Last night I was out having dinner and I got into an interesting conversation with a man, twenty years my senior, about the Democratic Party and messaging. This man is a songwriter who had a number of big hits in the seventies, and we started discussing how crafting an effective political message is a lot like writing a song.
We have all watched in horror at some sad attempts by some Democrats (I’m not sayin’ any names but I am look at you, John Kerry) to get their message out, we have also seen some successful messages emerge. So I ask you, what are messages that work?
It was John Edwards who called it right: fighting poverty and eliminating the "Two Americas" are the great moral issues of our time. Since Edwards left the presidential race, however, the remaining candidates have been scrambling to cover the base Edwards left behind — to sound the call to reduce poverty as Edwards saw it.
On GRITtv, Laura Flanders discusses "bottom-up" approaches to fighting poverty with two acclaimed grassroots activists for economic justice : Ethel Long Scott, Executive Director of the Women’s Economic Agenda Project, a partner organization of the national Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign based in Oakland, Calif., and recipient of Essence Magazine’s "Street Warrior" award; and from New York City, Ana Maria Archila, co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York. These organizations do not "manage" poverty, but rather challenge it, by mobilizing the least economically fortunate to take power within their communities – encouraging their members bring themselves out of the shadows of poverty.
Related posts:
- Sending a Clear Message to the Muslim World
- GRITtv Live: What is the Real Cost of Healthcare Reform?
- Health Care and Poverty: We are Failing Our Most Vulnerable
- GRITtv Live: After the Tiller Murder, How Will Media, Activists Respond?
- A Better Medium for a Better Message: More Than Troops for Afghanistan
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“Comment: I’ve been away for almost two weeks. I noted that Cavuto redesigned his on-screen format. Missing was the little icon usually present in the lower right hand corner of the screen that rotated and showed the closing numbers on the Dow, the Nasdaq and the S&P. Granted, Fox filled the lower third with West Virginia primary info today so maybe that was why. Absent that, and absent reporting by “the money guy,” Wall Street didn’t factor into the show, and Fox bills it as a business news show for godsake. (As the economy has worsened and as economic issues have risen in importance to average Americans, the “business news” – always scant on Your World to begin with – has all but disappeared. If the removal of that pitiful little old icon – many days, all that’s left of Cavuto’s “business news” – is a permanent thing, that’ll be very revealing indeed. I’ll let you know.)”
http://www.newshounds.us/2008/…..market.php
My bold This could signal a lot more bad news after all how bad does future business news have to be if the Fox Business channel does not have a stock ticker at the bottom of the page.
The Elite might be in for hard times.
Salon hinting at Edwards’ endorsement.
Awesome, Chase! More Laura!! ;-)
what the democrats really have to make clear however is that the “war on poverty” will NOT mean entitlement
that it will mean fair wages for fair work, whoever wants a productive job will have one
the specifics can be worked out in some new deal strategy, we really do have to rebuild our infrastucture and restructure our energy requirments and procurement
“we will fight poverty by rebuilding this country”
there, that’s a slogan obana can use without even asking me for permission
Mr. Bull, can you reply to me offline, i need the street address for the studio if you know it. Great work by the way. My e-mail should be the same, eric at. Thanks mista.
eg
CNN confirming Edwards to endorse Obama.
Finally. Thank God.
Have to wait and watch Grit videos at work computer. Loved the first one. thank you. Turning friends and family onto it.
Heard on radio today 23% of American income goes to the top 1%!!!! An economist named J. Bernstein who wrote “Crunch”. He also said, among many other enlightening things, that deregulation and non-regulation results in corruption. surprise.
Also heard on radio troubling references to something in Michelle Obama’s closet re Univ of Chicago boards she has been on. If anyone knows more?
Finally, on a recent blog fdl-ers were discussing how to go outside the nation for help for us. This may be crazy but there is a Canadian ruling in the UN… the Responsibility to Protect. Some in UN trying to invoke to help aid get by the thug military in Burma. I was just thinking, could US citizens appeal to this ruling re some profound issues with Bush administration…. like Geneva Convention defiances, etc. Wonder if concerned citizens of US could petition help from that? If they can’t, it might embarrass and send a POINT? Just thinking out of the box.
Heart sick about the Repubs diluting GI bill and playing games one more time
Edwards said it right. My heart went to Edwards. Just heard Edwards endorsed Obama. Hope Obama appreciates him and uses him right!!!!
Is Healthcare still the number one cause of Bankruptcy or has the Bush economy become the number one cause? Sooner or Later Bush not healthcare will be the biggest reason for bankruptcy.
I don’t think Obama mispoke about poor people being bitter and turning to guns and God I think the MSM just reacted badly to their bubble from reality being pierced.
If anything his comment is genius for now when the GOP talks about how Obama had better not come down their way because it might not be safe for him among the God fearin people with guns.
You know Jesse Helms crack at Bill about how Bill better not come to his state. Well now if that crack is repeated every news organization is going to say the voter in that state are bitter.
Bitter after 7 years of Bush? Oh just how will the media explain it? How will the GOP mobilize their base without threats of violence on the airwaves.
How will the GOP respond to people laughing at their threats and asking them why are they so bitter?
Obama is so unappreciated for his genius:)