Thread by @jennycohn1

Other than those who follow me on Twitter (or Wyden), almost no one knew about the #SAFEAct & what was in it (a ban on internet connectivity & mandatory robust manual audits for all federal races in 2020.) This messaging failure allowed TFG to play victim. IMO. 1/

https://twitter.com/thebradblog/status/1397017780117852161

The Democrats are still messing up by not reintroducing the #SAFEAct or another standalone bill just focused on audits in 2022. Seriously. That Bill might even get some Republican support. Worst case, if they oppose it, you use that to show they are insincere about integrity. 2/

Maybe I’m wrong. But this is my strong opinion on strategy. I am not equating Ds with Rs. Rs are rotten to the core. I worry Ds are not good enough negotiators or messagers to defeat them. 3/

I was really good at negotiations when I practiced law. From what I’ve seen, most Democrats are not. If you lack leverage, you engage your constituents and make them your leverage. Yes I screamed about this at the time. I even went to DC and met with congressional staff. 4/

Wyden did this. It’s why he is pretty much the only MOC that I can cite to show that Republicans are hypocrites on this issue and that at least one Democrat tried to address internet connectivity & voting machine concerns before 2020. 5/

There are no good quotes from any other Democrats on election security. And that is an enormous messaging failure. 6/

Wyden quote: 7/

Wyden quote. 8/

Wyden quote. 9/

Wyden video. 10/

https://twitter.com/persistentpengn/status/937480688600616960

Wyden letter. 11/

Wyden tweet. 12/

Wyden. 13/

Wyden. 14/

Seriously, where were the other Democrats?! Was was Wyden the only one really going to the mat? He fought for it and warned the public. The others were limp. 15/

I begged the Democrats to use talking points. They would not. Wyden was the only one worth a damn on this issue. From what was public anyway. And what happens in public matters. They work for the public. 16/

17/ #SAFEAct - where were the Democrats’ graphics? @_Jo_di did this one

18/ Wyden, Wyden, Wyden.

19/ The other Democrats? Mostly MIA.