It kind of seems like the Democratic Party 'got the message' of the Nov 2014 Election:
"Don't run from your shadows, if you want the majority of people to follow you."
House Democrats' new message on the economy: We told you so
by Charles Babinton, stltoday.com -- 1/30/2015
[...]
"Democrats have to stand up, you've got to explain what we did," [Joe] Biden said to loud applause Friday. "Be proud of it... We can't let the Republican Party rewrite history."
Obama said much the same the night before. "The record shows we were right" the president said, referring to the 2009 stimulus, the bank and auto industry bailouts, and other strategies to pull out the great recession of 2008.
If the Democrats' were so right, reporters asked, why did Republicans clobber them in the 2014 midterm elections? Poor messaging, top Democrats said, which must be remedied.
[...]
"Poor Messaging"? Well I guess, they're are worse problems to have. ... like Republicans running ALL branches of Government, circa 2017.
The first step, is admitting ... you have a problem ...
Dear America,
Don't give up on us yet,
because we are working hard,
to figure out what we really stand for.
We even got a "Word Cloud" of the topics,
that YOU think are important.
Next time we vow to use them, once in a while.
Just like we mean it.
Signed,
your Shell-lacking Democratic Party
House Democrats vow to explain their vision better in 2016
by Charles Babinton, The Associated Press; philly.com -- 1/30/2015
[...]
Republicans scoff at Democrats' talk of better messaging. "Updating the packaging doesn't help if the product is still lousy," said Michael Steel, spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Republicans say huge numbers of Americans dislike the president's signature health care overhaul. Israel [Steve Israel (NY-D)], by contrast, says only the "tea party base" strongly opposes it.
In a sense, both are right, which is why skillful framing and messaging are crucial to campaigns. Polls show that many Americans like key details of the health law, such as guaranteed insurance for people with pre-existing medical problems. The law's overall image is less popular, however, especially when it's portrayed as a big-government mandate.
Seeking new ideas, dozens of House Democrats filled out a "messaging survey" on key points to stress. Israel displayed the resulting word cloud. The phrases cited most often were "middle class," "paycheck growth" and "jobs."
[...]
"Messaging survey" ... "Word clouds"? Well I guess, that is one way to correct your "Messaging Deficit" ... although there probably are some better ways to 'message better'
-- like standing for something
-- like telling the people what you actually stand for
-- like having tried and true values that have defined the inclusiveness of the Democratic Party for decades.
Here's a newsflash for the vision-less Democrats: being "Democratic" is MORE than a Label.
It's a vision of what our Country could be, what our Country SHOULD be -- especially and foremost, for the least among us.
The Democratic Party stands for providing and protecting "Opportunity for All." Real opportunity. Food in the Frig opportunity. Money in the Bank opportunity.
PS. These reps have a pretty good handle on that Democratic Vision thing.
Directionless Dems you should check out their issues list and their solutions list -- or better yet join their effort, and stand for THAT something.
They have all the "Word Cloud" tested words you can manage, during any campaign for the People's votes -- and so very much more. They have Integrity.
But most of all Directionless Dems you got to stand for something.
"Or else, you're gonna fall -- for anything!" (just see GOP, for that Blueprint.)