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This campaign ad showcases the kind of argument with which Democrats would beat Trump hands-down in 2020. And the good news is that it's not unique to @CoryBooker: @BetoORourke, @KamalaHarris, etc. are singing from the same hymn book.
Here's what they have in common.
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Here's what they have in common.
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1) Preach Love, Not Hate
The base is desperate to see Trump thrown out of the White House. But it doesn't just want to beat him--it wants American politics to become less nasty in the process.
Booker goes all in on the theme of "impracticable love." But he's not alone.
The base is desperate to see Trump thrown out of the White House. But it doesn't just want to beat him--it wants American politics to become less nasty in the process.
Booker goes all in on the theme of "impracticable love." But he's not alone.
.@nytdavidbrooks, for example, describes @KamalaHarris as a pugilistic fighter. But she too is emphasizing reconciliation:
“People in power are trying to convince us that the villain in our American story is each other. But that is not our story. That is not who we are.”
“People in power are trying to convince us that the villain in our American story is each other. But that is not our story. That is not who we are.”
2) Recognize That America Is Flawed but Deny That It Is Rotten
There is no way for any liberal to look at the United States right now without seeing big, ugly stains. But do these stains define the country--or do they keep it from realizing what its founding principle promised?
There is no way for any liberal to look at the United States right now without seeing big, ugly stains. But do these stains define the country--or do they keep it from realizing what its founding principle promised?
Booker, like @BarackObama before him, is arguing that the resistance to injustice has always been a part of the American story--and that the fight for civil rights has always consisted of a cross-racial coalition.
Once again, he is hardly alone with this tack...
Once again, he is hardly alone with this tack...
...in fact, @KamalaHarris made a very similar pitch in her Netroots speech last year. 
3. Focus on the Big Picture and Avoid the Infighting
People on Twitter are really into subtle ideological differences. But most voters are not especially interested in determining a candidate’s exact position along an imagined line from radical progressive to moderate liberal.
People on Twitter are really into subtle ideological differences. But most voters are not especially interested in determining a candidate’s exact position along an imagined line from radical progressive to moderate liberal.
They want someone who'll resist the administration’s egregious attacks on minorities and democratic institutions; fight for the economic interests of working people; and fight against the rigged elements of our economic system.
A very wide span of candidates does this.
A very wide span of candidates does this.
.@CoryBooker and @BetoORourke avoid being drawn into ideological fights by focusing on big vision.
@KamalaHarris does so by pushing policies that eschew easy characterization, like her working- and middle-class tax cut.
Both are a good way to avoid the infighting.
@KamalaHarris does so by pushing policies that eschew easy characterization, like her working- and middle-class tax cut.
Both are a good way to avoid the infighting.
--> It's too early to tell which candidate is going to be the best bet for beating Trump. Personally, there's a lot of people I could imagine . The primary process will reveal a lot of info.
But the good news is: We have the message to beat Trump. We just need to stick to it.
But the good news is: We have the message to beat Trump. We just need to stick to it.
I wrote some of these thoughts up @Slate after @KamalaHarris' announcement speech on Sunday. Please do read and share the full article. And stop being so down on the Dems! We might just be able to get this one right!
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slate.com/news-and-polit…
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slate.com/news-and-polit…
