Liberals Have a Marketing Problem?

[Mikeg]

From the New Republic:

Liberals Have a Marketing Problem: They Haven't Learned to Build Their Brand
By Sara Robinson

Building the Progressive Brand

Every American over the age of ten knows what the GOP and the conservative movement stand for. Sing it with me now: low taxes, small government, strong defense, traditional families. See? You know the tune, and the harmony line, too.
OK, now: What do Democrats and progressives stand for?
Take your time. It's a tough question.
Give up? So have most progressives. Even the movement's most deeply committed members often have a hard time answering this one.
And that's a problem. Specifically, it's a branding problem..........

I personally think that the biggest problem facing incumbent Democrats has a lot more to do with their product - a recent legislative record that is deeply unpopular with the electorate, particularly given the results - or lack thereof - heading into the mid-term elections.



However, I do think the author asks some fair questions:

• What do Democrats/liberals/progressives stand for?
• What are the core values that are inherent to the Democrat/liberal/progressive"brand"?

[Johnlodge]

Equal rights and justice for all peoples. Giving every person the ability to access the economy and "American Dream", which may include public transportation, education, health care. Rejecting the notion that only those with money have a right to these things. Recognizing that some people have been intentionally left behind by past policies, and therefore may need a little help to reach the point where they can help move us all forward.

And I'm not even a "liberal", but that wasn't too hard.

[EastsideAl]

Equal rights and justice for all peoples. Giving every person the ability to access the economy and "American Dream", which may include public transportation, education, health care. Rejecting the notion that only those with money have a right to these things. Recognizing that some people have been intentionally left behind by past policies, and therefore may need a little help to reach the point where they can help move us all forward.

And I'm not even a "liberal", but that wasn't too hard.

I wish most Democratic politicians could be that clear.

[gazhekwe]

Marketing problem? Well, it's something, not sure what to call it. This morning there was a headline in the Guardian I think it was:

Christine O'Donnell Debate: Did anyone win?

See, there were TWO candidates, TWO people debating, not just Ms. O'Donnell by herself there. The other guy, Chris Coons, can't even get in the headlines. Does Christine O'Donnell have a "brand" where the other guy doesn't? Or does the media just want to keep touting the one that says the most outrageous things because they make better stories?

[Papasito]

Every American over the age of ten knows what the GOP and the conservative movement stand for.

Actually, I would contend that the majority of people don't.

Furthermore, the Republican party runs campaigns on the ideals, but most of them get in and vote whichever way the wind is blowing, and don't adhere to what the movement & principles "stand for".

Stand on your core values and stand up for your beliefs - you are a radical nut job.
Vote whichever way the polls are leading you in - you are a reach across the isle candidate that opponants can "work with".

Interesting, isn't it?
No wonder we have no real leaders anymore.

[rb336]

Equal rights and justice for all peoples. Giving every person the ability to access the economy and "American Dream", which may include public transportation, education, health care. Rejecting the notion that only those with money have a right to these things. Recognizing that some people have been intentionally left behind by past policies, and therefore may need a little help to reach the point where they can help move us all forward.

And I'm not even a "liberal", but that wasn't too hard.

and you nailed it on the head. good job [[and i am a "liberal")

Liberalism has ALWAYS been about expanding access - whether grabbing property rights away from the "nobility" and the church or granting gay/lesbian couples the same [[not special, just the same) rights we have to marry the person we love. That is the soul of liberalism

[Papasito]

Liberalism has ALWAYS been about expanding access

That's all well and good, as long as we can afford the programs created under "good intentions". If we have to borrow to pay for them, then it's too much.

And what about "health care"? If it was to grant access to people who didn't have it, that's one thing. What Obamacare does is mandates people to purchase it - no matter what the rates are inflated to - that means the Government has the ability to dictate what you must buy with your own money.... is that even constitutional? They blocked interstate competition and threaten a fine if you don't pay up.
If Liberalism was about expanding access .. for those who can't afford it on thier own ... well that's kind of nice and fuzzy for those people. But for those of us who don't qualify for the free ride, well, we are the ones who are getting screwed.

[gazhekwe]

This is an interesting take on the Tea Party brand, first of a series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj4uB...eature=related

[Johnlodge]

And what about "health care"? If it was to grant access to people who didn't have it, that's one thing. What Obamacare does is mandates people to purchase it - no matter what the rates are inflated to - that means the Government has the ability to dictate what you must buy with your own money.... is that even constitutional? They blocked interstate competition and threaten a fine if you don't pay up.

Do you really think the real self-proclaimed liberals want Obamacare, or something else? We aren't talking about Obama, here. He's no more "Liberal" than John McCain.

[Jimaz]

This is an interesting take on the Tea Party brand, first of a series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj4uB...eature=related

The Mis-Informant Part 2 - with Jack Black as Nathan Spewman

[Mikeg]

Equal rights and justice for all peoples. Giving every person the ability to access the economy and "American Dream", which may include public transportation, education, health care. Rejecting the notion that only those with money have a right to these things. Recognizing that some people have been intentionally left behind by past policies, and therefore may need a little help to reach the point where they can help move us all forward.

Whatever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"?

[Patrick]

Whatever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"?

I'd like to redirect that question to the baby boomers...

[gazhekwe]

Baby Boomers are not all hell bent on getting everything with nothing paid back. That is as much an incorrect stereotype as saying Gen-Xers, because they rely on electronic communication, have lost the ability to understand community.

[firstandten]

Democrats and Liberals tend to have a big tent, because of that the message tends to get diffused among the various factions. Conservatives tend to speak in tight sound bytes and they tend to hammer home the same points, conservative values yada yada. Doesn't make a difference if its true or not perception is 100% of reality to most people.

Therefore its a lot simplier for the GOP to create its brand.

[Mikeg]

Whatever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"?

I'd like to redirect that question to the baby boomers...

How about redirecting it right back to those on this thread who think a statement with notions such as

• "Giving every person......"
• ".....have a right to these things"
• "some people..... may need a little help"

exactly "nails" what Democrats/liberals/progressives stand for and which will help keep the "independent" voters from abandoning them in droves.

[barnesfoto]

"Whatever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"?

Excellent question.
Our nation's schools seem to be recognizing this and requiring students to do "community service" as part of their graduation requirements.


When I think of "What can I do for my country" I think of the many people doing what is called "community activism" and "community organizing" mainly, [[but not always) in our nation's cities. In a nutshell, this means people doing a form of national service right on their block. The current POTUS has experience with such activity.

I heard such activity loudly mocked by John Mc Cain at the Republican National Convention a couple years ago. He got a thunderous applause.


We also have a former president, Jimmy Carter, who has for decades gone out and done carpentry and advocacy for an organization called "Habitat for Humanity".

I can't think of any other American President in my lifetime who has actually modeled the teachings of the prophet whose followers call themselves "Chrisitans"

He too, is loudly and routinely mocked by Mike's friends.

This is why some of us refer to the GOP as a sick cult, and American conservatives as "conservocrites".

[Jimaz]

How about redirecting it right back to those on this thread who think a statement with notions such as

• "Giving every person......"
• ".....have a right to these things"
• "some people..... may need a little help"

exactly "nails" what Democrats/liberals/progressives stand for and which will help keep the "independent" voters from abandoning them in droves.

Nathan?! is that you?!

Whatever you do, don't let them stuff the liberal beans up your nose. The socialists might start farting in your bed! Yikes!

[Mikeg]

This is why some of us refer to the GOP as a sick cult,

You're the only one I've seen who uses that reference. Keep repeating it often enough and it might catch on in another 20 years.

Whatever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"?
Excellent question.
Our nation's schools seem to be recognizing this and requiring students to do "community service" as part of their graduation requirements.......

Voluntary giving of one's time, talents and savings has been and continues to be a powerful force for improving the lives of the less fortunate - requiring someone to "volunteer" their time and talents in exchange for a material benefit, not so much.

Regardless, voluntary acts of charity, "community service" or "community activism" cannot make a dent in the Federal Budget deficit, lower the cost of health care, stabilize the housing market, lower the unemployment rate or improve productivity and our standard of living.

Which begs the question, do you really think a Democrat/liberal/progressive "branding effort" based on

• "Giving every person......"
• ".....have a right to these things"
• "some people..... may need a little help"

can successfully convince "independent" voters that Democrats have what it takes to turn around the spiraling budget deficits, rising health care costs and stubborn unemployment rates - much less stabilize the housing market and unleash productivity so we can resume improving our standard of living?

[Gistok]

From the New Republic:

Liberals Have a Marketing Problem: They Haven't Learned to Build Their Brand
By Sara Robinson

Building the Progressive Brand

Every American over the age of ten knows what the GOP and the conservative movement stand for.

Ummmm..... the author of this "piece of journalism" [[if you can call it that) blew their credibility in the very first sentence.

They obviously has never watched the TV game show "ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER"....

I'll bet if you asked the average Tea Party member this same question... their answer would be "to take back America"... without further explanations...

[barnesfoto]

Voluntary giving of one's time, talents and savings has been and continues to be a powerful force for improving the lives of the less fortunate - requiring someone to "volunteer" their time and talents in exchange for a material benefit, not so much.

"Requiring people to do things" is a staple in schools, be they public, private or charter...even the leaders of your cult seem to have no problem with this.

Of course, job programs for students such as Americorps, which provide meaningful work opportunities and a stipend are attacked by your cult as wasteful, while the very community activism that would empower people to make their own decisions and be more independent of government is mocked by your cult as pointless.

Perhaps our nations poor should simply pack up and leave, like the economic refugees that flood our country from the countries to the south of us, countries where many or all of the economic policies that your cult endorses [[no welfare, lower taxes, weak unions, no legal abortion) are in place. These same refugees are mocked by your cult as criminals when they bypass the "big government programs" of immigration law to come here seeking work, and insulted by your cult as unpatriotic when they try to send some money home to their families.

About the only job program for the poor that your cult seems to endorse is endless and pointless military adventures, which will require decades of additional spending to care for those who return damaged physically and mentally...

To give your cult credit, there are some conservocrites who simply advocate pretending that war does not cause an increase in mental illness, and letting mentally ill veterans live on the streets of our nation's cities, thus creating some potential savings in costs to the US taxpayer.

[Johnlodge]

Whatever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"?

Is this somehow related to your original question that I answered, or are you starting a new topic?

[rb336]

You're the only one I've seen who uses that reference. Keep repeating it often enough and it might catch on in another 20 years.

lots of people make similar statements. and they are.

[Mikeg]

Is this somehow related to your original question that I answered, or are you starting a new topic?

It was a rhetorical question designed to contrast the elements of dependency and entitlement contained in your answer against the simple declaration of what a famous Democrat and his followers once believed less than 50 years ago.

Speaking of cults, remember the "cargo cultists" of New Guinea? They gather on the ground, drums beating and fetishes in hand, performing rituals that they believe will cause the kinds of material wealth typically associated with advanced cultures to materialize out of thin air and land at their feet. Not much different from all those liberals and progressives at their Oct 2nd "One Nation" rally on the Mall.........

[gazhekwe]

United we stand, divided we fall.
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

"Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me also"


How far we are from our ideals. What can we do to revive them?

[Papasito]

United we stand, divided we fall.

Government keeps dividing people by race, sex, age, income level, religion, ect ect ect

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

Government is training people to demand what thier country can do for them, by increasing welfare beyond anything the founding fathers could have ever imagined. An entitlement mentality has been established.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Government runs on fear. "Those Muslims are gonna get you!" "Candidate XYZ is going to take away your Social Security" "The world is getting warmer & making more hurricanes!"

"Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me also"

The least of my brothers are getting free Health Care, Food Stamps and Deferrments on thier mortgages, how about getting that done unto me? Food and Health Care is expensive these days!