WP: DNC Chief Advises Learning From GOP

[Pirate Smile]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 10 -- Outgoing Democratic National Committee Chairman Terence R. McAuliffe said Friday that President Bush won reelection last month by skillfully leveraging terrorism and cultural issues to attract swing voters and even core Democrats, and he argued that his party must learn from Republican successes to become competitive.

McAuliffe spoke to state party leaders who have gathered near Walt Disney World to begin the process of selecting a new DNC chairman. The new chairman faces frustration among state leaders, who complain that the national party has neglected them, and a possible revolt from grass-roots activist groups such as MoveOn.org, which say they are determined to wrest control from corporate and Washington-based interests.

In one of his final acts as chairman, McAuliffe on Friday announced the makeup of a 40-member commission that will study and possibly revamp the calendar and rules governing the presidential nominating process in 2008. The commission's mandate is widely seen as a threat to the long-standing influence of Iowa and New Hampshire in selecting the party's nominees. Former labor secretary Alexis M. Herman and Rep. David E. Price (D-N.C.) will serve as co-chairs.

-snip-
McAuliffe said Republicans got a jump on the Democrats by testing and experimenting with communications strategies in 2001 and 2002 when the DNC was struggling to bring its technology up to date. Once that was completed, Democrats did some testing of themes, but McAuliffe said not enough. "Could we have done a lot more? You bet," he said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56159-2004Dec10.html

There are a lot of demographic details in the article but I can't post it all.

[Willy Wonka]

1. Good thing he's leaving

He's smoking WAYYY too much crack.

[Zorra]

4. Heh. Yeah, that would sure explain it. n/t

[Zorra]

38. Oh, yeah...we need to find out what kind of voting machines they use,too.

Real, real important.

[DaveofCali]

2. I always knew that Terry Mcauliffe was a traitor to the party

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. He's right.

One thing we have to do is learn from their success and go them one or fifteen better. We can do a hell of a lot better.

But first, let's neutralize the DLC, ok?

[Pirate Smile]

8. I agree. We also need to know based on what magazines people

receive, what kind of car they drive, the shows they watch, etc. how likely we are to get their vote and go after them.

They knew all that information on people and targeted the people they knew would be susceptible to their message. It is definitely creepy but it can't go only one way.

What I want to know is who they paid for all of these lists? How much information do they really have on all of us?

This in no way conflicts with all the other things the "new" DNC will need to do also.

[DaveofCali]

11. DNC didn't use Marketing Techniques that every Business student learns!!!

These stuff that the RNC Party did was stuff that is common knowledge among Business Administration and Marketing Management students. The DNC simply could've hired Madison Avenue Marketing Agencies to update them on these election marketing strategies.

AND I DO NOT SAY THIS IN 20/20 HINDSIGHT. I knew that the DNC shouldve done this since a year ago, and I did have some hope that they would fight better, but I guess some organizations don't change....

[Pirate Smile]

13. It is shocking, isn't it?

[blondeatlast]

39. They don't do market research, they don't have to.

For the answer to those and many other questions, I suggest you read David Brock's "The Republican Noise Machine."

You will also find out how the entire operation is funded, and why they have a 30 year head start on us.

This book needs to get to #1 on the NYT; it's that alarming (although Brock goes a bit over the top in naming enemies of rational discussion).

[DaveofCali]

45. We can make "Noise" too, the Sinclair controversy proved that

If the Democratic Party were more organized and more strategic during the election (including contacting ALL Democrat sources in the Media), they couldve FORCED the Media to listen to us. I mean yeah, its an uphill battle compared to the Right Wing, but given that we had War Strategists instead of old political strategists (of campaigns of pasttime), we couldve been much more effective IMO.

[blondeatlast]

58. True enough; the Sinclair thing worked pretty well.

I think the next target ought to be the RadRight's blatantly political, yet tax-exempt, "foundations" like Heritage and the AEI.

[DaveofCali]

9. Terry never realized that the Republican Party is at War with the DNC

Terry Mcauliffe was like France when France fought Germany in WWII.

[NashVegas]

35. Agreed, And

As long as he would want to mimic, and not counter, them, the GOP would continue to win.

[nashville_brook]

12. be the deomocratic wing of the deomocratic party

but don't think for minute that we lost b/c of our leadership -- this election was STOLEN. period.

but he is still a dick.

[UVASAM1]

22. we lost precisely

b/c of our leadership, which is awful, and has proven they dont know how to run political campaigns or frame issues, or put out a message for that matter.

[nashville_brook]

25. see, this is the saddest part of the stolen election

that people can put this forth and it's just not true. in a real election you could have run bush against my dog Astra, and she would hve won. she's soooo cute!

[fshrink]

5. Location was really appropriate!

Let's learn from Rove and Wolfowitz. And if we are really good students, with a little luck, we'll become just like them. Democrats are just good enough to kick republicans out, and if they can't even do that...

[loveable liberal]

6. what a load of crap.

we didnt win because kerry didnt fight hard enough. he failed to point out and take advantage of every single flaw the fright wing served up on a platter. he played not to lose. whomever was advising kerry should be fired and replaced with someone who's smart and passionate. not some marketing clown thats afraid to step on toes.

[DaveofCali]

7. BTW, he could've implemented some of those "communications strategies"

It's called Marketing and Modern Marketing Techniques are commonly used throughout the Business World, and anyone doing elections has an obligation to know them.

I'm really disappointed that even I knew that the Democrats needed to modernize their marketing techniques in this election. I've taken Marketing Management and knew most of the tactics they used.

The Republican Party is the party of big business so they keep up to date and use the most modern marketing strategies.

Democrats for one CANNOT afford to go through another election cycle without modernizing Marketing Techniques, because then Republicans will ALWAYS have the Competitive Advantage. Whole Corporations are Destroyed by Rival Corporations simply because the rivals have one Great Competitive Advantage that the Corporation cannot ever get.

BTW I hold Terry Mcauliffe personally responsible for the failure of the Democratic Party over the years. He's a fuckin wimp and traitor that he should be banned and ostracized from the party.

[Erika]

10. Terry was a Clinton Loser.

Both Terry and Clinton sold us down the river of Centrism. Or Bush lite. Clinton had great moderate appeal with his charisma. Terry with his ties to corporatism should have been dumped a loooong time ago.

[Erika]

14. If The Door Hits Terry in the Butt on the Way Out

Well, we'll smile. He and Global Crossing dirtied the working class democrat.

[DaveofCali]

16. We shouldn't care about Clinton

I mean, all due respects to what Clinton did to America during the 90's, but Clinton now doesn't know whats best for America and has proved that by supporting Terry. The Democratic Party needs to stop the Masochism and grow balls and show Americans that the Democratic Party is once again a party that is passionate about doing great things for America and that the Democratic Party is a party that Americans can look up to.

I'll tell you guys one thing, the reason that many Republicans voted for Bush is not because they like him, but because they didn't see a better alternative on Kerry. And also remember that most Americans don't have faith on integrity of the politicians in office.

[w4rma]

27. That's because the Repugs ran a SMEAR campaign against Kerry

And big media backed them up at every opportunity to smear him. I'd bet every single jerk who voted for Bush thought everything that the Swift Boat Liars said was true.

[SharonAnn]

57. To be fair, let's appreciate that Clinton and McAuliffe did upgrade

the technology, got a decent building, and built a foundation.

Now, let's the rest of it USE this foundation to WIN elections!

Here we need to do the same thing at the state level in Tennessee. We have just a few people on staff (less than 6, I think) and a start on improving things. We have a LOOOOONG way to go.

[Gyre]

15. Sniveling worm.

Probably hoping he'll get a speaking engagement/honorarium from the American Enterprise Institute or Hoover.

[EFerrari]

17. I wonder how much we paid this idiot to be so callously clueless n/t

[tabasco]

18. We need to fight for the working man.

And fight like banshees. The fascists will self-destruct. They always do. McAuliffe is a LOSER and needs to go away...FAST.

[fshrink]

21. Yes my friend. But the working man

has only himself to fight. No support other than cosmetic to expect from the McAuliffes and their many apprentices. We need to work for the fighting man, of which there are so few.

[Leilani]

19. Good Article.

Remember, the Repubs didn't get this effective overnight.

The Dems were in power for over 40 yrs.

When Goldwater ran & lost overwhelmingly,& that's when they started to rebuild.

The Dems can do the same thing, but they need some smart leaders & party builders, they need some NEW ideas, they need to figure out their message, & need some candidates who can deliver it in an effective way.

[specimenfred1984]

20. We Already Know Everything We Need to Know About Them

They should have been bashed and insulted into the ground everytime they opened their lying mouths.

Political correctness is dead, there is no "higher ground" and, the biggest issue is LYING, lying and getting away with it.

SB-smear-vets, propagandizing TV stations, racist columnists: these people need to be exposed as what they are - LIARS.

The red state voter, the person(s) Terry says we need to learn from, is incapable of learning on an intellectual level. They need to feel pain for their lies, to suffer for their ignorance, otherwise they'll just keep on doing it.

Someone like Dean, who will not put up with BS will be a voice that will be heard.

[Erika]

23. Agreed

I'm tired of being Republican lite. I adore Kerry and Edwards. They stood up to the plate. But our concentration should be on the far right wing radicals of the GOP who are systemically lowering our standard of living while raising that standard of living for the rich. Sounds like Satanism to me. Or ignorance, eiither way, I wish nothing to do with them.

[Child_Of_Isis]

31. Bush won reelection...

Evidently, they don't get it.

[Catherine Vincent]

24. Attention McAuliffe: Kerry won!

Idiot.

[leftchick]

34. I agree cat girl!

wtf is he talking about? JK drew RECORD CROWDS ! HE did everything right, (except that stinking IWR vote) and HE WON!!!!

[Zhade]

26. Yeah! Let's learn how to lie, cheat, and STEAL ELECTIONS like the GOP!

Fucking brilliant!

:eyes:

[saracat]

29. And what is wrong with that? We must win and I don't care how!

[Forkboy]

33. That's the problem

[high density]

28. Skill?? All I saw was a lot of fear that the idiots gobbled right up.

It was Cheney and Bush saying, "You'll die under a Kerry administration" and "We've gotta keep the gays from getting married" that got them the votes. It had nothing at all to do with "skill." (Not to mention the widespread Republican corruption in Florida and Ohio.)

[janx]

42. It was the marketing of FEAR.

Nothing sophisticated. It probably worked in every lame-assed "focus group" it was tried in.

There are some overlaps between government and business, but we already have an MBA president. Government is different from business (or at least I still hope it is). There is far more ideology and pragmatism in government than just "the bottom line."

[proudbluestater]

30. Buh Bye, McLoser, don't let the door hit you on the way out...

[xchrom]

32. mcauliffe should have taken his own advice

years ago.
leave iowa and new hampshire alone -- they aren't the problem.
corporate lobbyists are.

[mmonk]

36. 2 things,

Tell the truth and be the opposition. That's all it would take. Co-opting the lie of the war was THE mistake of 2004 for the dems. From now on it should be opposing republican SS "reform" and we should be screaming about the deficits (trade and budget). We should be calling for investigations and fillibustering supreme ct nominees. No studies, opposition ACTION.

[Deja Q]

37. Use the same tactics as the repukes. Didn't McCauliflower figure that out

after Selection 2000?

[drscm]

40. Yup. Tell everyone to "fear, fear, fear" anything other than their

own, whatever their own is. Such divisiveness wins elections to the detriment of the nation, but who cares.

Georgie Boy was asked how he felt about winning using dirty tactics against McCain in his first primary, he said, "I won, didn't I?" It's all about winning, regardless of the cost to any one individual or to any one group or to an entire nation - as long as it succeeds for me, me, me.

[leesa]

41. This guy is an operative for the GOP. Yeah. Let's become just

like them so we can win. Worked really well, didn't it! I guess he'll get a fat job now that he has sucessfully kept the GOP in power.

[donsu]

43. smirk rigged the vote - is that what McAuliffe wants us to do

we lost because the voting machines were rigged!!!!!!!

let's get real here.

[SmartBomb]

44. If you can't beat em, join em?

Problem with the DNC is their narrow focus; winning. We need leadership who understand any formula for winning must preserve the best aspects of our progressive heritage, first and foremost.

[DaveofCali]

47. Not just Preserve, but Promote

Democrats and Progressives need to learn the Psychology and tactics of Marketing (as well as make their own) in order to make EFFECTIVE campaigns that promote people to not only identify with Democrats and Progressives/liberals, but be proud of it too.

Most Americans Identify with Liberal and Democrat values, but because of the Republican's successful Marketing Campaign against us, they have successfully made many Americans even ashamed of proclaiming themselves as Democrats and Liberals, instead identifying as Independents.

FIRST Thing that needs to be done is a written guide of Democrat / Progressive Values that needs to be explained in order that could clear many people's misconceptions about Democrats and Progressives / Liberals. From there, that guide can be used to make targeted marketing campaigns that either directly or indirectly promote Democrats / Progressives (as well as ally and mutually help progressive organizations in promoting the Democrat / Progressive Image)

[JohnKleeb]

46. Ok I am not defending McAulife here but many of you who criticize him

are the same ones who want us to fight dirty and nasty like the republicans, thats what I think he's saying. He's not saying and I read the article in the actual paper, he didn't say become like the republicans idealogically.

[DaveofCali]

49. Who is Terry to say that anyway?

He Acted like a complete wimp in the face of the RNC (well okay, the national guard scandal was the only time he had balls), and he is giving advice to Democrats now? He could've played dirty (without crossing ethical boundaries) and didn't.

[JohnKleeb]

53. I agree but he's not saying become like the republicans idealogy

[Gyre]

50. NO. That's not what we're saying.

We're saying "fight them like you mean it". That means not kissing up to the enemy after they successfully lied, cheated and stole the election out from underneath your party. Loser!

Gyre

[JohnKleeb]

54. I thought you guys wanted the democrats to become more feisty

Thats what I gather MacAullife is saying. I dont know who he is to talk because he wasnt great at the job but hes not saying become like the republicans on idealogy.

[suegeo]

48. Democrats need to hire some Diebold programmers

and possibly buy a voting machine company or two.

Republicans cheat, and use voter suppression and intimidation to win.

They also allowed the 9.11 terror attacks to happen, knowing the psychology of large groups, and knew they could take advantage of the rally round the leader effect to their advantage. Too bad so many innocent people had to die (and are still dying) so they could get their way.

Republicans suck ass.

[Gyre]

51. $10mill dollar reward from George Soros

For substantial information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who planned and executed the theft of any national election.

Since they don't believe in any country over their own self-interests I'm thinking this particular piece of "cheese" would bring a ton of accomplices out of the woodwork, all fighting to collect their "patriotic duty retirement package". And there's NOTHING the repubes could do except to vainly try to stanch the hemmorhage by offing them before they could give a sworn affidavit. Either way, we win.

Gyre

[Skittles]

52. BULLSHIT

LYING AND STEALING VOTES AND HAVING THE MEDIA ON YOUR SIDE HELP MORE THAN ANY F***ING "SKILL" THEY HAVE "LEVERAGING". Good riddance to McAuliffe.

[Malva Zebrina]

55. I don't want no marketed president

thank you.

Enough is enough. I want a real person to stand up , be honest, stop with the nonsensical photo ops, stop catering and playing defense, stop being "electable" and be a REAL person, with REAL intelligence and not a marketed facsimile--OK?

If I see it next time around, I will NOT buy it no matter who is is from.

We have enough spin, lies, obfuscation coming our way and enough marketing come our way from this manufactured and supurbly marketed stupid man where product over substance is the mode of the day--including his marketed, Stepford, librarian, wax head lump in the bed frump wife for the past four or five years and more marketed every day, without a single call on the shallowness of it all

You want a country even more fixated on rampant corporatism? More rampant consumerism obssessed with the newest toy on the market and more mesmerized people--then I suggest you just hand over the nominee to the most successful marketing firm.

Enough!

[msgadget]

56. Exactly!

At first I bought into how 'smart' the other side was in their marketing the election but it's demeaning to all voters to be treated as a target markets. We only benefit when it benefits those running.

One thing McC learned too well was seeking corporate sponsorship, something else that hurts everyone. Don't expect great financial, healthcare or labor reforms under a DNC or DLC candidate. Kerry went out of his way NOT to even consider any form of universal healthcare, for instance. And, I don't recall him saying anything about regulating pharmaceutical companies re pricing (other than giving Medicare bargaining power)...but that's for another thread, I guess.