Hello NM Democratic Party Leaders,
A year ago I agreed to chair the messaging committee of a new group, BlueCD2NM, formed to elect a Democrat to New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional district. I began looking for messaging guidance from outside New Mexico. I noticed many people were pointing in the same direction and when I investigated further I found several partner groups, Words that Win, We Make the Future and ASO Communications. They were teaching or actively focus-group testing messages that answered my question: how can Democrats motivate our base and, at the same time, persuade the middle?
The framework for this messaging is based on solid research (focus groups, still being held weekly) begun in 2017 by Anat Shenker-Osorio, an international messaging consultant interviewed most recently here: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/19/podcasts/transcript-ezra-klein-interviews-anat-shenker-osorio-sean-mcelwee.html
Her research was funded to answer the question: how can Democrats fight back against Republicans who divide us in order to dominate us?
I’ve come to believe this messaging is a cure for what ails Democrats caught in the Republican culture wars, who are often playing ineffective defense with policy statements, charts and numbers. Democrats are timid to say what we are for, in part because Republicans have so aggressively intimidated us with labels, e.g.,”socialists.”
Words that Win holds webinars several times a month, not just on May 19, the one my group, BlueCD2NM, is sponsoring (below). I’ve attended twice and plan to go a third time, it’s that good.
To help spread this messaging in New Mexico, our messaging committee created our own slideshow and are taking it on the road. We find this messaging is really like learning a language and needs lots of exposure and practice. Our free workshops are designed to give people that exposure and practice in a way that’s fun, engaging and gets people talking, thinking and experimenting. Our aim is to make every Democrat in New Mexico fluent in this language.
Please tell your friends and colleagues about this positive and effective messaging and encourage them (or your group) to attend the Words That Win webinar on May 19 or book one with BlueCD2NM at a time that’s convenient. It would be ideal to do both: attend a Words that Win workshop, and then follow up with one of ours to give you time to practice creating messages using the framework.
Cheers,
Sally Davis
505-273-4752
Messaging Committee Chair
BlueCD2NM
The Longest Day
Sometimes the trauma of extensive media coverage of a current war can awaken memories of past traumatic war experiences. MSgt Praught is but one veteran experiencing this. Both the relentless coverage of the war in Ukraine and the memories that surfaced while preparing for this interview have caused him to resurrect the horrors of his “longest day,” the day he and the rest of the US military left Cambodia on May 14, 1970. For the first time in 52 years, he was now able to face those ghosts, bringing some order to the events of that horrific day and forcing emotional resolution of those memories. To read MSgt Praught’s own description of this process, please read his very personal essay, “The Longest Day”, which is available on the VMF Caucus website. Please be aware that the detailed descriptions in his essay could trigger such memories of past war trauma that other veterans may have experienced. The VMF Caucus thanks MSgt Praught for sharing his very private personal war in dealing with these memories.
Military Base News in CD 2
by Sue Wolinsky, Family Member (IL Army National Guard)
Two recent events were held in southern New Mexico,
reports Shannon Reynolds, the Caucus Vice Chair for NM Congressional District 2.
- Ground was broken for a new Information Technology (IT) building that has been in the planning since 1999 at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), and
- The Fort Bliss Garrison Commander recently participated in the annual military luncheon hosted by the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce.
Congressional District 2 in New Mexico is larger than half the state. It encompasses 16 counties fully and three partially. Click HERE to see the counties. In 2020 it went red. We need to change that in 2022. Let’s do it together. Here’s how.
Elect Democrats! A Call to Action for CD 2
by Jeff Swanson, CD2 Vice Chair
cjeffswanson@gmail.com
Our mission is two words: ELECT DEMOCRATS!
Thanks for your mission focus. We recently elected Mona Trempe as our new CD2 Vice Chair. Mona is a member of our Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus. Expect training, organization, and strategic initiatives to get our mission done.
Let's Take the Hill!
Editorial by Jeff Swanson, CD 2 Vice Chair
Seems to me veterans and loved ones deeply treasure defending America. We love being invested in a cause greater than ourselves. Well, through our newly reinvigorated New Mexico Veterans Caucus, we have such a cause! We bring veteran and family needs to the forefront for legislative action. We present veterans and their family members as candidates and keep New Mexico Blue! We’re sorely needed. Political opponents present themselves as champions of veteran causes. Let’s politically drive them off that hill! And plant our Democratic flag on the moral high ground.
We seek a thriving Veteran’s Hospital and State Veteran Service Offices. We stoke the Armed Services Committees with legislation for missions and personnel assigned to three Air Bases, Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range. Whilst many in the other party slash budgets and squander money on projects not funded by our bipartisan Congress, we’re wise stewards. We have grit and common sense lessons form our military service, to engage COVID19 by reason and science. Service members and loved ones got plenty of vaccinations while maintaining worldwide deployability to serve our nation! Masks, social distancing, and vaccinations work.
In 1777, the Revolutionary War raged. Dr Benjamin Rush told General George Washington, that we would lose more forces to disease, than combat, if we did not improve nutrition and medical care. Washington listened. We won then and Democrats, inspired largely by veterans and families, will win now. Educated via the GI Bill in Social Sciences, I believe that our republic, based upon democracy, organized by our Constitution, is in peril. From Putin’s information warfare onslaught, to enemies and deceived citizens in our own ranks, we are under siege. Nuts abound too. I’m heartened to be in this fight, for the soul of America, alongside veterans and loved ones; virtuous Democrats on our mission.
Want to provide feedback or speak with Jeff Swanson?
Phone: (505) 850.3339
Email: cjeffswanson@gmail.com