What about this for a general theme in 2006? One way a lot of people (Cobb Democratic Party chairman Guy Drexinger for instance) are talking about revitalizing the Georgia Democratic Party is to widen the scope of what “values” actually mean to people. This is how Drexinger is quoted in the Marietta Daily Journal:
“Moral issues now seem to now be a single issue - gay marriage,” [Drexinger] said. “Moral issues go well beyond gay marriage and how the Democratic Party has allowed itself to be replaced by the Republican Party as the party that is the party most in tune with moral issues. I am not sure I have a full understanding of how that has come about.”
I think the theme for Georgia Democrats in 2006 should be “Make Georgia a Family Again.” This slogan works on several levels.
It works as a central rallying point for Dems to talk about what Drexinger suggested above, that the discussion of values needs to be expanded beyond divisive wedge issues into what our obligations as a society are.
It appeals to people who are fed up with the divisive mud slinging that typically defines electoral politics, and would prefer the tone of the rhetoric to be calmed down.
Even many people who are very conservative or very liberal would likely agree that one-party government is a recipe for inefficiency. This appeal could even be made to very conservative people.
It implies without actually saying that the one party Republican state is like a single parent household, which is contrary to what most Georgians value.
It is not a concept the Republicans can co-opt because they are the party in power.
The stream of ads that could come from this theme is endless. What do ya’ll think?
I like the overall theme, but I’m not sure I like the slogan. Let me think it over. However, I do think that the Democratic Party needs to re-define values. Example from Alabama’s Governor:
He called the tax hike his Christian duty. Values and religion all rolled into one. This also feeds into your previous post about reaching about to rural Georgia, which I think is imperative.
It’s a good slogan. How do you get the big wigs to use it?
Perhaps something about making Georgia a bigger family would be more inspirational. Maybe it’s just me, but I get the feeling like the “Make Georgia a family again” slogan doesn’t have quite the feeling of inclusiveness that it should. You’re certainly on the right track, though.
Thanks for the input everyone. I hope more people will leave their opinions.
Steve,
I’d love for one of the things our PAC talks about early (before we raise money and mobilize hours for candidates later on) to be broader themes and slogans to go with them. “Make Georgia a Family Again” is one I’d bring up, and I’d love to hear others.
If we could come to some sort of consensus on a theme we’d like to promote, we could then try to arrange meetings — as a PAC — with Cathy Cox, Mark Taylor, Michael Meyer von Bremen, whomever ends up House Minority Leader, Bobby Kahn, etc. If they won’t see us themselves, then we try their PR staffs, secretaries, etc. If we start early, we can probably get some time with at least some of them.
Well, we will soon have the chance to talk about it…