Quote And Questions Of The Day (UPDATED)

Quote:

At a caucus meeting in a room just off the Senate floor, a group of vulnerable Senate Democrats told their leader, Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), that the cost of their effort to protect young undocumented immigrants known as “dreamers” from deportation was rapidly escalating. It could imperil what was otherwise a promising outlook in November’s midterm election — and with it, the Democrats’ hopes of ending their exile from power. 

With the shutdown heading into its third day, they were feeling the heat and finding it hard to control the messaging war.

Questions:  With the considerable resources of the Democratic Party (including a record $105 million raised by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2017), those of associated interest groups, and our talent pool of progressive writers, filmmakers and other creative people, what does it take to "control the messaging war," and why haven't Democrats crafted a strong, smart, humane message that speaks to American values?

The prospect of a fight over Dreamers/ DACA that would involve funding the government at some point could not have caught Democrats this flat- footed, could it have?

We need to stick together and do better.

UPDATE:  Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog has a messaging suggestion that makes sense.

Republicans Desperately Shift Terms Of Debate On Dreamers

Cynical human- like turtle Sen. Mitch "Missy" McConnell (R- Ratf*cker) is working hard ... to dishonestly frame the debate around a fix for DACA/ Dreamers in the continuing resolution (what a shocker!).  See if you can spot the weasel words:

“My Democratic colleagues’ demands on illegal immigration, at the behest of their far-left base, have crowded out all other important business,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday night. “And now they are threatening to crowd out the needs of veterans, military families, opioid treatment centers and every other American who relies on the federal government — all over illegal immigration.”

"Illegal immigration," not "children brought into the country by their undocumented parents."

"At the behest of their far- left base," not "at the behest of the vast majority of the American people."

Here's why they're desperate to weasel- word the terms of the debate:

A new @CBSNews poll shows most Americans would let young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children stay in the U.S. https://t.co/jScEnFSBF7 pic.twitter.com/4icPuOimQD

— CBS This Morning ❄️ (@CBSThisMorning) January 18, 2018

Senate Democrats need to hold the line and not succumb to these vicious, cynical Republicans. Every time these nihilists get away with this behavior, they're emboldened to keep it up. More importantly, Democrats have a moral obligation to these innocent Dreamers who are being held hostage in order to advance the Trump/ Republican agenda;  they have and are continuing to contribute to American society and deserve the opportunity of a path to citizenship.

BONUS: The cited CBS News poll also shows that 61% of Americans oppose building a border wall with Mexico, and 73% found bigot sociopath Donald "Rump" Trump's racist "shithole" comments about Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries not acceptable -- although 38% of Rethugs thought they were acceptable (but of course they would.)