In the arena of political blame games, spin doctors, and grandstanding, Americans find themselves once again caught in the middle of a government shutdown. This time around, the finger-pointing has reached new heights with each side scrambling to sway public opinion. What’s particularly amusing, and a little tragic, is how Democrats are scrambling to point fingers when they had all summer to get their ducks in a row. Yet, predictably, they’re not winning any accolades for their messaging.
In a puzzling turn of events, many Americans seem to believe Democrats should be held accountable for the shutdown. This might just be an example of Republicans deftly steering the narrative while Democrats appear to bob around in the murky waters of public perception. With every day that the shutdown persists, the narrative gets murkier, and Democrats seem less equipped to offer a coherent rebuttal. It’s almost as if they’re participating in a communication class where the only grade handed out is a big, fat F.
On the other side of the aisle, Republicans have been on the offense, like seasoned quarterbacks launching carefully aimed passes – whether it’s press conferences, town hall meetings, or media blitzes. These efforts clearly aim to frame the shutdown debate squarely in their favor. One might wonder if Democrats were spending their time rearranging the deck chairs on their own messaging Titanic, as Republicans have been effortlessly steering the discourse.
As more jobs are lost and paychecks dwindle, it’s baffling to see Democrats struggle to highlight the actions of Trump and his administration that have played a key role in bringing the situation to a head. It was only a while back that federal job cuts were on the news, cuts that should have been a gift-wrapped conversation starter for Democrats. But alas, those points seem to float away, lost in a sea of talking points that never quite hit home. The Democrats might want to consider brushing up on basic arithmetic, as the math of who’s voting to reopen the government has been laid bare repeatedly, only to somehow still go unnoticed by them.
The impasse over reopening the government seems straightforward when one examines who’s actually opposed to funding bills. The reluctance comes from key Democrats in the Senate who seem to be dragging their feet. Perhaps their intentions differ from their public façade, which is delightful fodder for another Republican win in the messaging department. So, while Democrats continue their quixotic quest to refine their messaging, the American public is left scratching their heads, wondering how they keep missing the easy lay-ups. Meanwhile, the GOP watches quietly, making sure they don’t trip over anything other than the Democrats’ fumbles.
