Democratic Rapid Response Team

by Gary Boatwright, Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 04:53:40 AM EST

Remember Harry Reid's Rapid Response Team? It was a good idea then and it's a good idea now. Over at The Left Coaster, Steve Soto advises the Dems to Work The Refs:

What can be done? Well, every afternoon there should be a DNC press conference aimed specifically at 1) debunking whatever Scottie McClellan said that morning; and 2) restating the Democratic talking points for the week in time for the afternoon and evening news and cable shows so that the media has a coordinated Democratic pushback they can include in their stories that night. And if the Democratic pushback and counter-narrative isn't included in what the NYT, the WaPost, MSNBC, CNN, and the major news networks said that night or the next day, Democrats should make an issue of that as evidence of bias, every time it happens. Remember, work the refs, but do it with facts.
This seems like such a simple idea. Steve Soto provides the obvious rationale.

Unless you give the media an alternate storyline to cover, and pressure them and specifically their bosses to cover it, we are wasting our time. Democrats cannot break through the media blackout because we are not disciplined and aggressive enough. Now is the time to start working the refs ourselves. It can't be left to center-left bloggers to do what the party and Beltway politicians have heretofore been too self-interested and unfocused to do themselves.

So what's the problem?

Tags: Democrats, Media (all tags)

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A Little More

A little more detail here. The debunking should not just be a reality-based refutation. It should also point out:

(1) The contradictions between whatever Bush is saying today and what he said previously. These happen all the time, more often than even we point out.

(2) The inherent sleaziness, lack of ethics and fundamental fairness. Every incompetent involved should be pointed out repeatedly. Every act of insider self-dealing. Every break for the big boys that leaves the little folks out in the cold.

Constantly hammering on these points lays the groundwork for long-term narratives about the nature of the Bush Administration and the GOP more generally.

by Paul Rosenberg 2006-01-28 05:29AM | 0 recs

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Re: A Little More

Rather than getting into factual arguments with the Republicans, we need to be arguing at the gut or visceral level. We need to realize that the American people are more interested in hearing about what happens with Oprah than they are in talking about complicated issues. Begala (and I know this is sacriledge to bring him up, but he actually has been making sense) says that one of the things the Democrats have got to learn is that simple doesn't make dumb, and easy doesn't make it wrong. We need to go for the jugular in simple, unambigious emotional terms. What I find interesting is that during the period that the mining accidents happened, for example, no one pointed out that Alito had prior mining case decisions that were to the right of most other judges. In other words, that he hurt mining safety (as I remember). to me this is a visceral thing. Would it have worked? I don't know. Some may argue yes, and others no. But it starts to learn to tap into the common zeitgiest when it is happening rather than reacting to it.

by bruh21 2006-01-28 07:13AM | 0 recs

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Much The Same Thing

I'm not sure if you realize we're saying much the same thing. Mine may seem more wonky--and it is, a bit. I'm a proud member of the reality-based community, and we should be feeding the press stories that are solidly grounded in facts--with details, even.

But the important thing is that the facts presented should be thematically unified, and pointing to gut-level issues: integrity/constancy/credibility/trustwor thiness in the first case, and integrity/honesty/reliability/fairness in the second. The bottom line message of both is: you can't trust these guys. But rather than just say this, we should present a coherently-organized array of facts that shows this to be the case.

by Paul Rosenberg 2006-01-28 09:48PM | 0 recs

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Re: Democratic Rapid Response Team

Yea it is a good idea but until the day comes when the Dems can agree on a strategy it can't be implemented.

For example, the last week, the blogs have been about Matthews and Howell and refused to take up a filibuster fight.

by aiko 2006-01-28 05:30AM | 0 recs

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Jeepers!

Maybe you overlooked this little hole-in-wall called Daily Kos, with front-pager Armando kept on past his due date just to cover the confirmation battle, and Senators like Kerry and Kennedy posting recommended diaries about the confirmation batttle with hundreds of comments?

by Paul Rosenberg 2006-01-28 05:36AM | 0 recs

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Re: Jeepers!

have you been over there today? kos and armando are refusing to lead, like chris and matt, any filibuster fight on their blogs. it is amazing folks refusal to fight. reminds me of the Iraq vote.

by aiko 2006-01-28 06:56AM | 0 recs

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Well, friend

kos and armando are refusing to lead, like chris and matt, any filibuster fight on their blogs.

Well, friend, then it's up to you.

by Michael Bersin 2006-01-28 07:27AM | 0 recs

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we are working on it!

by aiko 2006-01-28 10:57AM | 0 recs

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Re: Democratic Rapid Response Team

The MyDD Rapid Response Team is on the job. I arrived at the California Democratic Executive Board Meeting in Manhattan Beach and was delighted to discover that Scott Ritter is the surprise luncheon speaker.

I guess Scott Ritter isn't on the M$M radar. I seem to be the entire media in attendance. More later.

by Gary Boatwright 2006-01-28 09:23AM | 0 recs

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Re: Democratic Rapid Response Team

I'm working on a diary about Scott Ritter, but David Sirota starts in 15 minutes. I'll probably combine them. I'll let Sirota know I'll be posting and see if he's interested in commenting.

by Gary Boatwright 2006-01-28 01:39PM | 0 recs

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Re: Democratic Rapid Response Team

Talk about coincidences. I'm in a workshop on The Media and Rapid Response. Stay tuned. David Sirota is up soon somewhere else, but I'll try to get one of the Rapid Response panelists to comment.

by Gary Boatwright 2006-01-28 02:00PM | 0 recs

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Re: Democratic Rapid Response Team

I asked a couple of the Rapid Response panelists to throw in some stories and/or comments. If one or both of them show up, please try to be as reasonable with them than I would be myself. I'll be back after Sirota finishes.

by Gary Boatwright 2006-01-28 02:18PM | 0 recs