Messaging again. How Biden can hit a nerve in fence sitting voters updated 12/26/2023

Biden can make the contrast that he is about hope and Trump is about with some simple words like Hope v Hate and Help vs. Harm,.Healthy democracy v Havoc and fear. Hope is a word that has worked well for candidates like Obama and Carter (the man from Hope). Chaos, revenge, and oppression are not positive promises for any one trying to cope with the daily demands of life. The challenge question put to those considering still voting for Trump is what good is he going to do for you and your lives?

 In spite of demonstrating an enormous amount of vigor and effectiveness in getting stuff done, casual observers are still giving the thumbs up to Trump, and it seems to be getting worse as Biden's approval dips below 40%. Biden has failed to communicate how a Trump victory would hurt the lives of so many. He has accentuated his positives and hoped Americans will see the negatives independently.  The problem is that not enough Americans have drawn the contrasts on their own because they only listen to news outlets in their comfort zones that distort and report one side's views.   Part of the effectiveness of such one-sided media is to paint the other side as fake or immoral or lapse into cynicism that everyone and everything in politics is BS, lots of noise that has nothing to do with their own lives.  Biden needs to break through media silos that only present viewpoints that are critical to him or to reach a public that is neither focused nor caring about how they would be harmed in their own lives by a Trump victory. But how?  Biden needs to rephrase how a Trump/MAGA would hurt individuals in their personal lives in his negative message while reminding them of what Biden/Democrats would help.  He has begun to make that contrast, but he has failed to bring it down to the level of daily, self-interested life of non-Maga; those among the other 60 percent who are unalarmed and turned off of news chatter who don't understand it could be a lot worse for them personally if Trump and MAGA win.

  The irony is Trump's public policy plans for his second term only have the support of 40% of voters.  Biden's too old, he's too feeble, etc., yet Biden has delivered while his presumed opponent beats his golf-swinging macho chest with dangerous plans to harm the self-interest of all but those loyal to him.  That is where we are and in spite of Biden's efforts, he has a long way to go, time to do it, to ring the chimes of the 60% potential.  The GOP has provided enough fodder and rich material to do it, but to put it has not through to non-MAGA voters.  MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: We are no longer a 50-50 nation but a 60-40 one on public policy issues

First, Biden needs to give up on those who are an estimated 30 to 40 percent who are probably a lost cause, listening only to a few pro-Trump media outlets and have closed minds for whatever reason or non-reason.

Second, Biden needs to make the campaign about more than just the two combatants.  It is not only about Biden v Trump.  It is also about the extremist MAGA movement as a whole up and down the ballot. It is about all of the other MAGAs who would be swept into power from the White House and federal administrations down to the state houses and local election officials. Note: The attack is against everyone who identifies as a Republican but the MAGA movement/Trump.   

Third, challenge voters to think about how a Trump presidency, or even a MAGA-dominated government, would hurt their own personal lives.:Do it with a series of questions, followed by how Biden/Dems second term instead of a Trump second term would do differently, and use current examples of such attempts or plans from MAGA/Trump own mouths. These are also Biden rally/response platform questions. Here are some challenge questions.

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: What Trump plans for his second term and how he

Do you want elected men to make medical decisions about childbearing or some federal government to do it, too? MAGA does.  They want a federal law to ban abortions and be just like Texas is now.

Do you want elections and processes to be controlled by MAGA loyalists?  They are using the lie that the 2020 elections were stolen to give reason to do this, though, after 3 years of trying, they cannot prove it.

Do you want Obama care you may have or the sense of security you can afford health insurance if you lost employer insurance repealed? MAGA does.

Do you want a government to deny licenses to media deemed not loyal to Trump? Trump does.

Do you want protests put down by active military, tanks, etc? Trump says he will invoke the insurrection act on day one to enable to be on the ready to do it, and he will fire any military brass who objects. 

Do you want federal civil service employees replaced with MAGA loyalists? Trump and the Heritage Society already have funding and a plan to do that beginning day one.

Do you want federal laws to tell you who you cannot love or marry?  MAGAS do.

Do you want Trump to rip up the Constitution? Trump: Constitution should be terminated due to "massive" election fraud (axios.com)

9 out of 10 Republicans silent on Trump's calls to terminate the Constitution - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (citizensforethics.org)

After each question, Biden should confirm his contrasting position and if necessary, repeat when, who, and what ..

Updated: 12/26/23

Biden still has to make the case he will deal with unfinished business that helps ordinary people with their future, not only addressing student loans, border chaos, and leading the free world but also protecting their freedoms that Trump et all who would take away from them. Those include women's choice over their healthcare, the sanctity and ability to vote and have their votes counted, their ability to gather to address grievances, and laws that apply to everyone, not just a few Trump favors.. (That is called "democracy", but we forget what that means to be able to have a voice in our governance. ) He should also say he cannot do it alone. He needs a willing Congress, not one dominated by MAGA. It is not just drawing a contrast of past actions with what Trump promises for the future, but that Biden's past and future plans give hope and promise for the future instead of hate, conflict, and an aristocracy/dictatorship that would destroy hope for a better future or a future that represents MAGA's oppressive and hate-motivated attempt to take away the freedoms and rights you have taken for granted.. until now. "Now" means these freedoms are not forever and would be lost if Trump had his way., using the power he would give himself.

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: What Trump plans for his second term and how he

From my December 16 posting: A word to those on the left from one who is hardly viewed as right-wing on civil rights and domestic issues. This initiative from the extremists on the right has nothing to do with the immorality of war; it is a political strategy to give them more power and an anti-democratic ideology. Playing their game of Putin love/isolationist/ appeasement will only lead to the possibility of getting ourselves involved in a hotter, wider war, not with a proxy like Ukraine, but actively ourselves. If we reduce our defense budget by the 10% Ukraine is costing us, do you really think the savings will be applied to domestic social programs instead of reducing taxes on the rich?    Do not be played.  The reason we are in this position now is because of a power-mad hyper-nationalist Putin, determined to recreate an empire they lost in ending the Cold War. Putin’s plan for a new Russian Empire includes both Ukraine and Belarus - Atlantic Council 

 

Happy Birthday, Mr. President. Let us celebrate you are the adult in the room.

 O fer Gawd's sake, awful day, sez the right-wing gloating press. Biden just turned 81. ( while Trump is in the upper 70's).Happy Birthday, President Biden. You are the adult in the room. Let's celebrate it. You have shown that your head is fit, and Trump's is not. Donald-trump-poses-the-biggest-danger-to-the-world-in-2024 per the influential Economist as alarm bells go off worldwide.  https://www.axios.com/2023/11/16/economist-trump-2024-presidential.

 Biden looks old but is still fit to do the job to make us safer and help us cope with daily problems. Trump beams well-coiffed and ruddy power, beating his chest in macho exuberance on the golf course and channeling others' hatred and fears, but whose adolescent attitude of revolt (don't tell me no, I can't do that, and I'll get revenge and I'll come after you if you try) makes him unfit enough to be president and surround himself with yes people loyalists. Biden's safe, conducting democracy as we have known it. Trump's a danger to our stability, wanting to turn it into his personal autocracy and devote his energy and attention to getting revenge on his opponents. Biden has years of experience and first-hand dealing with world problems. Trump's for just folding up his tent and retreating into the fantasy of 1930s isolationism. (We know how that ended, a two-front World War as Germany and Japan isolationism as perceived weakness and declared war on us) ..

Noted: Biden's stamina is enough to run against a younger man who tops the chart for an ego-driven, self-serving personality with a lust to be our next dictator, who called Hamas the bean dip hummus, forgot what city he was in from the platform, cozies up to Putin and other beloved autocrats/dictators thinking flattery will get him everywhere (his imitation is its best form of flattery). He has a long record of exhorting, approving, and leading supporters to commit violence and the use of active military to put down demonstrations by opponents. He conveniently forgets he once stoked Islamaphobia, keeping Muslims out of the country, now including Gaza refugees, and took credit for ending Roe v Wade, calling those who oppose him "vermin" and raising fear that "immigrants' will contaminate our blood". They will bring disease to our country (while calling to imprison Fauci, who advocated vaccinations to protect us from disease). In the meantime, Biden is acting like presidents ought to work caring about our national security, doing shuttle diplomacy, dealing hands-on with two wars, and having significant talks with our greatest adversary, China, that re-established military-to-military communications so we don't stumble onto WWWIII while running for a second term and keeping America a democracy.

 https://www.axios.com/2023/11/16/economist-trump-2024-presidential.

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: What Trump plans for his second term and how he will do it

Messaging again. Lessons in what worked in Nov. 7, 2023 local and state races

Ohio voters pass amendment protecting access to abortion | AP News

 Listening to pimdit opinions of various takeaways in the November 7 elections,  the abortion issue (choice won with 57% in a red state) and Virginia and Kentucky favored the democrats,  yet in Ohio exit polls, Biden lost to Trump if both were on the ballot  "Biden too old; the economy is bad" gripe voters.  At the same time, Democrats were panicked with the Siena poll that had them losing to Trump in five out of six swing states.  Time to retool the message. Some takeaways from the November 7 outcomes resonated with me.  

One truth is a constant regardless of outcomes on November 7, 2023.  Electing Democrats means the continuation of popular public policies and democracy as we have known it. It means the continuation of the freedoms we treasure. That is true whether the government is led by Biden or Harris and Democrats elected to federal, state, and local positions and legislatures.

Here is the reality check: Biden will always look too old, and prices will not return to what they were before COVID-19.  Voters don't seem to care if he acts and thinks younger than his years and he has the wisom and stamina to get what he wants done, or Trump, 3 years younger can not keep straight that Orban is not from Turkey or Hungary does not border Russia, or that he gets confused about the city he is in.   People really do not care if inflation is now under control if the prices are still higher than before Covid. . The predicted recession was avoided, GDP growth is better than ever, and there are plenty of jobs that pay more than before COVID-19, but voters did not seem to feel it... If Bidenomics did not t roll back prices, at least they should understand how  Biden did help in other ways, particularly in cost of medical care and prescription drugs..  

The operating issue:  abortion.  What worked in Ohio, a red state, to approve a constitutional amendment to protect women's rights to access abortion were two: It was positioned as "freedom" instead of "choice."  "Freedom", has a broader appeal to other associated issues, such as economic well-being,  avoiding poverty with too many children, or being able to be a breadwinner. Men get that concept, too  I heard      Gov.Glenn Youngkin in Virginia wondered how Democrats got control of both legislative houses instead of just one in Virginia. It was abortion. Support for abortion rights costs VA Gov. Youngkin control of General Assembly (yahoo.com)  In ruby red Ohio, even 24% of Evangelicals whose mantra had been to use government to forward their ideology of "pro life', voted with others  for the overwhelming vote in enshrining choice in the state constitution. Exit poll results from Ohio Issue 1 ballot measure on abortion rights - The Washington Post Youngkin had claimed he was a moderate and wanted to set the last date to get  an abortion was 15 weeks. That was reasonable, he thought.  The GOP misses the point of what bugs those who oppose whatever is done contrary to Roe v Wade intent.  It is the control government has over a women's ability to control their bodies by taking away rights they once had for 50 years,. Roe v Wade was tolerable and flexible enough.   Any law which in effect bans abortion, deceptively before women know they are pregnant, or at conception, or heartbeat, is a poison pill to the majority of voters, even in red states. DOA. That will torpedoe any chance  Ron Desantis ability to win te presidency.' As governor, he signed into law the 6 week ban enacted in Florida.

   Trump. many videos of his boasting he was te one who got Roe v Wade overturned by stacking the Supreme Court with "pro-life" appointees, now thinks he will pull a "moderate" position because only he could negotiate a compromise.  Women will never trust a person boasting and found liable for pussy grabbing, years of womanizing, and a history of being a liar to "negotiate a compromise" on a federal election abortion ban.  Even if Trump has never been guilty of any of these tings, pulling a "Youingkin" will also not work to soften up the women vote.

 There is now a red herring raised by "pro lifers"."But some states "permit'' late term aboortions of a viable baby., even if the life of the other is in danger so therefore we need a federal law.  I was married to an OB-GYN who was in practice in Denver for nearly 30 years, before and during Roe v Wade. This issue is not new and wHen it came up when he was alive (He passed in 2015), I asked him about it.  He said in  all of his years in practice he never saw  or heard of a "late term abortion".in the third trimester even though the law technically did not forbid it.  It is setting up a red herring, a lie, as a way to justify a federal law. Shame on the "pro life" devotees. Women can see through their willful ignorance and pretexts... Thanks to modern medicine, there is no need for a woman to have to go into death threatening sepsis, bleeding out, or carry a dead fetus or have an ectopic pregnancy and the pain heartbreak  of it to go through such horrors.. Abortion in the U.S.: What the data says | Pew Research Center

.  Freedom" infers freedom from government dictation prohibiting abortion and taking away 50 years of rights. The Ohio version was not unlimited permission, and neither was Roe v Wade. Ohio's ballot issue was closer to Roe v Wade.It also set the limit of permission to before the fetus's viability but set a figure. Like Ohio, the life of the mother was an exception. ( Ohio set it around 22 to 24 weeks with science-based flexibility). It was unlike the extreme right's limit at heartbeat or at conception.  If the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, women will have freedom from having a forced birth.  Also, in the Ohio legislation, there was the protection of access to birth control so the need and number of abortions could be reduced. It also implies freedom from government and men's control over women's lives.

 Left untouched in the Ohio law was that no one is forced to get an abortion by law. If your values cause you to oppose abortion, your right is respected to carry through with the pregnancy. If you want and afford to be a stay-at-home mother, that too is your right, freedom,  and choice. If you want to speak out against abortion, nothing forbids that,  either. Just understand that the other 57% disagree on the issue.

Another lesson learned. Instead of railing against cultural issues," parental rights" worked, too, in Kentucky.. Government control is not the same as freedom to exercise parental rights. Parental rights work for both sides of issues, but the freedom for parents to decide what they want their children to learn instead of some government making that decision for them can cut both ways, too. The government restricting access to either the pros or the cons of racism or sexual orientation is not freedom.  Parents should also be able to choose books and information in libraries or access to self-sexual identification for their children if they think it is in the best interest of their child. Still, the government should not make that decision for parents by banning, forbidding, or criminalizing access to what the government officials disapprove. It should be a mental health and health care decision made by parents,  not by the government. 

What worked in the reelection of the Democrat Governor in a ruby red state like Kentucky was "empathy" on the economy. What did not work is touting Bidenomics.  Empathy:" Yes, I know you are hurting, but here is what I did to roll back some costs."  I would add that no president, Democrat or Republican, has much control over interest rates, inflation, or the price of gasoline at the pump.  Presidents and Congress can influence the costs of health care and fighting hunger in America. Then, Democrats need to provide a contrast with the GOP: Here is where the GOP stands on that. In the name of cutting the deficit and giving tax cuts to the rich,  they opposed measures to cut prescription drug costs. They railed against Obamacare, which offers good healthcare to millions who could not afford insurance before.  They propose cutting SNAP,  Social Security, and Medicare by reducing eligibility instead of making up shortfalls with tax dollars. 

Ohio voters enshrine abortion access in constitution in latest win for reproductive rights | PBS NewsHour

Election deniers  are also losers. Election deniers overwhelmingly lost in battleground states (nbcnews.com)

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