Republican pollster Frank Luntz, the Evil Genius reponsible for the Contract ON America back in 1994, has conducted some serious focus group research in Iowa and New Hampshire and came up with a "Ten Commandments for 2008 Democrats." This is pretty much what we here at Raising Kaine have been saying for some time. In particular:Commandment #1: Don?t feel my pain ? give me something to alleviate it: "Democrats don?t want to be told what?s wrong with America. They want to be told what you plan to do about it."
Commandment #7: The 2008 Agenda: education, healthcare, prescription drugs, energy independence.: "The war in Iraq may grab the headlines and the attention, but Democrats are much more focused on concerns right here at home....Tell us
what you?re going to do to improve our quality of life right here in America."
Commandment #8: The 2008 Attributes: intelligence, competence, accountability, getting things done, passion, honesty and being ethical.: "The 2008 contest is
not just about the issues. It?s also about who the candidates are and what they are truly about.
Smart is in. Accountability and integrity are necessities. And passion ? yes passion ? is a
prerequisite."
Commandment #10: Winning is everything. And the only thing.: "As in 2004, Democrats want to win. Unlike 2004, they REALLY want to win. No candidate will secure the nomination whom they fear will lose to the Republican nominee. Electability is going to play a major role in 2008."
In other words, it's time for Democrats to say what THEY believe in, to say it with PASSION, to stop "thinking of an elephant" all the time, to be HONEST with the American people, and to focus on key issues here at home like education, healthcare, and energy independence.
By the way, Frank Luntz needed focus groups to figure this stuff out? Can we say "blatantly obvious?" (except, of course, to the few idiot Democrats out there who seriously think we just have to lay back and watch the Republicans collapse while we stand for nothing). And people pay Luntz good money for this? Shit, maybe I should go into THAT business; screw blogging! Heh.