Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ Íâ
Ryan Busse puts principles over politics. If youâd like to unsubscribe, [click here.]( [Busse_Logo](#) Hello from Team Busse! This isnât a typical political email begging for campaign cash. Instead, as we approach the holidays, weâre sharing some practical messaging advice for Democrats from Ryan Busse as he runs to become Montanaâs next governor. Iâve coached candidates and elected leaders on political messaging for more than 17 years, and Ryan is one of the strongest communicators Iâve ever worked with. That means I was listening carefully when Ryan appeared live on a conservative talk radio call-in show the other day. He spent an hour taking tough questions from callers who regularly listen to conservative talk radio. His thoughtful, clear answers, and the respectful way he handled questions, was so effective that we want to pass along some of his messaging tips for talking politics with your feisty, conservative relatives who may be sitting around your dining room table this holiday season. - Donât Take Their Bait. [Donât take their bait video](
This caller wants to lure Ryan into a debate over identity politics. When Democrats play defense on identity politics, we often lose sight of the bigger political picture: winning elections. The caller asks about a transgender woman who wears a dress. âThis is the stuff thatâs being taught in public schools,â the caller falsely claims, then adds: âIs this individual a man or a woman?â Of course Ryan believes in the freedom for all people to be themselves, with respect and dignity. But note how Ryan turns the focus back on the callerâs mean-spirited intent: - RYAN: I really donât appreciate you taking cheap shots at people, trying to stoke some culture war hatred. Ryanâs response is firm but respectful. But rather than keep the focus on identity politics, Ryan sees an opening to correct the callerâs false claim about whatâs being taught in public schools: - RYAN: My kids have been in public school. I still have a sophomore in public school. Theyâre not reaching this stuff. They are teaching people to help people instead of hurt people, and Iâm unclear what decent, reasonable Montanan thinks that itâs a bad idea to be decent and respectful to people. It should be a pretty dang low bar. Thatâs what I stand for. If you want to take up your day by worrying about these made-up culture wars, go for it. But Iâm just not down with that. See what happened there? What was supposed to be a question and an answer about identity politics ended as a correction⦠and a scolding.
- Wedge Issues? Wedge Back! [Wedge issues? Wedge Back video](
This caller feels strongly about the issue of abortion. Her strategy is to wedge her anti-abortion perspective of this complex issue by using hyperbolic, graphic languageâa tactic many on the Right use to put anyone who believes in the freedom of choice on defense. First, note how Ryan reframes the issue right off the top, without falling into the trap of answering the callerâs wedge-issue question: - CALLER: Whereâs your limit on killing babies?
RYAN: So you asked a question about womenâs health care⦠Then Ryan uses equally effective language to wedge the issue back, harnessing the power of his new frame: women and their health care: - RYAN:I believe that the Governor of Montana has no right to be in the doctorâs office with the women of this state, creepily looking at them, telling them what they can and canât do with their health care decisions. Itâs not my decision. It should be a doctorâs, and a womanâs, and their godâs decision, between all of themâitâs not mine. And itâs definitely not Greg Gianforteâs. And this weirdnessâthat he wants to get into doctorsâ offices with women and tell them what they can and canât do? Sorry, Iâm not down with that either.
Note how Ryan flips the script, accurately framing his opponent, billionaire Greg Gianforte, as a creepy, anti-choice religious zealot who has plans to invade womenâs privacy.
- Pivot, Then Play Offense [Pivot, then play offense video](
We all know people like this caller, who tries to shame Ryan into applying for a property tax rebate from the State of Montana. Though this particular issue is specific to Montana, the wider pivot-then-play-offense strategy is important for progressives and Democrats to use everywhere. First, some context: Gianforte purposely made it difficult for Montana homeowners to apply for their property tax rebates this year, after the governor and his Republican supermajority in our state legislature jacked up property taxesâsomething most Republicans claim they oppose. Applying for this yearâs rebate was such a difficult process (requiring homeowners to track down their âgeocodesâ) that tens of thousands of Montanans didnât even bother. This caller persistently tries to embarrass Ryan for claiming his rebate, absurdly suggesting that Ryan should have given his money back to the government because he objects to Gianforteâs rebate process. But note how Ryan changes the subject, or pivots: - CALLER: Did you send [your rebate] back to the revenue department or did you take it to the food bank to donate it?
RYAN: There were 64,500 people in the State of Montana that were due that rebate and they did not get it⦠Pivoting, though, is only half the strategy. Watch how Ryan once again turns the tables. Instead of playing defense on a callerâs half-baked quest to make Ryan feel guilty, Ryan plays offenseâwhich we believe Democrats donât do often enough. - RYAN: â¦And the reason they didn't get [their rebates] is because there was all of this red tape that was placed on that rebate by the Republicans and the Governor. They know what your geocode is. They know what your address is. They know where you live. Why? Because they send you tax bills. So why are we penalizing all of these people in this state who are owed that rebate?
Now watch how Ryan keeps playing defense, respectfully redirecting the shame back onto the caller for defending a Republican tax increase: - RYAN: I donât know why you would want to defend a system that makes it harder on people to get the money theyâre owed, and then pick on people when they take the money theyâre owed. This is their money. Now if youâre so worried about people being owed money then I think you ought be plenty worried about this property tax increase being laid over the top of everybody very purposefully.
See how much more effective this strategy is? Just ask the University of Montana Grizzlies: You score more touchdowns playing offense! If youâre interested in listening to Ryanâs full radio interview, we invite you to do so here: [( Put these tips to work when you find yourself debating politics in the weeks ahead. And from all of us at Team Busse, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Aaron Murphy
Advisor, Busse for Montana PS: Though I said I wasnât going to beg for campaign cash, Iâd be remiss not to ask for it. If you believe we need a tough candidate like Ryan fighting for Democracy in Montana, >>[please consider giving what you can by clicking here.]( Your generous financial support is paramount to Ryanâs victory. --------------------------------------------------------------- Ryan is running to fight for freedom, fairness, and common sense. Meanwhile, liars, cheats, billionaires, and fascists are unraveling American democracy before our eyes. We should be terrified of their anti-freedom agenda. Greg Gianforte is the problem. Heâs already raised your taxes, ignored the high cost of housing, lied to Montanans, and even went jet-setting in Italy while Montanans had to deal with record-breaking floods. Heâs just getting started. Ryan is ready to deliver âa new brand for Montana,â and protect the Last Best Place from Greg Gianforteâs dangerous, failed leadership. #[CONTRIBUTE MONTHLY »]( »]( Paid for by Busse for Montana, PO Box 8537 Kalispell, MT 59904, Democrat Busse for Montana
PO Box 8537
Kalispell, MT 59904
United States If you need to you can unsubscribe here: [unsubscribe](
You can also [click here to donate](.