For years the prevailing media narrative has been “Democrats in Disarray!” while the GOP, supported by their message discipline and reliance on simple slogans have been portrayed as united and having common cause. Their cause may be noxious and the effects on the body politic toxic, but their discipline and unity is portrayed as a sign of strength — a strength that appeals to people who say some version of “at least we know what they stand for.”
Until now, a media that relishes easy narratives and relies on tweets and soundbites to grab and retain viewership continued to apply the “Democrats in disarray / GOP strong and united” template to every possible story.
Meanwhile, with the help of GOP’s reliance on the tried and true “divide and conquer” strategy the GOP, which represents the minority 1%, has managed to retain power over the majority of people by exploiting the diversity of our party to pit Democrats against each other. Moderates against Progressives, the Establishment Dems against the insurgent newcomers. Divide and conquer works.
The divisions of course have some basis in fact — we are a diverse party, we do have conflicting views, and we too often suck at messaging discipline. ( I’ve said that too often in previous diaries to pretend I haven’t been frustrated by the Democrats failure to effectively frame and message.)
On this Impeachment issue the speed with which Democrats have come together and united in common cause has been wonderful to see. Adam Schiff as the Head of the Intelligence Committee is a jewel — one of the very few Democrats who has shown (for some time) that he understands framing (you knew you wouldn’t get through one of my diaries without a framing reference . . . .:).
His ability to come out immediately after the WB report and Trump’s “call notes” were released and describe Trump’s words as “mobspeak” and his actions as a “shakedown” were brilliant. Pithy and easily repeated. The narrative has taken hold. The media is now using those words: “mob boss language” “shakedown” “cover up” — these are simple soundbites and they have shaped the narrative. Such simple messaging has moved the needle on impeachment not only within the Democratic Party but the nation, as polls show support for impeachment climbing.
www.vox.com/...
Finally, this morning I turned to HuffPo and saw this headline:
“Democrats Show Unity on Impeachment; Republicans Show Fractures”
www.huffpost.com/...
For the first time I can remember the media is reporting that we are speaking with one voice. The speed and effectiveness of the Impeachment Launch has caught the GOP/Trump off guard. (Good job Madame Speaker — keep it up!)
No more “democrats in disarray”! HuffPo states that while a few holdouts remain, Democrats are UNITED on Impeachment:
But other than a handful of vulnerable lawmakers, Democrats are on the same page: The president committed a serious wrongdoing when he asked a foreign leader to investigate one of his chief political rivals, Joe Biden, and the proper remedy is impeachment.
“There’s really unanimous consent in our caucus ― or virtually unanimous ― that we need to focus on this, the Intelligence Committee needs to be committed to completing their investigation, and once they do, they will transfer a report or recommendation to the Judiciary Committee,” Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), chair of the Democratic Caucus’s messaging arm, told reporters Thursday night.
After describing the unity of our caucus, HuffPo goes there — GOP in disarray!
Meanwhile, on the Republican side, members are all over the place.
Still, the loudest voices are from the Republicans who insist Trump has done nothing wrong.
We need to continue to speak effectively and with one voice. Yes, there are many questions and many of us may have different views as to how the impeachment should unfold, and whether or not it should be limited in scope to the Ukraine shakedown or whether we want the entire laundry list of wrongdoings exposed, but these differences need to be put aside long enough to come together and unite behind our leadership in this moment so that the media will be unable to “both sides” this and will have to keep the “Democrats united while GOP in Disarray” narrative.
I have had a love/hate relationship regarding Pelosi, regarding Diane Feinstein, regarding our repeated failure to properly frame and message. I know there will be things that we all disagree on as to how these things are handled.
For sure we need to keep putting pressure on our leadership to do the right thing, to not take the easy way out, to hold those who are accountable accountable. If it comes to a time when there are decisions to be made and the options are varied (e.g., resign or impeach? Indict or not indict? Prison or a walled villa?) then our voices can and should be raised in vigorous discussion.
But in this moment, in order to get the public behind us in the huge numbers needed to possibly move the calculus in the Senate (which now is seen as immovable), we will make more progress if we speak with one voice and unite behind our leadership, so long as that leadership is moving in the right direction.
I have been battling some health issues and sitting at the computer is bad for my health, as is the stress of politics, watching TV news, etc. I promised myself no more DK diaries, no more watching hearings, no more politics. But I was so excited to see the HuffPo GOP in disarray article that I had to write this. I’ll do my best to respond to comments but it’s almost 11:00 a.m. on the West Coast and I still haven’t eaten or exercised or done any of the things I’m committed to doing to regain my health, so excuse any inelegant language in this quickly written diary.