The Democrats have released their analysis of the 2014 midterm elections in a nine-page report. Although they do admit to "devastating losses," they remain adamant that they simply have a marketing problem.
According to the Democrat Victory Task Force report:
"It is clear that Americans overwhelmingly support the people and issues that the Democratic Party fights for every day,"
It suggests that Democrats' ideas are resounding and more popular, but people just couldn't understand them.
“It is strongly believed that the Democratic Party is loosely understood as a long list of policy statements and not as people with a common set of core goals. . . ”
The report calls for a "National Narrative Project" to connect voters in a values-based national narrative that will engage and inspire voters to support Democrats. Emotions are a strong tool to use in politics and many in history have used it well, but Americans of late seem to be looking at the economic scoreboard rather than looking into their hearts, so to speak.
"The first step toward fixing a problem is admitting that you have one, but it’s clear the DNC isn’t willing to come to terms with why their party lost in historic fashion last November,” said RNC spokesman Michael Short according to Time.
What is left out of the analysis is the slow migration of middle class voters from the Democrats towards Republicans which could be a deciding factor in upcoming presidential and congressional races.
The report states the following on communicating Democrat's ideas to Americans:
"We need to speak directly, in ways that make sense and move people to action, addressing the broad, diverse group of Americans that are receptive to the Democratic Party’s message of shared opportunity and prosperity for all Americans."
Prior to the report's release, former Democratic National Committee chairman Ed Rendell also blamed Democrats' losses on messaging that's too "nuanced" for the average person to understand:
“The trouble the Democratic Party has is our message, because it’s reasonable and intelligent, is almost inherently nuanced."
“Whereas the Republican message—keep the government out of your business; you can spend your money better than the government can spend your money—is simple and direct. And of course, it’s over simplistic and not very reasonable. But it resonates much more easily with voters than our message does, no question.”