Jodi Jacobson is the editor-in-chief of Rewire.News.
She has some advice for the Democratic Party.
Message to @HouseDemocrats & @SenateDems: Please get a competent communications strategist.
You have before you the SIMPLEST to explain of innumerable crimes committed by this president & this administration and yet STILL you are screwing it up.
It is astounding.
Some tips:
— Jodi Jacobson (@jljacobson) October 1, 2019
Click over and read her Tweet thread. It’s short and not sweet.
It ends like this: “You say you want to keep it simple for the public, but your communications are for shit, congresspeople stutter for answers, and everyone is doing this ‘yes, but’ dance. Please stop. Get a competent set of strategists.”
Bullshit called.
Democratic Party Softness Not A State Secret
It’s no secret that Democrats are often perceived to be weak and ineffective operators.
While Dems talk and talk and worry about appearing to be fair — and thus morally superior to their rivals in the process — the American empire is aflame. Listen to the latest Pelosism, if you can tolerate it.
There are some people who say, ‘Why are you calling for an inquiry? You should just call to impeach.’ I don’t think that would be fair, and it isn’t worthy of the Constitution.
I’ve written several articles on this topic since 2016.
- Real Americans and Lovers of Liberty Break the Chains of Authority
- The 12 Point Plan to Save America
- America’s Priorities Are Plain To See
- The Mixed Up Men Behind The Obfuscator In Chief
- Is The Republican Party Guilty of Treason?
- Follow The Money
- Understand Trump’s Take On ‘Citizen Kane’ And You Understand The Man
I’ve also taken on two political campaigns as clients. Here is a key takeaway: Politicians tend to have no ear—they’re all mouth. Naturally, that’s a highly off-putting position for any communicator of any message, commercial or political.
Politicians are far from alone in this messaging myopia. They share the bad practices with countless CEOs, CMOs, and brand managers who simply assume that people care.
The True Need: One Shared Voice
Candidates for office and people in office are consumer brands. That’s how the people in the audience, voters, in this case, relate to the person running for office. But it is not how the politician wants to see himself. The politician sees himself as an individual with all the answers. In other words, the politician is blinded by self-importance.
When it’s a consumer packaged good, the ego-driven narrative that masquerades as marketing is just more waste and noise. When it’s a candidate for public office, the ego-driven narrative that masquerades as marketing is damaging at best, and dangerous at worst.
Successful brands are disciplined. They work from a well-defined strategy, and stay “on message.” Successful brands are also flexible and responsive. They adapt to the needs of people hooked on digital media, where things happen in minutes not weeks, and expectations for brands are sky-high.
Old school brands deny, often unconsciously, that the playing field and the rules of engagement have been redrawn. Meanwhile, people who use digital media all day long can and do T-A-L-K. They can talk to one another, to brands, and to politicians.
Media is now a multiway universe. Digital disruption broke the one-way broadcast model. Broadcast media is still alive and well, but broadcast media must now share screen space and thus mental space with gaming and online media. This demands a major adjustment from anyone who relies on media to convey messages that lead to business or votes.
