Mediaboss Marketing

This month, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced he was leaving the Democratic Party and becoming a Republican. This unexpected news was extremely discouraging for Democrats all over the country. Not only does the GOP have total control of Congress and the White House, they now have total control of 26 states where they have both houses of the legislature and the governorship. Democrats, on the other hand, have similar full control of only six states. In fact, this brings the number of Democratic governors in office to just 15, compared to 34 Republican governors.

If there is any good news for Democrats, it is that control of the legislatures in all 50 states and the governorships in 36 states is at stake in the 2018 election, which is only 15 months away. That silver lining should be tempered by the fact that our party obviously has not found a winning formula in recent years. What steps must we take to effectuate a reversal of fortune? I dont pretend to have all of the answers, but I think there are five things we can do to bring about this change.

Recruit good candidates for governor and state elections

When we recruit candidates, we should be mindful of getting a candidate whose characteristics will appeal to the electorate. An example of when we may have missed the mark was in the recent congressional special election in suburban Atlanta.Although Jon Ossoff was clearly well qualified to serve in Congress, his background, mannerisms and persona would seem to be better suited in New England or on the West Coast.

Ossoff lost by nearly 4 points in a district that President Trump carried by only 2 points. On the same night in a South Carolina special election, Archie Parnell lost by only 3 points in a district where Trump carried by 26 points. Parnell had the demeanor, background and persona of someone who fit in perfectly for that district.

Be the big tent party we as Democrats always say we are

We must get away from the idea that Democratic candidates everywhere in the country must fit a certain mold and must agree on all issues. That is a prescription for disaster. As much as I am an adamant proponent for sensible gun control, I realize that being for an assault weapons ban and a magazine capacity limit, positions that would resonate well in Massachusetts and Oregon, would make it difficult for a candidate to propose them and be successful in many red states.

I am an avid believer in a womans absolute right to choose, but we should by no means insist on the orthodoxy of that position. Our party has always found a place for pro-life Democrats, and we should continue to do so. In many states, it may not be impossible for a pro-choice candidate to win, but it is a sure lot easier for someone who happens to be pro-life.

In 2006, when I was governor of Pennsylvania, supporters of Bob CaseyRobert (Bob) Patrick CaseyThe real litmus test is whether pro-life democrats vote for pro-life legislation Theres a way to protect consumers and keep goodcallcenterjobs in the U.S. Anti-abortion Democrats fading from the scene MORE told me he would be willing to challenge Rick Santorum for the U.S. Senate, but only if I could help clear the field for him the primary. I agreed he was our only chance to beat Santorum and persuaded two pro-choice Democrats to withdraw. When I did so, I got contacted by thousands of pro-choice Democrats from all over the country, ripping me for clearing the field of pro-choice candidates and leaving only Casey, who was pro-life.

I wrote them back and said, Look, Bob Casey is a wonderful Democrat who believes in economic fairness and opportunity, which has long been the driving force behind our party, and most importantly, he and only he could beat Senator Santorum, which would enable him to cast the vitally important vote for Harry ReidHarry ReidTrump has yet to travel west as president OPINION | Senate must end the tyranny of the minority and abolish the filibuster Scrap the Senates 30-hour per nominee debate rule to clear backlog of Trump nominees MORE for Senate majority leader in 2007. Let the record show that Casey has been a brilliant and productive U.S. senator who is one of the leading proponents of our core message.

Remember what Clinton said: Its the economy, stupid

Speaking of our traditional core message, thats the terrain on which we want to fight out every legislative and gubernatorial race in 2018. Interestingly, on every economic issue that is important to Trump Democrats and Trump Independents, we happen to be on the right side. Unlike the GOP, we want to ensure healthcare coverage for all Americans and restrict tax cuts to middle class working families, instead of proposing something that would give the majority of cuts to the wealthiest 2 percent of the nation.

Democrats want to invest federal funds in a robust infrastructure program that can help our economic competitiveness and create literally millions of well-paying, blue collar jobs. We want to raise the minimum wage, which would have a catalytic effect of giving wage increases to working people up and down the economic scale.

Take strong positions but explain how to get them into law

You only have to look at the Republican debacle in failing to get their ideas into law to realize that voters are up to their eyeballs in frustration over the fact that nothing seems to be getting done. Our candidates should always hold strong positions on what they believe, but they should get across to the voters that they understand that working across the aisle is likely to be necessary to get things and express a willingness to do just that. Dont give the voters a pie in the sky. Give them ideas that have a realistic chance of becoming law.

Continue to push for changes in how redistricting is done

Finally, whether they be citizens commissions or other changes, the best way to prevent the unfair redistricting that has allowed Republicans to have death grips on legislatures is for us to win the 2018 elections at every level.

Edward G. Rendell served as the 45th governor of Pennsylvania. He is a former chairman of the National Governors Association and was general chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 presidential election.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

Read more from the original source:
OPINION | 5 ways Democrats can win back power in the states - The Hill (blog)

WASHINGTON Things could go well for the Democrats in next years midterm elections if they dont Bern out.

President Trump is woefully unpopular, feuding with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and other Republicans. The GOP cant manage to repeal Obamacare or do much of anything. Voters say theyd like Democrats to run Congress.

But here come the Bernie Bros and sisters to the Republicans rescue: Theyre sowing division in the Democratic Party and attempting to enact a purge of the ideologically impure just the sort of thing that made the Republican Party the ungovernable mess it is today.

Bernie Sanderss advisers are promoting a litmus test under which Democrats who dont swear to implement single-payer health care would be booted from the party in primaries. Sanders pollster Ben Tulchin penned an op-ed with a colleague under the headline Universal health care is the new litmus test for Democrats. Nina Turner, head of the Sanders group Our Revolution, told Politico this last week that theres something wrong with Democrats who wont unequivocally embrace Medicare-for-all.

That notion not just taking a stand but excommunicating all who disagree is what Republicans have done to themselves with guns and taxes, and it would seriously diminish Democrats hopes of retaking the House next year.

At the same time, Our Revolution has stepped up its attack on the Democratic Party. Turner this week sent an email to supporters complaining that she and others attempted to deliver a petition to Democratic National Committee headquarters but were shut out. In a follow-up interview with BuzzFeed, Turner expressed particular outrage that the DNC offered her ... donuts. They tried to seduce us with donuts, she said, calling the gesture pompous and arrogant and insulting.

Its not just about breakfast confections. The Bernie crowd has begun accusing freshman Sen. Kamala D. Harris (Calif.), a rising Democratic star, of being beholden to corporate money. Also in California, Kimberly Ellis, who ran for state Democratic chairman with the support of Sanders and lost in a close race to a former Hillary Clinton delegate, is refusing to concede and threatening to sue. Ellis told the New York Times that the Democratic Party is in many ways right now where the Republican Party was when the tea party took over.

And thats a good thing? Republican fratricide, instigated by tea-party purity police, made Trump possible and left the GOP unable to govern. This is what Sanderss people would emulate.

Fortunately, Sanders seems to have lost clout. Candidates backed by Our Revolution have lost 31 races in 2017 and won 16, and the wins include Portland Community College Director, Zone 5 and South Fulton (Ga.) City Council 6.

Candidates endorsed by Sanders have struggled in high-profile races. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) lost the DNC chairman race (he was appointed deputy chairman). Sanders-backed Tom Perriello lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Virginia, and a Sanders campaign official was blown out in a California congressional primary. Neither did the Sanders magic get the job done for Democrats in special congressional elections in Kansas, Georgia or Montana, and his candidate lost the Omaha mayoral race.

Yet the attempt by the Sanders movement to impose a health-care litmus test on Democratic candidates shows their destructive potential within the party. Support for single-payer health coverage has been growing, and it would become a real possibility if Republicans sabotage Obamacare but dont help the tens of millions who would lose insurance.

But to force Democrats to take some kind of single-payer purity oath would set back the cause. Democrats need to pick up 24 seats to take control of the House, yet there are only 23 Republicans in districts won by Clinton and only eight of those were won by President Barack Obama in 2012. There are a dozen Democrats in districts Trump won. In such swing districts, it would be suicidal to pledge support for something Republicans will brand as socialism.

A Pew Research Center poll in June found that while a majority of Democrats (52 percent) favor single-payer health care, only 33 percent of the public does overall. A Kaiser Health Tracking poll in June had better results: 53 percent of the public favored single-payer coverage. But Kaiser found that opinions were malleable.

If recent trends continue, and particularly if Republicans undermine Obamacare without an adequate replacement, the time for single-payer will come, and soon. But the litmus test distracts Democrats from protecting Obamacare, diminishes their chances of retaking the House and chops up the party over something that has zero chance of becoming law under Trump.

That Berns.

See more here:
Democrats must beware of Berning out - Norman Transcript

If liberals controlled the media, the Democratic Partys current plan to make their brand known would not have disappeared from the press the day after its introduction.

Ten Democratic members of Congress representing a variety of factions took part in introducing the plan July 24. The message was unity: Every Democratic member of Congress had had some part in writing the two-page document.

Admittedly, Democratic plans for the economy arent as captivating as the escalating bluster-contest going on between Presidents Trump and Kim Jong-un, but Id have hoped theyd rank as newsworthy as the Taylor Swift groping trial. A genuinely liberal press would be asking a variety of politicians if they thought the name was a vote-getter and which sections reflected Bernies philosophy and which Clintons.

Instead, the program slipped beneath media notice before the public learned its name.

The short name is Better Deal echoing Republican Teddy Roosevelts Square Deal or Democrat Franklin Roosevelts New Deal. It invites journalists to compare the plans.

The complete name Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, Better Future reflects the Democrats long-term commitment to making life better for the middle class and for those struggling to get there.

How do Democrats propose to raise wages and incomes? First, by directly investing in our crumbling infrastructure. The public works programs of the 1930s helped millions, as did building the Interstate system during the 1950s. The government doesnt have to go to war to justify creating jobs.

Second, by fighting unfair foreign trade and the outsourcing of American jobs.

Third, by passing a higher minimum wage and protecting workers rights to negotiate wages and working conditions.

Fourth, by honoring the promises of Social Security and Medicare.

Sure, some Republicans promise greater things, but once their party is in power, those things dont even make the agenda.

A second category of changes would lower the cost of living for families. The prices of prescription drugs would be regulated like utilities. Current law requires that patents for drugs developed with federal research funds be sold to corporations immediately. The intent was to get new medicines distributed quickly. Congress didnt prepare for prices determined by monopoly rather than production costs.

The plan states that families facing high monthly bills for child care, credit card fees and cable bills would get help. It doesnt state what form the help would take but does bind Democrats to prepare legislation.

Students would get help with the cost of college and trade school tuition. Without student aid based on income as it was before Reagan the prospect of going $50,000 in debt discourages many from getting the education they want.

In addition, Democrats would encourage capitalism which requires competition to thrive by stopping mergers of large corporations and, if necessary, breaking up existing monopolies. Some of us remember how much faster telephone technology proceeded after the government ordered the breakup of AT&T.

A final category of proposed changes would give Americans the tools to succeed in the 21st Century. Workforce training and apprenticeships would be available for millions of workers. Start-ups and small businesses would be encouraged. And high-speed Internet would be available across the country.

Thats it. The plan leans toward Bernie Sanders proposals but stops short of free college tuition and single-payer health care.

Some argue that there is little included that Obama wouldnt have done if hed had the votes in Congress. They claim that such legislation has no chance with Republicans in control of Congress.

They should understand thats the point. Elections are 14 months away.

Judy Ferro is a former state committeewoman for Canyon County Democrats. Email her at idadem@yahoo.com.

See the original post here:
ICYMI, here are the details of Democrats' 'Better Deal' - Idaho Press-Tribune

Montana Sen. Jon Testerhad some hard words for fellow Democratsas he prepares for what is expected to be a tough re-election race in 2018.

Last election cycle, we were supposed to win a majority in the Senate, we were supposed to win a lot of seats in the House and Hillary Clinton was supposed to win the presidency. None of that happened, Testertold a gathering of Montana Democrats.

Tester said he saw some hope in grassroots efforts that have risen in typically Republican areas in reaction to DonaldTrumps presidency, which he hoped would help recruitlocal candidates and feed on-the-ground organizing efforts.

There are little groups of folks that we never thought there were any Democrats in and all of the sudden 20 people are showing up, Tester told the group. Get those people organized, get them to work, get them to write letters to the editor.

Tough races are familiar to Tester, who won in 2012 by just a few percentage points, and first won election in 2006 by just a few thousand votes. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the Senate raceTilts Democrat.

Montana Democrats were disappointed at the ballot just months ago, when Republican Greg Gianforte defeated progressive Rob Quist. Though the race was initially expected to be an easy GOP victory, Quist surged late in the election with some help from Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Tester said he hopes that Democrats will try and contest the Montana Legislature again. Democrats last held a majority in both houses in 2005.

Dont think that for one minute if we continue to do the things weve done in the past were going to win, hesaid. We have to do more than that. We have to go farther than that.

Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.

The rest is here:
Tester Tells Montana Democrats Don't Take Anything for Granted - Roll Call

Things could go well for the Democrats in next year's midterm elections if they don't Bern out.

President Trump is woefully unpopular, feuding with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans. The GOP can't manage to repeal Obamacare or do much of anything. Voters say they'd like Democrats to run Congress.

But here come the Bernie Bros and sisters to the Republicans' rescue: They're sowing division in the Democratic Party and attempting to enact a purge of the ideologically impure just the sort of thing that made the Republican Party the ungovernable mess it is today.

Bernie Sanders's advisers are promoting a "litmus test" under which Democrats who don't swear to implement single-payer health care would be booted from the party in primaries. Sanders pollster Ben Tulchin penned an op-ed with a colleague under the headline "Universal health care is the new litmus test for Democrats." Nina Turner, head of the Sanders group Our Revolution, told Politico this last week that "there's something wrong with" Democrats who won't "unequivocally" embrace "Medicare-for-all."

That notion not just taking a stand but excommunicating all who disagree is what Republicans have done to themselves with guns and taxes, and it would seriously diminish Democrats' hopes of retaking the House next year.

At the same time, Our Revolution has stepped up its attack on the Democratic Party. Turner this week sent an email to supporters complaining that she and others attempted to deliver a petition to Democratic National Committee headquarters but "were shut out." In a follow-up interview with BuzzFeed, Turner expressed particular outrage that the DNC offered her ... donuts. "They tried to seduce us with donuts," she said, calling the gesture "pompous" and "arrogant" and "insulting."

It's not just about breakfast confections. The Bernie crowd has begun accusing freshman Sen. Kamala D. Harris (Calif.), a rising Democratic star, of being beholden to corporate money. Also in California, Kimberly Ellis, who ran for state Democratic chairman with the support of Sanders and lost in a close race to a former Hillary Clinton delegate, is refusing to concede and threatening to sue. Ellis told the New York Times that the "Democratic Party is in many ways right now where the Republican Party was when the tea party took over."

And that's a good thing? Republican fratricide, instigated by tea-party purity police, made Trump possible and left the GOP unable to govern. This is what Sanders' people would emulate.

Fortunately, Sanders seems to have lost clout. Candidates backed by Our Revolution have lost 31 races in 2017 and won 16, and the wins include "Portland Community College Director, Zone 5" and "South Fulton (Ga.) City Council 6."

Candidates endorsed by Sanders have struggled in high-profile races. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) lost the DNC chairman race (he was appointed deputy chairman). Sanders-backed Tom Perriello lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Virginia, and a Sanders campaign official was blown out in a California congressional primary. Neither did the Sanders magic get the job done for Democrats in special congressional elections in Kansas, Georgia or Montana, and his candidate lost the Omaha mayoral race.

Yet the attempt by the Sanders movement to impose a health-care litmus test on Democratic candidates shows their destructive potential within the party. Support for single-payer health coverage has been growing, and it would become a real possibility if Republicans sabotage Obamacare but don't help the tens of millions who would lose insurance.

But to force Democrats to take some kind of single-payer purity oath would set back the cause. Democrats need to pick up 24 seats to take control of the House, yet there are only 23 Republicans in districts won by Clinton and only eight of those were won by President Barack Obama in 2012. There are a dozen Democrats in districts Trump won. In such swing districts, it would be suicidal to pledge support for something Republicans will brand as socialism.

A Pew Research Center poll in June found that while a majority of Democrats (52 percent) favor single-payer health care, only 33 percent of the public does overall. A Kaiser Health Tracking poll in June had better results: 53 percent of the public favored single-payer coverage. But Kaiser found that opinions were "malleable."

If recent trends continue, and particularly if Republicans undermine Obamacare without an adequate replacement, the time for single-payer will come, and soon. But the litmus test distracts Democrats from protecting Obamacare, diminishes their chances of retaking the House and chops up the party over something that has zero chance of becoming law under Trump.

See the article here:
Dana Milbank: Democrats mustn't Bern out - Lincoln Journal Star