Legitimate Tape: Using Republicans’ Own Words to Shut that Whole Thing Down
Session Type(s): Panel
Starts: Thursday, Jun. 20 6:15 PM (Eastern)
Ends: Thursday, Jun. 20 6:15 PM (Eastern)
From “legitimate rape” to “something that God intended to happen” to “47 percent,” 2012 demonstrated that we can defeat Republicans by using their own words against them. But the words didn’t get famous just because Republicans nominated weak candidates. The 2012 gaffes were rooted in fundamental Republican beliefs. A clip like the 47 percent tape is damaging on its own, but it was devastating for Romney because it fit neatly into the out-of-touch narrative Democrats had driven for the previous 18 months. Tracking ensures that everyone, not just those in the room, can see what a candidate really believes. Opposition research provides needed context by showing that a one-time statement is part of a meaningful pattern. This panel will familiarize attendees with available tracking and research resources and share how the progressive community can use them to construct the narratives that defeat Republican candidates.
Moderator
David Nir
David Nir is political director of Daily Kos, the largest online progressive community in the country. He oversees the site’s elections coverage and publishes its highly regarded newsletter, the Morning Digest, which covers every important competitive race around the country and goes out to over 80,000 subscribers daily. He is also responsible for the site’s candidate endorsement program, which raised $8.7 million in small donations for 80 different Democrats last cycle, 50 of whom won. David is lifelong New Yorker, Democrat, and Mets fan.
Other sessions: Never Too Early: Q&A on the 2014 Elections and Lessons from 2012
Panelists
James Carter IV
A lifelong Georgian, James Carter is a graduate of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. With a degree in public budgeting and finance, James has worked for the Panamanian government as an independent consultant for the Ministry of Social Development, and as a budget analyst for Georgia State Senator Jason Carter. After discovering the infamous 47% video that rocked the 2012 presidential campaign, James founded Carter Research, LLC – an Atlanta-based research firm specializing in politics and policy – and continues to influence political debate both nationally and locally through opposition research. James is currently working with a local progressive group Better Georgia, and as a consultant for Media Matters for America and American Bridge 21st Century.
Jess McIntosh
Jess McIntosh is a Democratic strategist, Executive Editor of Shareblue Media, CNN commentator, and co-host of the award-winning SiriusXM radio show Signal Boost along with Zerlina Maxwell. Jess has written extensively about politics and gender for Shondaland.com, ELLE, Lenny Letter, and more.
Most recently she served as a senior communications advisor for Hillary Clinton, who received 3 million more votes than Donald Trump and really should be the President. Prior to that honor, she was the Vice President of Communications for EMILY’s List, an organization devoted to electing pro-choice progressive women. She was the first campaign and Senate spokesperson for Al Franken, and helped with the elections of New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Jess is a graduate of New York University, where she earned a M.A. she has never found occasion to use in English Literature. She currently resides in Brooklyn with the boy she’s had a crush on since 1996.
Rodell Mollineau
Rodell Mollineau, president of American Bridge 21st Century, brings more than a decade of experience developing national message campaigns and leading high-level communications operations. At American Bridge, Mollineau leads the overall efforts of the organization, overseeing a premier research, tracking and communications operation that is committed to holding Republican candidates accountable for their words and actions. Prior to joining American Bridge, Mollineau spent four years in the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) as Staff Director of the Senate Democratic Communications Center, overseeing one of the largest political communications operations in the country, directing the long-term message development and rapid response strategy of the Senate Democratic Caucus and working closely with the White House, House Leadership and members of the progressive community to coordinate message. Mollineau is a veteran of several statewide and presidential elections and has led communications initiatives in every region of the country.
Other sessions: Screwing with People Fast: Rapid Response Videos in Campaigns
Amanda Terkel
Amanda Terkel is a Senior Political Reporter and Politics Managing Editor at The Huffington Post. Previously, Amanda served as Deputy Research Director at the Center for American Progress and the Managing Editor of ThinkProgress.org.