House Democratic leaders are holding a closed-door meeting with members of their caucus this afternoon to discuss a new slogan for the 2006 midterm elections: "Together, We Can Do Better" or "Together, America Can Do Better," according to Democratic sources. | "Democrat's, America can do better" |
Although aides say the slogan has yet to be finalized and is still up for debate, it has already been in frequent use by Democratic leaders on both sides of the Capitol for several weeks. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) used it as early as Sept. 29, during a press conference on Hurricane Katrina relief, according to a search of an online news database. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) first used it in a similar Katrina press event Sept. 15.
Since then, it has become a common refrain in Democratic leadership statements, usually appearing at the end of Pelosi's press releases or sprinkled liberally in Reid's comments. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) used it in the Democratic radio address on Saturday. Reid plastered it across the backdrop of an event held last week. The catchphrase is not new to political observers, who will remember that an earlier reincarnation, "America Can Do Better," was a slogan in the campaign of presidential aspirant Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), although his main theme was "A Stronger America." | It worked real well under his picture, don't ya think? |
"America Can Do Better," which lacks the word "Together," has also been in frequent rotation this fall. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) used it on "Fox News Sunday" on Oct. 16. Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-Conn.) incorporated it in her in Oct. 8 radio address, as did Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in the Oct. 1 radio address.
Today's meeting will gather feedback from the broader caucus on the slogan, Democratic aides say, as part of a periodic effort to reach out to all members of Congress on message issues. Democrats plan to unveil their 2006 party platform in the coming weeks, much earlier than in previous cycles and way ahead of the GOP's 1994 "Contract With America," which came out six weeks before the election. Democratic leaders from an array of constituencies, including the House, Senate, Democratic National Committee, governors and mayors, have been working for months on a project designed to convey Democratic ideas and views to the public in a better way.
"There's this sense that people don't know where we stand or what our ideas are," a House Democratic leadership aide said. "Messaging has been the problem. 
People should know where we stand. We've made our views clear on every issue that has come to the floor." | We know where you stand. We just don't agree with it |
Academic George Lakoff, marketing expert Jack Trout and software entrepreneur John Cullinane have periodically weighed in on the project.
Democrats are also expected to discuss message issues beyond the overarching slogan, in an effort to address the widespread belief in Democratic circles that they need to communicate more effectively with voters. "We know the majority of people agree with us on the issues," a House Democratic aide said, "but this effort is an acknowledgment that we need to communicate better." | Same old, same old. They keep thinking they have the right message, we rubes just don't understand. |
The message project considered "dozens" of potential slogans, many coming from members of Congress themselves, before making the tentative choice. The phrase is expected to act as an umbrella for a wide range of Democratic ideas.
Mike McCurry, who served as a spokesman for the Clinton White House, will lead the discussion at the meeting today. He made a similar presentation on the Senate side with former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta and former senior Clinton adviser Doug Sosnik several weeks ago. Jim Gerstein from Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research will present positive polling on the slogan. "They're going to be looking to get people's thoughts and foster a discussion" of conveying their message, the leadership aide said.
Similar slogans in past election cycles have also polled well but failed to win back either chamber for Democrats. Former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) had a two-word rubric: "Families First." Last cycle, Democrats did not have a catchall phrase, instead unveiling a set of six core principles in the New Partnership for America's Future. |