While in the past they could distract with social issues like abortion and religion, a starving citizen tend to forget these issues rather quickly. Democrats must give Americans two well defined and contrasted real choices. The Republican’s choice of middle class servitude with real world illustrations of the damage it has and will continue to have on the middle class and the country’s well-being, and the Democratic choice of investments and policies that will create a well-paid working middle class and a strong safety net (Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid) that will mitigate the aberrations that poorly regulated capitalism can sometimes incur.
Republican Paul Ryan’s budget should be carried in every Democrat running for election’s pocket and addressed as the codification of Republicanism. It should be well studied. Democratic point by point narratives refuting its responsibility, efficacy, and humanity must be on the tip of each Democratic candidates tongue.
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WASHINGTON — The conservative group FreedomWorks has a message for freshman Republicans in Congress: Do not shy away from the Medicare fight. On May 24, the group run by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey convened one of its regular off-the-record meetings with "communicators from limited-government conservative offices in the House and Senate who have a close relationship with the grassroots," according to an email from FreedomWorks’ Media Coordinator Jackie Bodnar obtained by The Huffington Post. The email was intended for attendees of the breakfast meeting.
The main topics of discussion, according to notes attached to the email that recapped the meeting, were the debt ceiling and Medicare. The special guest that day was Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who argued, according to the recap, that the "debt ceiling has become a key bargaining chip that can be used to get the BBA [balanced budget amendment] passed."
Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks, focused on Medicare and gave the congressional offices tips for dealing with the hot topic in their districts (emphasis added):
- Get out there and talk to people. Hold town halls at senior centers and other areas where the population is especially concerned about their benefits being cut. Take the lessons of ’94 and ’95 and get out there and explain to people that their immediate benefits will not be affected. Explaining the plan will offset confusion and the Democrats’ negative messaging.
- We need to dispel the myth that if we leave Medicare alone it will stay the same. It won’t. By reforming them we are saving and strengthening these programs for the current and future generations.
- Don’t bury your head in the sand. Republicans must not shy away from this issue. Expect Democrats to attack, but not fighting back will only makes it worse. BOLD action is needed.
- Communicate that Democrats do not have a plan of their own. Hold up a blank piece of paper as a powerful image of their do-nothing approach.
- Stick to your message.
FreedomWorks spokesman Adam Brandon told The Huffington Post that the main audience for these meetings is communications staffers who work for small-government, conservative, freshman Republicans.
FreedomWorks Gives Freshman Republicans Tips For Dealing With Medicare At Town Halls