MEMO
To: All Talk Show Hosts
From: Andy Bloom
RE: Stop Talking about Trump
Date: September 8, 2022
This week’s column is written for talk show hosts. If you’re not one, it’s okay to peek anyway. This is a “talking points” memo.
A couple of months ago, a red wave seemed inevitable. Then in late June, the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade making abortion an issue in the 2022 mid-term elections.
The decision created a fierce backlash and motivated Democrats who previously were unenthusiastic about the mid-terms. However, since the decision, Democrats have closed the gap in the generic Congressional ballot and, in some cases, pulled ahead.
Recently, another issue has overshadowed abortion and is propelling Democrats to surge in the polls: Donald Trump.
The only topics Joe Biden talks about now are the former president and his followers. In the process, Biden makes a mockery of his rationale for running and insults half the country, including conservatives who might otherwise prefer Trump to fade away.
During the campaign, Biden promised to unite the nation and heal the “soul of the country.” He doubled down on his campaign promise during his inaugural address when he said:
“Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this:
Bringing America together.
Uniting our people.
And uniting our nation.”
What happened to that Joe Biden? Entering Labor Day weekend, in front of Independence Hall, bathed in light that made him appear like Beelzebub – the Prince of Darkness, Dark Brandon shook his fists angrily, screaming about “semi-fascists” and ultra-MAGA-Republicans.
What is a “semi” fascist” anyway? Either you are, or you aren’t.
He’s become “Angry Joe,” the mirror image of Trump and everything he ran against.
Biden talks about Trump and his supporters to avoid his record of failure.
Biden counts on talk show hosts continuing to defend Trump instead of issues that impact voters. Don’t fall for this trap! The mid-term elections must be a referendum on the president and the Democrats who control the House of Representatives and the Senate. Talking about Trump, his legal issues, or the 2020 elections, garners votes for Democrats and moves Republicans further from retaking either chamber. DON’T DO IT!
Instead of reminding voters about Trump and everything good and bad that goes along with him, please point out the prices they are paying for goods and services.
Under this president and Democrats in Congress, inflation hit levels the country hasn’t seen in 40 years. If inflation has come down a bit, prices have not. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, real wages, year to year (July 2021 to July 2022), decreased by 3.5%.
Biden brags about gas prices coming down. True, gas isn’t over $5/gallon now, except for those buying diesel fuel. That means it still costs over $5/gallon to fuel the trucks transporting every product you buy. While the national average has dropped from over $5/gallon to $3.75 (nationally in the most recent EIA survey). When Biden took office, gas was $2.38/gallon; another $1.50, and he can crow.
Crime is out of control in cities across the nation. The Gun Violence Archive reports 14,039 homicides, murders, or unintentional death caused by guns (through September 7), well on pace to eclipse the record set in 2020. That includes 1,151 under 18 and 230 who didn’t live to see their 12th birthday.
In New York City, shootings and murders are down slightly in August. Still, every other major crime category is up, that includes rape, robbery, assault, burglary, grand larceny, and car theft – according to NYPD stats in a report published in The NY Daily News.
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, There were 750 shooting incidents in the City of Brotherly Love, which The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial referred to as “the summer of mayhem.”
There’s chaos at the southern border. While Biden was ordering citizens to mask up and get vaccinated, schools were closed, causing kids to fall behind; illegal immigrants were streaming across the border in record numbers. People entered the U.S. without Covid testing or protocols. The government had no idea who was entering the country. Then the Biden administration used taxpayer funds to distribute them across the country.
Fentanyl continues to enter the southern border and kills Americans at unprecedented rates. Some illegals are committing violent crimes with no accountability. Without secure borders, we aren’t a sovereign nation.
While we’re on the topic of “accountability,” nobody was ever held responsible for America’s embarrassing cut and run from Afghanistan. Biden didn’t fire a single person for that calamity.
Most recently, Biden poked his thumb in the eyes of everybody who paid off their college loan, paid for college, or paid off their debts as promised. The student debt cancellation is a terrible economic policy, a horrible lesson to teach citizens – many who signed their first contract and the Supreme Court will almost certainly find it unconstitutional.
These are a few reasons why the “country is going in the wrong direction” numbers have topped out at over 80% and consistently are well into the 70%. These are why the mid=term elections must be a referendum on the Biden administration and the Democrats in Congress.
Talk shows MUST focus on the mid-term elections now, regardless of the hosts’ thoughts about Trump. Continuing to talk about Trump IS political malpractice. Think about the mischief Congressional Democrats will do over the next 18 months if Republicans don’t take back one or both chambers of Congress in the mid-terms.
Biden doesn’t want talk shows discussing these issues because they will lead Republicans back to congressional majorities. Disappoint Dark Brandon, focus on Biden and the Democrat’s records – not Trump.
Andy Bloom is president of Andy Bloom Communications. He specializes in media training and political communications. He has programmed legendary stations including WIP, WPHT and WYSP/Philadelphia, KLSX, Los Angeles and WCCO Minneapolis. He was Vice President Programming for Emmis International, Greater Media Inc. and Coleman Research. Andy also served as communications director for Rep. Michael R. Turner, R-Ohio. He can be reached by email at andy@andybloom.com or you can follow him on Twitter @AndyBloomCom.
