The Importance of Making the Case

This letter allegedly appeared in an international paper, as reported here:

"Once again American conservatives are playing the spin game by turning Senator Feingold's censure resolution into an attack on national defense. This argument is unjustified and blatantly incoherent. Feingold is not by any means trying to prevent law enforcement agencies from doing their jobs, but rather is calling on Americans to recognize that President Bush, by refusing to inform the FISA court of his actions, is not only neglecting to comply with the constitution but is also disposing of America's founding ideology of balance of power. Hopefully America will not be confused by the Republican's absurd spin on this issue, and will recognize that Senator Feingold is in fact trying to preserve America's freedoms, while the president once again cowers cowardly under his old and worn excuse of national defense."

Focus on this sentence: Hopefully America will not be confused by the Republican's absurd spin on this issue. Again, this letter appeared in an international forum. But it seems to have hit the nail on the head. "Hopefully America will not be confused." America is confused on the issue, as repeated polls show, but would be less so if the party that supported Feingold repeatedly made the case. From an email sent several times to Feingold's Press Secretary and Feingold's Chief of staff, that was never responded to. Hopefully, it was read, since it was followed up on by voice mail as well:

As articulated briefly via voice mail, the attacks upon Senator Feingold by the republican leadership present an opportunity. Specifically, to turn the issue around, exposing (1) the lack of responsible leadership, (2) the political projection of game playing with and manipulating the American public on, critical issues to our democracy, and (3) Either a stark lack of integrity and trustworthiness, or a fundamental lack of understanding of these very same critical issues -- without directly arguing these things.

My recent suggestion to democrats in general (as posted on a new blog) should also apply here: "Communicate a message, don't waste time handicapping or telling people what they feel or should feel. Sell, don't tell. Show, don't tell. Make the case to Middle Americaerica. Don't conclude. Sell, don't argue, don't whine, don't call names. Make the case stronger than the language used. Take every opportunity to convey your message, use the other sides' mischaracterizations to undermine their credibility, and their basic understanding of the issues, while at the very same time setting the record straight, and getting your message out." I suggested there that democrats had a harder time following this (or sometimes even agreeing with it) and that this was part of the reason why both Congress and the White House have been dominated the past five years by right wing conservatives.

I would add 3 things to the specific situation. 1) Making sure to reference the "illegal and unconstitutional" [not just "illegal"] wiretapping, explaining why and trying not to let it be quoted without doing so. 2) Making the case every opportunity that arises, and then some (also using supplemental catch phrases such as "the same pattern," "more big government," "increasing gap between rhetoric and reality," or better. 3) Making the case repeatedly to the media as well.