* From the Illinois Democrats…
Illinois House Democrats will launch a social media campaign to promote candidates who are lifting up the middle class, and push back against Republican politicians who continue pushing an agenda that protects corporations and corporate CEOs at the expense of Illinois’ families.
Democratic Majority’s Lifting Up Illinois campaign can be found at facebook.com/LiftingUpIL and twitter.com/LiftingUpIL. The pages will share news and information on House Democrats’ efforts to advance aggressive economic reforms that strengthen the middle class, grow the economy and help Illinois businesses compete.
“Governor Rauner and Illinois House Republicans are failing to do their jobs. They remain focused on promoting a corporate agenda that hurts middle-class families in order to boost the profits of big businesses. House Democrats want to rewrite the rules so we can protect working families, and we plan to share our own message about lifting up Illinois, not tearing it down,” said Steve Brown, spokesman for the Democratic Majority. “We agree Illinois must do more to create jobs, but cutting the wages of middle-class families and stripping away workplace protections to boost corporate profits isn’t real reform. House Democrats have a clear vision for revitalizing our economy and creating jobs, and we look forward to promoting our message and holding accountable those who stand with corporate interests over working families.”
While Gov. Rauner and House Republicans continue to stand by their corporate agenda, House Democrats are fighting for economic reforms to grow the economy and build a stronger middle class. To this end, House Democrats are working to put more money in the pockets of working families by expanding middle-class tax credits and raising the minimum wage. Efforts by House Democrats are also being made to level the playing field for Illinois’ small and medium-sized employers while closing loopholes that allow big corporations to avoid paying any taxes at all.
Not much of anything at either of those two links yet. We’ll see how this develops. Any suggestions?
- Gruntled University Employee - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:02 am:
I’m just glad they’ve finally given up on their MySpace account.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:05 am:
My first suggestion is looking at comments here on Rich’s blog. There have been numerous ideas and suggestions to the “how” and what” needs to be done.
Also, make pretty dog gone sure these platforms have thoughtful and factual commentary to the narrative. That will allow real counter-points to the Raunerism.
Lastly, get people working on the platforms that are committed to working these upcoming months to answer/counter/attack at a 24/7/365.
I’ll be watching.
- JoeMaddon - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:05 am:
So… they use twitter to tweet out a long press release. Fun.
- Skeptic - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:09 am:
*G _- 00
NO CARRIER
- LizPhairTax - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:15 am:
I’m picturing a bunch of guys sitting in folding chairs at a bank Apple II’s while a team windbreakered precinct captains pace back and forth like Apollo era NASA mission control.
Make sure you do those hashtags or none of you gets paid.
Whatever it is, it’s going to make more sense then the spew from the other side even if it isn’t as slick.
- walker - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:17 am:
We’re awash with new activist groups, especially since the Women’s March, expanding via social media in all kinds of ways. Part of the DPI strategy has to be smart alliances. Give up the desire for centralized control. Play in there sandbox rather than expecting them to play in yours.
- The Captain - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:19 am:
Leading Illinois For Tomorrow
Lifting Up IL
I’m sensing a pattern here.
Also Rich, double check that second link, as of right now they both point to the Facebook page.
- scott aster - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:30 am:
Dems are not very tech saavy in the operation of GOV and so why would anybody expect them to have arrived at this juncture sooner. What do you expect from a party leader like Mike the HAMMER …he just gives instructions. Does he have a smart phone??? Dems like to run and promise ……just look at the new COMP Mendoza looking for paper files.
- A Jack - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:36 am:
Rauner’s main message is tax increase in exchange for reforms. Each of those reforms should be detailed as to their expected rate of return and their expected impact on middle class income.
If you shred Rauner’s message, he has nothing to run on since he certainly doesn’t have any success as Governor.
- @misterjayem - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:36 am:
– MrJM
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:37 am:
Advice: Twitter can get you into trouble. Rather than tweeting out a lot on your own, focus on joining the conversation, especially with reporters and the other side.
See Rich’s column. Often news orgs will tweet about a Rauner visit ahead of time. Use that tweet to send the reporter facts on Rauner and the Grand Bargain.
- illini - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:43 am:
Suggestions? Hire any of my 5 nieces to run the platforms.
They may not be quite as politically savvy as some, but they are very adept at creating captivating and memorable posts on these sites.
And Willy is absolutely correct - this has to be 24/7/365. And these have to be quick posts and responses. Being a day late with any post does no good.
- Lech W - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:50 am:
The Dem’s should have stolen the Sox new name “Guaranteed Rate”, at least with that arrow pointing down we could hope they will bring down the 13 billion bill backlog.
- DeseDemDose - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 10:52 am:
Expose all the nonstop Lies the Governor tells. Reiterate that Big Brain has bought and paid for almost every Republican office holder in the state and they are terrified of crossing him. He has no accomplishments except adding billions to the State Debt. Keep it simple, just state the truth.
- Oneman - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:04 am:
I would avoid tweeting about increasing the minimum wage.
- City Zen - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:06 am:
==Rauner’s main message is tax increase in exchange for reforms. Each of those reforms should be detailed as to their expected rate of return and their expected impact on middle class income.==
True, but what’s the expected rate of return on raising taxes on the middle class with no changes? I can tell you the rate of return on taking $1 from one middle class family and giving it to another middle class family: zero.
- A guy - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:18 am:
They’re late. Better late than never. However, if you don’t release the reins enough to let this medium do what it’s capable of; it doesn’t matter. They need to severely re-examine their approach to communications in general and social media in particular. That’s a venue you can catch up in. But you’ve got to decide to do it. I’m not sure they’re there.
- Anonish - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:12 pm:
Sorry, too dizzy from hitting my head on my desk for any other coherent thought but about time
- A Jack - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
Well City Zen, perhaps you would like to calculate the rate of return on not paying your bills on time for two years?
But specifically by your comment, you think any tax increase will be redistributed among the middle class, but you really don’t specify who in the middle class you think will get that dollar.
- Mama - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
Please don’t spend all of your time on counter attacks.
- blue dog dem - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:58 pm:
‘Lifting up the middle class’. I guess that means no increase in the income tax and $12 billion on spending cuts. Yahoo! I can go back to darn near voting a straight D ticket again.
- Earnest - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 1:59 pm:
>While Gov. Rauner and House Republicans continue to stand by their corporate agenda, House Democrats are fighting for economic reforms to grow the economy and build a stronger middle class.
The last paragraph does a decent job of articulating a position. It lacks specifics, but a lack of specifics may be more of an advantage than a disadvantage. They need some simple, cohesive messages they can keep repeating, from which candidates can build.
I’d rather it be about the whole party rather than the House Democrats though.
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 6:09 pm:
If the head of the Illinois Democratic Party was a 3-D Chessmaster, he would suggest to the Illinois Speaker that the two of them hook up for a concerted, universal. statewide message and effort.
- Bowels of the Capitol - Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 7:36 pm:
First decade of the 21st Century calls for some James Blunt “You’re Beautiful” from Madigan to Mendoza.