Beyond Door Knocking: the Critical Mistake Democrats Are Making in Modern Elections
Democrats lose winnable races because they don't take MESSAGE DISCIPLINE and MEDIA FRAMING as seriously as Republicans. If we want to save democracy, strengthen the middle class, and preserve our constitutional rights, it's time to finally change that.
MC
by Martin Campbell
The Decline of Traditional Campaigning Tactics
Outdated Approach
It's not the 1930s anymore. State and national elections are NO LONGER won by knocking on doors, making phone calls, or grassroots donations. These traditional tactics have a NEGLIGIBLE IMPACT on major races today.
Changing Voter Behavior
Millennials and zoomers don't answer calls from strangers, and in a post-COVID environment, older voters are less likely to open their doors. Even if these activities have some local impact, THEIR OVERALL EFFECT IS FADING.
Ineffective Outreach
90%+ of phone calls and door knocks result in no voter contact. Telling loyal but worried voters to knock doors or donate $100 is largely pointless when it has little effect on the BROADER MEDIA NARRATIVE.
Modern Campaigns as Psychological Warfare
1
Truth Doesn't Sell Itself
Dems need to accept that every major election is an OMNICHANNEL CYBER-DRIVEN PROPAGANDA WAR. The candidate who convinces the media to frame the election through their desired narrative ALWAYS wins.
2
The Power of Narratives
A SINGLE MEDIA EVENT like the overreaction to the Comey letter in 2016 had a GREATER IMPACT on voters than our party's entire ground game and ad spend. Media narratives can negate even the most robust traditional campaigning efforts.
3
Voters on a Media Leash
Voters' opinions are largely shaped by their primary news sources and social circles. Politics is tribal, and people often just PARROT what their MEDIA BUBBLE tells them.
Navigating the Media Landscape
The Pervasive Threat of the MSM
National media outlets like MSNBC, CNN, and the New York Times are NOT YOUR FRIEND. They are financed by billionaires, hire corrupt editors, and subtly support the 1% and the STATUS QUO.
Propaganda-amplifying Pundits & Personalities
Media personalities and columnists who are household names should not be trusted. The more MAINSTREAM the news source, the more incentivized they are to DECEIVE the public.
Treating the MSM like Demanding Stakeholders
The MSM should be perceived as extremely WEALTHY, INFLUENTIAL, and DIFFICULT-TO-PLEASE stakeholders. Party leaders need to placate and be on good terms with them, even though they can never be satisfied.
A Short History of 21st-century GOP Narrative Victories
1
2000: "Compassionate" Conservatism
The press embraced Bush's framing that he was the preferable candidate to "HAVE A BEER WITH". Gore was mocked for playing a key role in the development of the internet.
2
2004: Swiftboating + Fearmongering
The GOP manipulated the MSM into DISTORTING KERRY'S MILITARY SERVICE into a negative, despite 9/11 happening under Bush's watch and him using his connections to avoid combat duty.
3
2010: Amplifying Phony Grievances
The MSM hugely amplified the phony grievances of astroturf-backed tea party racists, IGNORING the fact that the GOP TANKED THE ECONOMY and REFUSED TO HELP fix the mess they created.
4
2014: Ebola is the New Plague and Only the GOP Can Save You
Dems lost due to RELENTLESS MSM CONCERNTROLLING about the economy, the FOX NEWS-FABRICATED EBOLA SCARE, and never-ending criticism of the Affordable Care Act despite the GOP offering no alternative and showing zero empathy for the uninsured.
5
2016: The "left-wing" MSM Gifts Trump $2 Billion in Free Airtime
Our party underperformed due to the PRESS NORMALIZING TRUMP (e.g. giving him a complete pass for being the chief instigator of the racist birther conspiracy), tabloids suppressing critical stories, and the UNPRECEDENTED COMEY LETTER PILE-ON.
The Overlooked Power of Messaging
1
A Unified Voice
- Democrats must speak with one voice if they hope to effectively communicate a SHARP, MEMORABLE MESSAGE to the public and the media.
2
Framing the Narrative
By persuading the MSM to adopt the party's framing, Democrats can DEFINE THE NATIONAL DISCOURSE and influence how voters perceive the issues.
3
Winning Elections
Mastering MESSAGE DISCIPLINE and MEDIA FRAMING is the key to salvaging winnable races and securing victories for the Democratic party.
Message Discipline: The Secret Weapon to Winning Elections
Unity and Discipline
The most important task for Democratic leaders is unity and message discipline. When speaking on national TV, they need to RUTHLESSLY STICK TO TALKING POINTS, no matter how hard the interviewer tries to goad them.
Conditioning the Media
The goal is to nudge the MSM to ADOPT THE PARTY'S FRAMING on as many issues as possible. This requires thorough discipline from everyone involved in campaign communications—from candidates, to PR experts, to social media managers.
Embracing Diversity, Demanding Unity
Although the Democratic party is a diverse big-tent coalition with room for both Blue Dogs and the Squad, successful state and national campaigns require speaking as one voice.
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.
Conclusion: The Future of Democratic Victories
A Contemporary Approach
If Democrats want to save democracy, strengthen the middle class, and preserve constitutional rights, they must abandon outdated tactics and EMBRACE A DIGITAL MSM-FIRST STRATEGY focused on message discipline and media framing.
Lessons from the Past
By LEARNING FROM THE GOP'S SUCCESS and understanding how they repeatedly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, Democrats can develop a winning strategy for the modern political landscape.
The Path to Victory
Mastering MESSAGE DISCIPLINE and SWAYING THE MEDIA to adopt the party's framing is the key to winning winnable races and securing victories for the Democratic party in the 2020s and beyond.
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