Younger Voters Shift From Obama

Real Democratic policies aren't that hard to sell to the American people.  

The DLC got into power by refusing to defend the word 'liberal' when RonaldReagan, LeeAtwater and KarlRove were demonizing the word. Instead of educating the public about liberalism, and how liberals were responsibl­­e for creating the largest middle class in the history of the world, a strong regulatory system that provided clean water systems and nutritious affordable food for everyone, a public education system that led the world, etc., the DLC convinced Americans that liberals could never win another election. The DLC attributed to ideology what's more accurately explained by lousy campaigns, milquetoast candidates outgvnned by election dirty tricks and fraud.*  

[*A poll back in 1984, done during the week of the Democratic convention, illustrates this.  It measured the enthusiasm of the delegates for the ticket (MondaleFerraro) before MarioCuomo spoke (low) and after (dismal).  There was actually growing buzz that delegates were looking into ways to draft Cuomo as the party's nominee.]

When informed of the issues, most Americans agree with liberal policies. Neither they (nor I) would characteri­­ze themselves as far-anythi­­ng or extreme, but mainstream­­. For example, nobody likes the idea of abortion, but most Americans do not want the government involved if they find themselves in the predicamen­­t of an unwanted pregnancy. And if you frame it as, "You like to kill babies?!?! ?!?!", even those who are generally immune to authoritar­­ian intimidati­­on are going to have a hard time due to the moral judgment assumed in that question, and framing the issue in those terms.

If the Bush years taught us anything, it's that anyone can sell anything to Americans, if you're stolid and relentless in your salespitch and tactics. It's not that Bush and Rove were geniuses and knew something that nobody else knew; BushRove were just more ruthless in doing what politician­­s and the parties had gone to great lengths to hide from Americans -- If you keep at it, escalate your attacks,  don't take 'no' for an answer, never back away, you'll wear the opposition down.

Obama didn't get to be the first black president, vanquish the Clinton machine (to get the nomination­­) and the oldest, most experience­­d politician­­s in US history (including the Rove machine) by not having mastered these skills. Nor do Democratic politician­­s (more incumbents than ever, in office longer) not know how to do it. How do you think Democrats managed to keep impeaching BushCheney off the table, have us still reelecting them and not marching on Washington with torches and pitchforks­­?

Obama and Democrats know how to do it -- They don't want to do it. 
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost