The Our Ten Words contest is drawing to a close at Heartland PAC. This interesting project seeks to generate a new tag line for the Democratic Party. The 10 finalists have been selected from thousands of submissions. You can vote for your favorite. Here are the contestants:
“Leadership that will restore the American Dream to all Americans;” “Effective, honest government, serving the needs of all its citizens;” “Working for millions of people, not millions of dollars;” “The Democrats highest ideal: Help people achieve their full potential;” “Equal opportunities, better lives, and honest government for all Americans;” “The Democratic Party- Tackling problems and finding practical solutions;” “Government led by people who believe good government is possible;” “Common sense for the common good;” “The Democratic Party: People are our only ‘Special Interest;’ ” and “A Strong Nation and Economy through Fairness, Reason, and Community.”
…as Deval Patrick encourages us to do, yet “Democratic Party- Tackling problems and finding practical solutions” is exactly the type of bland, empty slogan that Democrats can’t seem to get away from. While I like a few of these, the inclusion of that one in particular as a top ten leaves me concerned for the Party. The people v. dollars one is catchy, but let’s be honest, with all the millionaires in the Senate from the Democratic Party, it rings a bit hollow. And can you really see yourself talking to your friends and family across the nation and explaining to your children that you are a Democrat because you believe in “A Strong Nation and Economy through Fairness, Reason, and Community”? Pardon me if I don’t leap out my chair to applaud. Several others above seem to me to be just about right for the Republicans as well, so I can’t really get too fired up about them.
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On the bright side, “Common sense for the common good” is hard to argue with, and it contains at least a veiled snipe at the GOPers. I also enjoy people as our only special interest. My vote, however, goes to “Government led by people who believe good government is possible.” (I’m willing to ignore the repetition of the word “government.”) I think it is an enormous challenge for Dems to get Americans to recognize that the words “good” and “government” not only can coexist, but must for the benefit of all of us. And I can actually see Party leaders and candidates starting speeches with “I believe good government is possible. Democrats understand the good that government can do, and here is our plan to prove it to the nation/state/city/town/community.” Field organizers, volunteers, and Party faithful could all use that line as a springboard to meaningful and convincing conversations. The inclusion of the verb “lead” is also helpful; would that we were leading right now!
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‘with all the millionaires in the Senate from the Democratic Party, it rings a bit hollow.” …..How about those running for governor that have two mansions with a $27,000 per month mortgage payment and won’t disclose their tax returns. How about it midhip….”does that ring a little hollow”
Sitting Senators vs. gubernatorial candidates quoted…not the same. I bet DP, CG, CM, and Mrs. H would all like to save their own money for other things. As for TR, I know he advocates financial disclosure, but that still doesn’t address the overall issue of cash in politics. The system candidates play under here in MA may be troubling, but money doesn’t need to be part of a national party slogan. Just because I’ve heard Deval Patrick ask people to do something doesn’t mean I’m not listening to anyone else.
Personally, I find all such slogans dull. Do we seriously believe that people will vote Democratic because we have a slogan? I wonder how many of those slogans couldn’t be taken by a Republican — not that any Republican I’ve encountered deserves them– but there is nothing distinctive about any of these.
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Think about it this way: What Republican doesn’t say they “tackle problems and find practical solutions”? What Republican doesn’t say that the “People are our only ‘Special Interest’,” or that they have “Common sense for the Common Good?” The only one in there that is distinctly Democratic is, “Government led by people who believe good government is possible.”
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But is it good government to try to boil an ideology into a package, policy into spin?
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I’ve commented on my disdain for this project before: [http://vps28478.inmotionhosting.com/~bluema24/showComment.do?commentId=4449]
Do you need Republicans to help you?
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Democrats ARE We the People
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First, the People and Foremost, the Leadership
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Democrats – The Courage to Listen, the Will to Change
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or – what you WILL go with:
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The Democratic Party: Corralling Diverse Buzzwords for a Newer Generation
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PS – you can’t use any of them – they are the sweat of my brain!
How ’bout:
Democrats: You know we’re less bad than the Republicans, right?
The Democratic Party: Because living well is the best revenge.