Obama needs a new slogan! (Let's give him one)

[Robin Wasserman]

There's a good article on slate right now (http://www.slate.com/id/2200481/) about how Obama is winning the issues battle but losing the message war:

"He's missing a story about what's gone wrong with the American economy and how to fix it. He hasn't managed to present his various proposals on taxes, health care, energy, housing foreclosures, and the rest in a way that resonates with voters. He hasn't emphasized a few signature policies to let us know what his top priorities are. He hasn't got a decent slogan."

Reagan and Clinton both had catchy, simple slogans that got to the heart of the stories they were trying to tell.

Reagan: "Get the government off our backs." "It's morning again in America." "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" Message: the gov't is too big and too annoying. Put me in charge and I'll fix it.

Clinton: "It's the economy, stupid." "Putting people first." Message: The middle class is drowning and I've got a life preserver.

Obama's got all the stuff we want in a president -- nuance, complexity, long, intellectual layered discourses, etc, but as this article points out, he doesn't have a story:

"Obama still has a long way to go in explaining where the American faith in broadly shared prosperity got lost, and how his policies could bring it back. His proposals to reallocate the tax burden, invest in infrastructure, decouple health insurance from employment, and transition to renewable resources are components of a coherent effort to renew the American dream. Now it's time for him to frame them that way."

Let's help!

[marlo]

BaraROCK the Vote

I know that's really dumb, but I just thought of it and kind of liked it.

[Sabrina Banes]

Brainstorming here. Imagine Obama's name before each of these phrases.

Restoring the trust
For a healthy America
Change you need

I'm not sure ... you know, of everything I've thought of so far, the one thing that keeps coming to mind is that line from Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog, "The status is not quo." That's a great line, but obviously not one Obama can use.

I can see a few commercial possibilities here. Basically, Obama needs to do two things: He needs to distinguish himself as the candidate who cares about telling the truth, the one who believes Americans are smart enough to sniff out lies; and he also needs to present his vision. He's got "Yes we can" -- as in, yes, we can change the status quo.

But I was thinking about change. What kind of change? Spare change? Pocket change? No. Obama would (I hope and believe) reverse policies that infringe on our civil rights, ensure health care for everyone regardless of class, demolish cronyism at the top levels of government, establish policies that ensure we protect the environment and do everything we can to reverse the harm we've done already.

So I can imagine a commercial riffing on change, saying, "This is the kind of change you need," with a sort of montage that makes some of these -- and maybe other -- points.

For the "restoring the trust" phrase ... well, it's my least favorite. But I think the idea right now is that we can't trust Washington, that we certainly can't trust McCain and Palin, and that in an Obama presidency we would be able to not only trust his intentions but also his effectiveness.

Again, I'm not such a huge fan of the "healthy America" phrase, but I think the idea is that health can be measured in a lot of ways. Not only physical health, and mental health, but economic health and environmental health.

What he needs is something simple that he could use for a lot of different purposes, that would sum up the reasons to vote for him in one phrase.

And, as I think is becoming obvious, this election is going to be very much about character. The Republicans have framed it that way, so Obama needs to make sure he points out that when it comes to good values, he's the one who's got the goods.

[Emi]

What about change you can believe in? I like that slogan but it is a little to general.

[Lauren McLaughlin]

To me, Obama represents the possibility of moving beyond our lesser selves--the part that engages in pointless culture wars, open deceit, and almost criminal gullibility, and toward a more dignified future. Such a future doesn't sneer at "elitism" or "intellectualism." It embraces knowledge and truthfulness. I'm reminded of Lincoln's Inaugural address where he urged the country to put down its enmity and embrace "our better angels."

A better America for our better selves.

Too soft sounding?

[sillyJena]

For this festival in town here, the Young Dem's are having a float. Our theme? "Barack to the Future"

[Lauren McLaughlin]

That's awesome!

[sillyJena]

I thought so! We're gonna have a Marty and Doc and a Delorian (sp?). And I think this year our shirts are gonna say "Kicking Ass for the Workin' Class." :)

[Fred]

And so's that.

[Merrg]

That is a great theme.

You could even expand it, and say something like

"Tired of the last 8 years of backwards government?
We're heading Barack to the Future!"

idk, I thought it was clever. It might just be lame. but oh well. =D

[Phineas de Romanus]

I rather enjoy that Merrg.

It definitely carries a story and a message behind it.

[Fred]

That's the most incredible thing ever.

[Coe Booth]

I love it!!!