Makin' Change
One of the things that started to concern me following Iowa and the media's renewed focus on Barack Obama, was how everyone on the Democratic side and in large part on the Republican side, started parroting Barack Obama's message of "change". When Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney began speaking of how they have been "making change" their entire careers, it seemed as though they were altering the meaning of Obama's message, to give the impression that "change" simply meant minor accomplishments and policy tweaks.
The "Change we can believe in" is not simply that Obama will change the course of policy, which he certainly will, but of politics too. Now, I can't for the life of me fathom how Mitt Romney will "change" either one, but in the case of Clinton, she most certainly will change the course of some of the Bush policies....but the political realm will remain the same. She'll continue her focus on targeting various constituencies (African Americans, Women, GLBT, Seniors), instead of expressing a broad message that appeals to people of all genders, races, and political affiliations.
Unfortunately, that tactic still works when it comes to those who identify as Democrats. That Obama's campaign has won over the hearts of independents, and even garnered praise from Republicans, actually seems to anger some Democrats because they want a candidate who will put their foot on the throats of the opposition...and reaching out with a message of hope and optimism just doesn't work well in their "frames".
It's times like these when I can sort of relate to the disillusionment Conservatives like Roger Abramson have with the Republican party. I realize its early, and its a primary, but when, by backing the most energizing and compelling Democratic candidate in my lifetime, I find myself in the camp of Independents, and in opposition to the hardcore Democrats, it really makes me reflect on what it means to be a Democrat...
...I should note, because some might take this the wrong way, this doesn't mean I'm going to take my toys and leave the Democratic party should Barack Obama not win. It just means that I'm beginning to realize there is such a large contingency of Democrats out there who I have about as much in common with as I do Republicans.
8 comments:
Sean,
Glad you clarified that you will still, in fact, be a Democrat after the primary (if things don’t go well for your guy)! Getting a little worried there.
I can’t speak for all of the ‘hardcore’ Democrats out there but for me it isn’t that I don’t believe in Obama. It isn’t that at all – I think he has a great message of hope and change and we do need that, especially within the Democratic Party. Some of us have worked hard and held in there waiting for Hillary.
Hardcore Democrats do like Obama. (I will admit there are some that probably don’t but oh well.) We just want to hear more before we change our votes and we are paying attention. Keep giving us Obama’s specifics, the plans, the details, etc. That is how you win the hardcore D's.
Email me your address and I'll be happy to send you the policy book...in fact, I was reading it last night...just as enthralling as a Hillary speech.
Quite frankly, in every debate and speech I've seen, Barack Obama does talk about policy. The difference is, he does it in a way that embeds it into captivating language; compared to Hillary Clinton who reads hers out like a school teacher reviewing for a test.
Alright. Send me the policy book.
Obama does give an inspiring speech and she can't compete with him on that. But,they are both good candidates.
I don't know who you are, email me your name and address and I'll get it out to you.
If you prefer, you can read it online.
and reaching out with a message of hope and optimism just doesn't work well in their "frames"
Sean, Hope and optimism actually are "frames". I don't think you would hate "frames" so much if you actually understood them, but based on the way you always frame "frames" I don't think you do. I know that Kos, who is a proponent of frames, has bashed Obama, but don't let the messenger kill the message for you. I know we've talked about "frames" before, but somehow I've been unable to illuminate my understanding of "frames" to you. Maybe I'm just not framing things the right way. Alas...
Heh, I don't know, I think it just comes down to the fact that I don't like the obsession people have with how everything is said...or maybe I just don't like giving a name to what is common sense. Yes, of course how you say something matters, but when people criticize a candidate not for the policy they support, but whether or not they "framed" it in a correct fashion, it bothers me.
The idea of framing itself isn't necessarily bothersome, it is the inflamed passion by those on the left against those who fail to properly use them.
The idea of framing itself isn't necessarily bothersome, it is the inflamed passion by those on the left against those who fail to properly use them.
Now that's framed in a way that I can undertand it! ;)
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