Before Donald Trump became President, many voters knew that he was a racist and fascist. Once Trump was elected President, experts were spurred to write books explaining racism and fascism. Other experts wrote books showing the parts of Trump’s corrupt behavior that matched the criteria for racism and fascism. The Mueller Report presented ample evidence of Trump’s corrupt practices. Despite these clues, Democratic leaders failed to publicize Trump’s corruption. As a result, these Democrats helped to normalize Trump’s corrupt behavior and raise his approval ratings.
Democratic leaders seem oblivious by Trump’s rising poll numbers in vital Electoral College states. Basking in their 2018 victories, Democratic leaders repeat the message they believe led to those victories. Democratic leaders continue to preach the power of health care and kitchen-table issues and ignore Trump. Progressives argue that the critical part of the message was not merely healthcare. They claim the underlying portion of the message was, “don’t let Trump take my healthcare” or tweet us over the guardrails.
Democratic leaders argue that they can stress both kitchen table issues and Trump’s corruption and instability. But the question may be whether voters can understand two contradictory messages. If voters are preoccupied with kitchen table issues, then his corruption may be normalized. On the other hand, if voters are absorbed with Trump’s corruption, then they may ignore Trump’s healthcare, economic, and other kitchen table failures. The issue may not be whether Democratic leaders can walk and chew gum at the same time. Instead, it may be whether voters understand a bifurcated message.
A recent study shows the importance of voters understanding these two messages. It identified about six percent of voters as conflicted. Conflicted voters support Trump’s economic performance, but cannot ignore his corruption and instability. If Trump can pull these conflicted voters, he is likely to win re-election. Trump most substantial political move is to stress his economic performance. Democrats, on the other hand, need to emphasize Trump’s bankrupt attempts to improve voters’ lives. Also, Democrats must highlight Trump’s corrupt and unsavory behavior to win.
However, it may be difficult for Democrats to get their twin messages out. Unlike Republicans, Democrats do not have a dedicated television network like Fox. Besides Fox, Republicans have access to right-wing media outlets like Clear Channel Communications. Democrats will have to rely on paid advertising and the ad hoc spotlight that independent media can shine on them. Unfortunately, Democratic leaders have effectively removed one way of galvanizing media coverage: an impeachment inquiry.
Democratic leaders seem oblivious by Trump’s rising poll numbers in vital Electoral College states. Basking in their 2018 victories, Democratic leaders repeat the message they believe led to those victories. Democratic leaders continue to preach the power of health care and kitchen-table issues and ignore Trump. Progressives argue that the critical part of the message was not merely healthcare. They claim the underlying portion of the message was, “don’t let Trump take my healthcare” or tweet us over the guardrails.
Democratic leaders argue that they can stress both kitchen table issues and Trump’s corruption and instability. But the question may be whether voters can understand two contradictory messages. If voters are preoccupied with kitchen table issues, then his corruption may be normalized. On the other hand, if voters are absorbed with Trump’s corruption, then they may ignore Trump’s healthcare, economic, and other kitchen table failures. The issue may not be whether Democratic leaders can walk and chew gum at the same time. Instead, it may be whether voters understand a bifurcated message.
A recent study shows the importance of voters understanding these two messages. It identified about six percent of voters as conflicted. Conflicted voters support Trump’s economic performance, but cannot ignore his corruption and instability. If Trump can pull these conflicted voters, he is likely to win re-election. Trump most substantial political move is to stress his economic performance. Democrats, on the other hand, need to emphasize Trump’s bankrupt attempts to improve voters’ lives. Also, Democrats must highlight Trump’s corrupt and unsavory behavior to win.
However, it may be difficult for Democrats to get their twin messages out. Unlike Republicans, Democrats do not have a dedicated television network like Fox. Besides Fox, Republicans have access to right-wing media outlets like Clear Channel Communications. Democrats will have to rely on paid advertising and the ad hoc spotlight that independent media can shine on them. Unfortunately, Democratic leaders have effectively removed one way of galvanizing media coverage: an impeachment inquiry.
