To the Editor:
Re “Democrats Need to Put On a Show,” by David Plouffe (Opinion guest essay, April 7):
In his essay about new ways to campaign, Mr. Plouffe offers an important analysis of the changed world of political communication. To his credit, he didn’t overlook the need for candidates to continue to “do the traditional stuff to stay in touch with voters’ concerns.”
Success for politicians should be defined by how they can help make a real difference in people’s lives. To do that, candidates should visit voters in all communities, whether those communities are friendly or hostile. They should to talk to ordinary Americans about their needs and solutions to their problems — similar to the way John McCain did on his Straight Talk Express campaign bus.
Voters are angry. They understand the growing gap between those who have more money than they can spend and those who don’t have enough to pay for health care, groceries, gas, housing and other basic needs. This isn’t about “isms” or political labels. It is about campaigns focusing on what will improve people’s lives.
I once worked with a bartender from Ireland who told me about a local politician who campaigned year after year promising voters “a house on the corner next to your mother.” The politician finally lost, the bartender told me, when the voters realized there weren’t that many corners in the neighborhood.
American voters deserve some straight talk, not more empty rhetoric and false promises.
William Danvers Arlington, Va.
To the Editor:
There is one important point missing in David Plouffe’s essay: Democrats need a brand strategy for the party. Without a single-minded center of gravity for the party, all those messages on multiple media will disperse and disappear.
The beauty of Democratic politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani is their ability to stay true to their core brand strategy, to always be consistent and cohesive. They share a core political and philosophical commitment to addressing the economic divide and working toward equality and fairness for all. No matter the question or issue, they come back to this center of gravity.
As a brand strategist who has worked for decades with big, messy hierarchical companies — not unlike the sprawling Democratic Party — I’ve learned that those that stay true to a core brand strategy for decades are the ones that succeed.
Teresa Alpert London The writer is a co-founder and the managing director of the marketing consultancy Crimea River.
To the Editor:
So, political campaigns, according to David Plouffe, should now be planned like TV series. What’s next? “Netflix Presents: Campaign 2026”? Funny — if it wasn’t so sad.
Instead of recognizing that Donald Trump’s rise from reality television personality to president was ludicrous, Mr. Plouffe would like to see Democratic candidates turned into actors, content creators and scene designers.
I disagree. What we really need are candidates with strong ideas and the passion to communicate these ideas truthfully.
Ruth Menken Mount Kisco, N.Y.
Why Moms Are Burned Out
To the Editor:
Re “Parents, Consider Underachieving,” by Rachel Feintzeig (Opinion guest essay, April 12):
I loved Ms. Feintzeig’s article, but her conclusion is off. It isn’t both parents who have this burden for the most part; it’s moms. Make it clear that parenting should be a shared endeavor.
This is the real reason moms are so burned out: not because we’re overachievers but because dads don’t step up. At every school event I go to, it’s a bunch of tired moms and the occasional dad who was obviously told to show up but who barely knows what the event is for.
Change the inherently unfair gender dynamic, and you can change the world.
(Rabbi) Michal Loving Long Beach, Calif.
National Referendums
To the Editor:
“Jury Duty for Politics,” by Hélène Landemore (Opinion guest essay, April 10), raises a provocative question about the political discussion in America: “Why are we filtering out the quiet voices?” She then offers some enlightening ways to include those voices.
I have a more basic question that would provide an even simpler way to get the voices of the American people heard: Why don’t we have national referendums on critical issues? We have them at the state level.
I am sure that, like me, many Americans feel that their voices are not being adequately represented in Washington. A national referendum would allow our voices to be plainly heard.
Michael Reagan Red Bank, N.J.
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