Democrats Have Lost Messaging War in Richmond

One of the most frustrating things about watching Richmond right now is the inability of the Democratic Caucus to provide a real progressive vision for the state that they can take to voters.

Just listen to the floor speeches from Democrats, or in committee hearings.  They are talking (or grovelling) to the GOP majorities, trying to make arguments that they will hear instead of talking to the public.

I've heard Democrats talk about how certain bills are a "tax increase" or "wasteful spending" or other GOP talking points that undercut what should be the Democratic message of being willing to spend to protect the social safety net.

One galling example was Alfonso Lopez's first floor speech.  Alfonso represents what might be the most liberal district in Virginia in South Arlington.  Speaking against the GOP voter fraud bill (and I mean that as creating voter fraud by intentionally disenfranchising people, not preventing it as they claim)- Alfonso gets sidetracked calling this an "unfunded mandate" to localities.

The problem with this type of attack is every election law (all of which are set at the state) are mandates to local electoral boards.  Progressive priorities like mandating ballots in multiple languages or poll workers in certain precincts who can speak other languages in that area are "unfunded mandates".  THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.  Unfunded mandates are not the point! 

Republicans are creating a law that suppresses the RIGHT to vote- that is the point and as soon as Democrats get off track from pointing that out, they undermine the big issues at stake.

Stop talking like Republicans, stop grovelling to them and start talking to the public. Maybe then we won't have 32 of 100 members in the House of Delegates after the next election.

Comments

[DanielK]

Here's the problem: Republicans don't care about what any Democrat says in the House. They have the numbers to do whatever they want to do and no matter what the message is that Democrats put forward it will not change their vote one bit. They could care less about taking away people's right to vote because in the end it is not going to prevent them from getting re-elected.

I understand Democrats have to be present and make their arguments against these terrible bills but in the end we have to accept the reality that no matter how much yelling, screaming, protests, press conferences and petitions the Republicans are going to do whatever the hell they please because voters put them into office.

Even if Democrats had the message correct voters in Virginia could care less what ramifications these bills present to voters who will be disenfranchised because they put these politicians into office and they won't vote them out in two years.

[Phil Perspective]

So how was this clown elected in the first place?

[Wow]

Totally agree - They do have to give floor speaches as the opposition to legislation - but come on

Mega phone get one!

[Steve Vaughan]

No surprise.
Virginia Democrats haven't had a message in the last 25 years beyond "We're not them."
In a lot of years that's enough.
Republicans, in contrast, have a simple message, "We will never, ever raise your taxes no matter what. Come War, Death, Pestilence, Famine, Recession, Depression, whatever, we won't raise taxes."
It's not a bright message in terms of public policy, but it's one sure to always attract at least 40% of voters.
All that "pro-life, against big government" stuff is just eye wash.
The tax pledge is the heart of their message.
Democrats don't have anything that simple or memorable or unifying.

[shoop the woop]

We could at least afford some articulate leaders and not disheveled, dumpy looking wonks. Politics in Richmond is sport, not debate club at Georgetown Law.

[Rex Simmons]

Delegate Lopez did make the point that HB 9 will suppress the right to vote. He made that point first in his comments and he concluded his remarks by making the point again. Although he did mention the issue of a local mandate which is not the most important issue, he spent little time on that and instead focused on the extremely rare occurrence of voter fraud and the hardships HB 9 will cause voters who do not have government issued IDs, especially the elderly. Delegate Lopez can proudly point to this speech as his standing up to defend democracy and the right to vote. I think we know the patrons of this bill do not have such a noble motive and they are they ones we should be criticizing.

[James Young]

His problem might have been that he was unable to repeat the talking point LIE with a straight face!

.....

Naaaah. That's not it!

[Spock]

VA Dems are a spineless embarrassment....

[Not Gabe Snow]

Ben, haven't seen Alfonso since we were both in YDs with him. Who did he eat? The guy must have gained 100 lbs. in the last 10 years!

[Natedogg614]

I'm surprised that the Democrats even have 32 Members in the H of D's.

The GOP needs to try harder next time -- get it down into the 20s.

[Not dumb]

The problem here is that Ben has such a poor understanding of the dynamic in Richmond that he mistakes giving in to a GOP talking point with making arguments that Republicans might, conceivably, be willing to accept. Steve Vaughan actually makes this point perfectly: the GOP has promised never ever ever to raise taxes. Del. Lopez puts it on the record that this is a vote to raise local taxes.

Why does that matter? Because when a Democrat runs against those Republicans in a year and a half, he gets to send mail to weak Ds and weak Rs saying that "Del. X voted to raise your property taxes". That's called good politics ladies and gents. Will it change votes? Probably not. But you know what DEFINITELY won't move any GOP votes? Accusing anyone who supports the bill of being a racist vote suppressor. Is that true? Probably, but you've got to give these guys a reason to vote against bad legislation that they can take home to their base as an excuse for voting against it. That's EXACTLY what Del. Lopez did. Great job sir!

[Not Larry Sabato]

Oh yeah, if only we had that mail the last two years, we might be at 29 seats!

[just the facts]

Ben, quit bashing Alfonso, he made good arguments and your critique is unseemly and reflects your implacable dislike of him for reasons unbeknownst to your readers.

Once you dislike people you are really on their case! I associate myself with the remarks praising Alfonso's statement on this issue

[Old Redneck]

Agree with Ben.

Democrats lose the messaging war every time because we base our arguments on logic and reason. Republicans base their arguments on lies, fear, and hate.

Consider this:

#1: How long does it take to say "food-stamp President?"

#2: How long does it take to explain the origin, in the Reagan and Bush administrations, of our current economic condition?

Now tell me: Which comment will have the greatest impact on voters -- #1 or #2?

[Natedogg614]

"Food-Stamp President" fits quite well on a bumper sticker. You ought to make some of those up -- could be worth something to sell those online!

[What are you saying?]

So, "Old Redneck," are you suggesting that Democrats base their arguments on "lies, fear, and hate?" That's what you seem to be saying.

[Rick]

Since we already issue voter registration cards, just add a photo to them. Problem solved. Then you can't say that requring a driver's license is discriminatory.

[change]

Rick,
Nice solution… run for office we need more common sense solutions…
Re: the broader point.. D’s need to quit pandering for the extreme social issues and “explain” their positions logically; anything less may make them (and a few supporters) feel better, but it does not win elections.

On the other hand R’s need to understand that “power” is fleeting; and “too extreme” is what took out Obama’s house last election.

In the words of that great curbside orator Rodney King…. Why can’t we all just get along???

[Rick]

The reason that D's hide behind the "discrimination" point is because many of their voters are of "questionable residence." With all of the "community organizing" scandals recently (ACORN) it is not unreasonable to allege that some voters are "encouraged" to vote in multiple precincts under names that are pulled from a file of registered voters in that precinct.
To be totally fair to Dems though, the fact that many voters voted illegally in the NH GOP Primary has prompted reform in that state. They currently do not require any type of ID and do not even issue voter-reg cards.
But regardless of your motivation/ ideology there isn't a single person out there who can oppose photo voter-reg cards. You don't have to pay to get one so even our community organizer -- er, I mean President would have a tough time fighting that.

[NotJohnSMosby]

How does the SBE get photos of everyone?

[House staffer]

Take it from someone working in Capitol Square, the Republicans have already heard loud and clear the charge that this is a voter suppression bill, there was a huge rally right before the vote was cast! If they were at all susceptible to that message, the bill wouldn't have been voted on. The fact of the matter is that when conservatives control the House, you have to talk in a language that conservatives understand, and that's talking about fiscal impact, and that's exactly what Del. Lopez did. As much as we would like for our representatives to stand on their desks and yell at the other side, that's not going to get anything done, and it totally ruins our chances of passing through legislation that will actually help people.

[just the facts]

Rick, ACORN is defunct. There has been little or no evidence of fraud, other than right-wingers crashing the polling places in New Hampshire impersonating dead voters, led by James O'Keefe, who deserves a felony indictment.....

Nice try, but you and all the right wing voter fraud "experts" you are citing are red herrings. Play again sometime, but actually provide us with some evidence rather than rhetorical invective.

[bubba]

If we have the technology employed and available to run instant background checks if one wants to purchase a gun, why wouldn't we have the same system available if someone wants to participate in the SINGLE MOST ELEMENTAL AND IMPORTANT ACT OF CITIZENSHIP one can do in this country?

People have died to give us the right to vote. We should honor that by employing the most current technological solutions possible to see that EVERY eligible voter can honor those sacrifices.

I wish folks of both parties would spend more time talking about how to bring voting processes up to the 21st Century. This type of stuff SHOULD be the stuff that they actually work on.

[NotJohnSMosby]

Bubba, millions of people don't go and buy a gun at the same day. They do, however, vote on the same day. There's a massive difference between the two processes.

[SouthArlingtonian]

Lopez tried. But he's not a very good nor convincing public speaker. And I agree: the message was not very good.

[Not Krystal Ball]

The issue here isn't Lopez, whose speech was fine. The issue is that the GOP knows darn well this is a voter suppression bill. They aren't susceptible to that messaging because THAT IS THEIR INTENT and because as a general matter people support IDs at the polls. Other than the mandate issue, nothing we do will make a difference on this issue except 1) work to get everyone IDs, 2) make sure the right of provisional voting is unfettered, or change the public's mind about the nature of the ID issue.