Communication Advice for Our Political Parties

Approximately fourteen months ago Barrack Obama was elected president. With his historical election the democratic party took firm control of both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. As a result, many political pundits claimed the Republican party was not only down for the count, but would remain so for years and years to come. At the time, I suggested for the Republicans to regain their footing, they not only needed to regain their voice, but they also needed to regain their ears as well. Speaking without listening, I reasoned, would be nothing more than babble and being seen as a party that babbles was no way for it to get back on its feet.

Fast forward to the present and it strikes me how that advice remains viable only this time around it is meant for the Democrats. With key victories in several key congressional races, the Republicans seem very much a party on the rise. They have energy and momentum. On the other hand, the Democrats appear to be floundering and without a clear sense of direction or purpose. If it is going to regain its mojo as well as the enthusiastic support of a majority of the American people, then it must take several fundamental steps: reconnect with its millions of constituents and gain a clear understanding of what the people have been saying and experiencing these past months; take what voters have been saying to them and clearly outline a game plan for addressing those concerns; and then compile key message points that reiterate the needs of the people and articulate what they are doing to address them.

For this to happen, of course, the first thing leaders of the Democratic party need to do is become more unified than they have been. That will not be easy because it will require serious compromise, putting aside self interest for the benefit of the greater majority, and discipline. Unfortunately, these are things not many Democrats seem to be all that good at. At this point, I'm not all that sure the Democrats will be able to pull this off. Anything is possible. Maybe the prospect of losing their current positions of power will be enough of a wake-up call. Coupled with the Republican's recent history of blind arrogance, I am far from ready to write off the Democrats. In the political world, 2010 is going to be quite a show, particularly from a communication stand point.