What was the winning midterm message? Freedom.
Democrats described freedom differently: from women's freedom to decide for themselves (AOC), freedom to learn (Josh Shapiro) to economic freedom (Wes Moore). Excerpts of their inspiring messages are bundled in the free BigStage Teleprompter so you can practice delivering them too.
"Americans value our freedoms — our freedom to vote, to elect who governs in our name, and to have an equal say in the decisions that impact our lives. For democracy to work for all of us, it must include us all." - Way to Win.
"Across our races, backgrounds, and parties, Americans value our freedoms – our freedom to vote, to elect who governs in our name, and to have an equal say in the decisions that impact our lives. But Trump Republicans are deliberately spreading false claims against our elections so they can turn us against each other, take away our freedoms, and get and hold onto power. We’re onto them. By joining together, we will protect our freedoms, decide our own futures, and ensure the will of the people prevails in our elections."
Deliver your message better with a free teleprompter
AOC
Few things impact one's finances more than a having a child! When a politician is trying to force you to have a baby in a country without guaranteed healthcare or childcare, abortion is a HUGE economic issue. Abortion bans aren't just about controlling women's bodies. They're about controlling women's sexuality.
Owning women. From limiting birth control to banning comprehensive sex ed, US religious fundamentalists are working hard to outlaw sex that falls outside their theology. Ultimately, this is about women's power. When women are in control of their sexuality, it threatens a core element underpinning right-wing ideology: patriarchy.
It's a brutal form of oppression to seize control of the one essential thing a person should command: their own body. Abortion is a kitchen-table issue. Americans sent a clear message that stripping women of the right to control their own bodies, their wallets, and their future is extreme and won't be tolerated. - CBS News
Josh Shapiro
Republicans love to talk a big game about freedom. It is not freedom to tell women what they are allowed to do with their bodies. That is not freedom. It is not freedom to tell our children what books they are allowed to read. It's not freedom when Republicans get to decide who you are allowed to marry. I say, love is love. It is not freedom to say, you can work a 40-hour work week, but you can't be a member of a union. That's not freedom. And it sure as hell isn't freedom to say, you can go vote, but Republicans get to pick the winner. That's not freedom.
But do you know what we are for? Democrats are for real freedom. Let me tell you what real freedom is. Real freedom is when you see that young child and you see the potential in her so you invest in her public school. That is real freedom. Real freedom comes when we invest in that young child's neighborhood to make sure it is safe so she gets to her 18th birthday. That's real freedom! - C&L
Wes Moore
When I was an Army captain and led soldiers into combat in Afghanistan, we lived by a simple principle: Leave no one behind. But for too long, too many of our families and neighbors have been left behind.I look across this room tonight and I see people from all backgrounds, all walks of life, all income levels ... teachers, small business owners, nurses, union members ... who lent your voices and gave your votes to this campaign. Who are saying with a collective voice: Our time is now. What we see today is that we can come together.
You know what I never asked my soldiers — "What's your political party?" We had one mission ... you showed that if we stand divided, we cannot win — but if we stand united, we cannot lose. - CBS News
Sell the benefits, not the features
Anat Shenker-Osorio is the founder a of ASO Communications and a messaging expert. This one minute clip provides an illustrated explanation from her interview on the 'Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell'. Watch the whole interview here. People buy brownies, not the recipe. Emphasize how you'll improve their lives. Skip the geek-speak.
"We have to speak in the language of values. When we ask people, how do you feel about paid family leave? They are into it. When we say instead, you're there the first time your newborn smiles. They are way more into it! When we say raising wages. Very popular. When we say instead, everyone makes enough to care for their family. Way more popular!
What Democrats need to do when they do have the mic, is to stop selling the recipe and start selling the brownie. Stop talking about the names of your policies. And instead, speak to voters in imageable terms about what it would feel like to have that as the reality in their life. - Keeping it real
BigStage Teleprompter
Delivery matters as much as the message. Practice your delivery with a teleprompter such as the free BigStage Teleprompter. You can even share your message with supporters as a script for them to practice and amplify. A single message amplified by multiple people magnifies its impact. And when you change the script in teleprompter, all your supporters immediately have the new version of the message. Learn more about the Big Stage Teleprompter.
Take Away: Keep it simple and practice your lines.
Deepak
DemLabs
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