actually confusing to some people and associated more with youthful protest,” she told me. By contrast, “ ‘We are the 99 percent’ had a much more immediately political, values-oriented connection. ‘That’s me, that’s what’s wrong, the 1 percent is greedy,’ ” Lake explained. (She adds that the slogan was explained to focus groups as pitting the 99 percent against the 1 percent.)

...Such a distinction might not make a difference to the activists at the heart of the movement, who are proud of Occupy Wall Street’s grassroots origins outside the control of Beltway institutions. But the politicians and professional advocates who have since glommed onto the movement might be more inclined to take heed."

[onehandle]

1. Not surprised at all. 99% bumper stickers should be handed out on every street corner.

On edit, here's one. Perfect. 99% and nothing more:



http://www.cafepress.com/irregulargoods.582048338

[NYC_SKP]

2. Makes sense, sounds more inclusive and less threatening"

"occupy" is a bit threatening, and the concept of attacking a financial institution is also, I think, threatening to the common citizen.

[pnwmom]

3. I agree. Like it or not, the term "occupy" implies that the OWS people

are the enemy of the average person -- that those people are "occupying" public lands in the same way foreign soldiers might be doing.

Words are important, and the word "occupy" has connotations that could limit its acceptance among the larger public.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. Swing voters don't even know what they stand for, really. How they could even ponder

voting for Repukes, immediately makes them suspect in my book.

[TheWraith]

5. Well, calling them stupid is sure to win their votes. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. I don't feel I have to lie or pretend. nt

[slipslidingaway]

7. Thanks everyone, it will be interesting to see how this language changes as we ...

move forward.

This was recommended language from a 2007 report by Lake Research in regards to health care reform.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/slipslidingaway/63

Page 19 of 20
http://www.nwlc.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/What%20women%20want.pdf


"Words to Use

Quality affordable health care

American health care

A choice of public and private plans


Words to Avoid

Universal coverage

A system like Social Security;
Canadian Style Health Care

Medicare for All

..."