The parable of the blue cup: What Nancy Pelosi says is the problem with Democrats

Yahoo News ^ | April 3, 2012 | Jeff Greenfield

[Upstate NY Guy]

So, I asked House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in an interview the other night, what could keep the Democrats from retaking the House of Representatives in November? She pointed to a cup on the table between us.

"When the Republican leadership tells its members, 'there is a blue cup on the table,' every Republican repeats, 'there is a blue cup on the table,'" she said. She sighed. "When I tell my fellow Democrats, 'there is a blue cup on the table,' one will say 'there is a blue cup on a round table.' Another will say, 'there is a blue cup next to Nancy Pelosi's cup.' Another: 'a blue cup on a brown table.'"

"And I say, 'why did you say that?'" she went on. "And the answer is: 'because it's true.'"

It may sound as if the former speaker, who still holds the top Democratic leadership position in the House, is conducting a linguistics seminar. But her point is simple: Democrats are incapable of the clear, simple messaging at which Republicans excel. In 2006, Pelosi says, Democrats regained the House by hammering away at one message: "Protect Social Security." This year, she says, Democrats must answer the Republicans' unwavering anti-government theme with a mantra of their own: "Medicare, Medicare, Medicare." The proposals laid out by House Budget Chair Paul Ryan, with their alterations to both the size and structure of Medicare, offer Democrats a rich target of opportunity—if only have they can muster the discipline to stay on message.

[MrB]

The reason they cannot articulate a clear message is that their message is intended to cover up their agenda.

They’re all clear on the agenda, just as they are clear on the fact that they can’t disclose that agenda, or they’d never see the halls of power again.

[JoeRed]

Pelosi is trying to suggest that Republicans are simpletons. The reality is that liberals are intellectually dishonest. When a conservative says there's a blue cup on the table, it's because there actually is a blue cup on the table. When a liberal says there's a blue cup on the table they are lying. They want everyone to think there is a blue cup on the table but they all use different tricks to make people think it's there. Some will put a blue cup on a chair and try to make the chair look like a table. Some will put a white cup on a table and shine a blue light on it. Some will put a blue glass on the table and say it's a cup. That is why they can't get their messages straight. They have to tell lies about lies to cover their lies.

[MrB]

They’ll talk about the glassware on the table to distract from the fact that they have a feral animal under the table ready to devour anyone who is distracted by the cup.

[struggle]

The chair is against the wall.
The chair is against the wall.

[Da Bilge Troll]

Dear Nancy:

The cup may be blue, but you are still an idiot.

[JoeRed]

...and then they’ll blame “conservative rhetoric” for inciting the animals behavior.

[JoeRed]

Dear Nancy:

The cup may be blue, but the Kool-Aid is purple. Bottoms up!

[MrB]

The feral animal I was referring to is communism.

[Alas Babylon!]

Actually, I’m happy to see Pelosi say this. It means she knows there’s no way in Hell the democRats will retake the House. See, she’s already making excuses...

Relax!

[Secret Agent Man]

We have nothing to be worried about, Nancy is too old to stop doing things wrong. Keep talking Nancy, your mouth is an open grave.