It's dumb. It's trite. It's cheap, even. But we gotta do it NOW.

[blondeatlast]

We have to run a print/television "I am a Democrat" campaign.

Hear me out here.

Democrats have been demonized. RW talk radio and TV 24/7 has managed to make us into something we aren't. An entire faction of people think we are pot-smoking, Birk wearing, Commies.

They think we hate Jesus, America, and most importantly--

THEM.

This is almost entirely the result of RW radio and FAUX News. I've lived in rural areas my entire life until now, and no one thought of my family that way until about 1995. I've seen the disconnect occur from people who knew my yellow dog family then, and their Rush-influenced perception now. They KNOW we love America, and go to church, and 4th of July picnics, etc. But now they perceive us slightly differently, with a degree of suspicion that didn't exist before. I've witnessed it happening among friends I've known my entire life. It came to a major head in 2004.

Now, my new neighbors, BushBots almost all, are LITERALLY shocked to find out I'm a Democrat. I look like a bit of a fashion-forward soccer mom. Even the few Democrats in my neighborhood were surprised to find out. Mind, I'm a very active DU participant, so I take politcs seriously.

We need to show ordinary Democrats, like you and me, stating that they are Democrats, and a quick little self-explanation of why. This serves two purposes--it removes the demonization (and yes, DEMONization is what they do. I've listened to Rush, et al). It also serves to show Democrats that they aren't alone--I don't know how much door-knocking you did pre-November, but it was amazing how many Dems in my area thought they were the only ones.

Show the big tent, one Dem or Dem family at a time.

It may be trite, but it's one of the most effective cliches in advertising. We may hate it, but it's an incredibly effective marketing technique.

It's simply the only weapon we have against the talk-radio insurgency. AAR is doing well, granted, but we can't wait long enough for them to catch up.

We have to act now to push up the vote rolls and engage Dems already on the rolls.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I think this would be a great idea for an ad campaign.

Sort of a "I am a democrat" on the soccer field, in the grocery store, at church, at school, kind of a thing.

All kinds of people, living in all kinds of places. This is a great idea. Count me in to help with this.

[Steel City Slim]

2. I'll Go Along With That

That's why I have American flag stickers on my car along with my liberal stickers. To demonstrate that liberals love America too.

[ourbluenation]

3. I had the exact same idea several months ago

I'm sick of hannity and the like pushing the idea that liberalism equals crazy hippy person. I'm as normal as you get - kids in sports, husband is a coach, middle-aged, etc..."I'm in the PTA and I'm a democrat". Love this idea - kickety kick kick...

[electropop]

4. I like this.

"I'm Pro-Life so I vote Democratic." (Clinton reduced abortions, Bush has increased them again. The difference? Common sense policies that work with knowledge of real human behavior. BTW, I presonally am not anti-abortion, but I do agree with the goal of reducing the need for it. Stole the quote from Bobby Kennedy Jr.)

"I want a small government so I vote Democratic."

"I want fiscal sanity so I vote Democratic."

"I love America so I vote Democratic."

"I support our troops, so I vote Democratic." (mention HMMWV armor, body armor, VA cuts)

"I love liberty so I vote liberal."

"I love democracy so I vote Democratic."

"I want a strong economy so I vote Democratic."

"I want a strong America so I vote Democratic."

[kevsand]

5. It's perfect PR.

You should send this idea to the DNC.

[mfidelman]

7. the heck with the DNC, send it to...

... the bumper sticker vendors! W/ ads on DU, Daily Kos, MyDD and all the usual suspects.

[kevsand]

9. And maybe to MoveOn.org, as well... eom

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JohnnyBoots]

8. The fact that Jesus was a liberal seems to

escape most people who have had their heads filled w/ RW rubbish. It is a great idea, especially for red rural america. Where it seems you have to be a republican to have any form of masculinity. Can you think of any examples of popular personalities that would play in those areas who are liberal/democrat? The John Wayne/NRA/Toby Keith etc. profiles have contributed or even given credence to the RW demonization in the minds of many of these people. These are the people who see Bush and Reagan as actual cowboys who care about the average 40hr a week working man. It is one of the many ways that has made these people vote against their own interests time and again. Great Idea. Have to start now, the Kerry duck hunting photo op was too little too late to try and shrug off these misinformed stereotypes.

[electropop]

11. Jesus was a liberal

A great slogan which should be repeated often. A glance at their oft-thumped "good book" will make this fact pretty clear.

[sandnsea]

10. "You Might Be A Democrat If"

You think your kids' teacher deserves as much pay as your hairdresser;

Fishing isn't something you want to have to watch on tv because your river is polluted with mercury;

You lost your employee health care benefit and think there should be an economically feasible alternative;

You know that nobody can survive on $5.15 an hour;

You think wars should be fought only to defend America and only as a last resort;

You support the troops when they come home from wars, not just when you're sending them off to die;

(You get the idea)