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Lower Merion/Narberth Democratic
Committee
Major Points--Summit III
Important Challenges
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Traditional Democratic Party values
continue to ring true with the electorate, including our commitment
to protect basic civil liberties, rights of minorities, separation
of church and state, the environment, as well as the creation of
millions of good, middle-class jobs in the US and improvement of
education and public health.
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The Democratic Party must propose changes
in constructive terms and stop responding defensively or just
reactively to how the GOP frames issues
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The Democratic Party must be the party
that re-looks at foreign policy. Unilateral pre-emptive action is
not acceptable unless there is clear reason to go in (i.e., to stop
ethnic cleansing in Eastern Europe or Africa). The US must develop
partnerships regionally and internationally based on finding common
reasons to work together, not exploit citizens, and play by the
rules. We cannot bully the rest of the world. Economic agreements
also must be fair. We also repudiate cronyism in contracts here and
abroad.
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We must pull away from idea that terrorism
lurks everywhere and develop an approach toward safety that is not
based on fear or branding Americans as “disloyal” if they differ
with the party in power.
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Address the growing power of large media
empires and other powerful institutions. We need to assure more
diversity and checks and balances.
Campaign Strategies and Practices
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Assess how political messages are
delivered, e.g., framing issues in a positive way, using sound bites
to make our message less complex.
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Get across important points, e.g., dangers
of mounting debt, why taxes important.
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Clear objectives in fundraising so that
donors know to what they are contributing.
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Expose fear tactics of GOP and replacing
with optimism and sound planning to address problems, e.g., plan for
reconstructing Iraq and Afghanistan , ways of creating new jobs,
smart environmental planning that considers financial benefits of
such an approach.
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Reach voters who are disengaged, e.g.,
young, older citizens, the populist part of the country.
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Work at grassroots level to engage people
through coffees, town meetings. Use sound information and invite
dialogue.
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Develop symbols with which people can
identify.
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Support committee people, the party’s
backbone; training essential about how to be effective, NOT just the
paper responsibilities of the position.
Submitted by
Julie Levitt
and Richard
Pasquier, Chairs, Summit Committee Democratic Committee of Lower Merion and
Narberth
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