Knotted Gun sculpture, New York City
Last month, the Democratic Party announced that it would run an anti-corruption campaign against Donald Trump and his administration in the 2018 midterm elections. We suggested that the Democrats also campaign on what they stand for, and, a few days later, the Democrats did something ingenious along those lines when they proposed that the Trump/Republican tax cuts be rolled back and the proceeds be used to fund teacher raises and school improvements such as new textbooks. Since we’ve gone through numerous special elections and primaries already, it’s time for the Democratic Party to roll out a specific, national campaign for the midterms that ties these ideas and actions together. We have the following suggestions:
First, the Democratic midterm campaign theme should contain three simple elements, as the “Rule of Three” has been shown to be very effective in political campaigns and in communications generally. Recall, for example, George H.W. Bush‘s successful (though cynical) three-point attack on Michael Dukakis in the 1984 presidential election:
- Willie Horton
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Boston Harbor
Likewise, Bill Clinton‘s successful 1992 presidential campaign to defeat Bush contained this famous three-point “haiku” from James Carville:
- It’s the economy, stupid
- Change versus more of the same
- Don’t forget health care
This year, the three-pronged Democratic campaign can be along the lines of:
- Affordable Healthcare
- Gun violence
- Trump corruption
Let’s briefly take these one at a time:
Affordable Healthcare — this can include reinstating a full, robust Affordable Care Act, which Donald Trump and the Republicans are in the midst of dismantling. Alternatively, many Democrats would like to go beyond the ACA to have so-called Medicare for All, and this proposal could be part of the Democratic Party’s closing argument for the 2018 midterm elections.
Gun Violence — this is among the top issues in the country this year, largely due to the grassroots activism of the Parkland, Florida students who survived the mass shooting at their Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018 and who have kept their cause alive with the “March For Our Lives” rallies and other events. Sadly, the need for common-sense gun laws will not go away because the epidemic of mass shootings will not abate under the Republicans’ permissive gun regime. Given that gun violence terrorizes our children at school, it is literally a life-and-death issue. Republicans have shown that they would rather support the unpatriotic National Rifle Association than our children, and Democrats certainly have a different approach.
Trump Corruption — As mentioned above, the Democrats already have this issue well-covered, and are highlighting it in the upcoming midterm elections, naming their campaign “A Better Deal for our Democracy.” The Trump corruption at issue includes obstructing Special Counsel Robert Mueller‘s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections. Such corruption also includes Trump cabinet officials such as Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator who “is currently under 12 federal investigations for squandering taxpayer money, as well as abusing his power to promote or demote EPA staffers.” Pruitt even reportedly overloads on free lunches at the White House more than anyone else.
Of course, the Democrats will have plenty of opportunities to discuss additional crucial issues during the upcoming campaign, including climate change, income inequality, taxes, protecting Social Security and Medicare, trade and foreign relations, and more. Democrats are free thinkers, and will differ as to which issues to highlight the most. But a national Democratic campaign built on three big issues is a great place to begin.
Photo by Håkan Dahlström, used under Creative Commons license. https://is.gd/m4s0OJ
