I don't know why Democrats, including the President, are so terrible at messaging and so willing to make it look like they are part of the problem. For example, in today's press conference, the President said:
"The only question now is are we going to hold the middle class hostage?"
NOOOOOOOO !!!
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO !!!!!!
"WE" are not going to hold the middle class hostage.
The "REPUBLICANS" are going to hold the middle class hostage.
Here's a simple rule, Dems:
When you talk about a Republican strategy or policy, NEVER EVER EVER say "we" when you are talking about it, unless you say that "We Democrats will never agree to that." So only use the pronoun "we" if you are talking about Democrats, and Democrats alone. If you are talking about Republicans, say "they," although it would be better to keep saying "the Republicans." The more you connect the word "Republicans" with things the public hates the more you damage their brand. Which is exactly what we are trying to do.
"We" never do anything bad -- "They" or "The Republicans" do it.
Democratic politicians, if you can't remember this, then stop ever saying the word "We" in political discourse. I know you're probably trying to sound inclusive, like we're all Americans in this together - but that sweet sentiment does not apply when it refers to Republicans trying to do something terrible.
Stop using pronouns if you have to.
Just say "Republicans" and "Democrats."
So instead of this statement by Obama at his press conference (taken from Jed Lewison's DKos press conference thread #1):
"We've got a clear majority of the American people," on taxes. "The only question now is are we going to hold the middle class hostage?"
which is both bad messaging and hopelessly confusing, since the two "we's" are two different political parties, say this instead:
"Democrats have got a clear majority of the American people," on taxes. "The only question now is are Republicans going to hold the middle class hostage?"
Doesn't that make things a little clearer to the American public? That the subject of the first sentence is Democrats, and the subject of the second sentence is Republicans? That the first we is the opposite of the second we? That it is the Republicans, and not both political parties, that want to hold the middle class hostage?
So no more "we" please.