G'burg Dems seek sense in election (Adams County, PA Rats Scratch Their Heads!)

The Evening Sun (Hanover, PA) ^ | November 4, 2010 | KATHARINE HARMON

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

As the Gettysburg Area Democracy for America met Wednesday night, members joked of the "elephant in the room."

And when they asked their panel guests -- political science and economics professors at Gettysburg College -- what happened in Tuesday's election as Republicans gained many U.S. House and Senate seats, the professors said they had no answers.

"The world is a confused place," joked moderator Lou Hammann.

The group assembled at the Lutheran Seminary threw out ideas and questions as to why this election seemed to be a referendum on President Barack Obama. The one thing they all agreed on was that the Republicans had better message crafting and communication.

Many argued that the Democrats never took the time to respond to Republican claims, and didn't have as many powerful narratives that stuck with a voter.

Political science professor Bruce Larson said many Democrats think the message itself and the best policies are "righteous enough" and forget they still need a compelling message.

"There's no way getting around it, that politics are conducted in language," Larson said.

Larson added he and economics professor Charles Weise joked that Republican messages can be summed up on bumper stickers, and Democrats need a bigger bumper for more nuanced messages.

[KarlInOhio]

Political science professor Bruce Larson said many Democrats think the message itself and the best policies are "righteous enough" and forget they still need a compelling message.

They won 2008 based on just a message. "Hope & Change" is not a plan or even a political philosophy. It is pure slogan with nothing behind it.

I do like the Gettysburg location. I can imagine Reid and Pelosi leading their troops in Pickett's Charge, from which they return but many of their troops are left on the battlefield and their whole army is forced to retreat afterwards.

[gogogodzilla]

It has nothing to do with any political party’s message. It has nothing to do with how it was communicated.

What it boils down to is that Americans, by and large, do not want any government to tell them what they can or cannot do.

And the Republicans, with the TEA party holding their feet to the fire, took up the *PEOPLE’S* message and won.

In essence, they did not win by taking the Republican message to the people... but by taking the people’s message to the government.