There Are Ways Democrats Could Focus and Amplify Their Message
The Democrats need a designated spokesperson. President Trump can get his message of the moment covered in news and media because he is president. One person, speaking as head of the government and head of his party. One person for media to cover. One person all media know that if they cover what he’s saying they’ll get lots of hits from people checking it out. Both those who will like what he says and those who won’t.
On the other hand if, say, the candidate for governor of California, whichever one is running second in the polls, says something about what Democrats should do if they regained the House or the Senate, or both, or the presidency too in 2028, a relatively few people will check it out. Likewise if it is the governor of some middle-sized state, or the second in line on the Congressional Ways & Means Committee (ranking member of the minority party), or even the head of the Democratic organizing committee. Some people would pay attention but most would not know who these people are, or would assume they have no authority other than in their own domain, or that what they say is just their opinion and can’t be taken with confidence that that’s what Democrats would do.
It’s difficult for either party to have a focused message when they don’t have a president in their party to make statements. The only other time that works is when the presidential election is coming up and some leading contender has become the default spokesperson for the party.
So how to overcome that? Designate a spokesperson. One person designated by the party to make as much of a news splash as possible, as often as possible. Every other day if possible. Go to the border and talk about how the wall is a waste of money. Go to Minneapolis and talk about how any deportations that should happen, should happen in a just and humane way. Go to Alabama and talk about how Democrats would not have just redistricted black voters out of being able to elect their own choice. Go to some place in the middle of the country where there have been large layoffs due to AI and declare what Democrats would do to make AI help workers rather than replace them.
A caveat here. Of course, Democrats, if in power, would have to be effective at delivering on those issues, whereas generally they have not been taken as effective in those ways. Although until Trump reversed a lot of things there is a lot to be said for what Biden did on many of these issues. In any case Democrats have to first make their case, then have that lead to regaining power, then follow through. Step one could be greatly helped by a designated spokesperson.
They would have to be someone who is not running for an office anytime soon so the party is not playing favorite to someone. They would have to have some credibility like perhaps a retiring member of Congress. Dick Durbin, the retiring senator from Illinois, would be an option. Someone with the charisma to convey a message. (Durbin would be middling in that regard.)
They would have to stick to general themes. To take one issue, say the wealth tax, some elected Democrats, or ones running for office, would support that and some wouldn’t, so you can’t promote that as something Democrats agree on. But they could talk about making taxes fairer, and about making the whole economy more focused on how well the people doing the work are doing in it. There are also things that are non-negotiable. For instance, that all policies of the government should give full respect to all people, white and black and brown, gay and straight, everyone.
It would take time for such a spokesperson to be at it until the media becomes convinced this really is the voice of the party and so cover them regularly. The president will always get more coverage, but this could add up to a strong boost to an alternative message. Certainly better than the messaging happening now.
I’ve tried to talk to some Democratic leadership about this idea to get their reaction and have either gotten no expressions of support or even criticism insisting that they don’t need any messaging improvement. I’ll write more about all of that later.
So why aren’t they doing this? Why aren’t they using every means available to stir up support? Well, if you’re a Democrat or a supporter, maybe you should send this along to your Representative and ask them that.
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