Soliciting donations from wealthy leftists and Democrats to fund political agitation, Clinton loyalist David Brock released a “private and confidential” memorandum outlining his strategies to defeat President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Entitled “Democracy Matters: Strategic Plan for Action,” the memorandum provides an indirect analysis of the 2016 presidential election. It alleges that Hillary Clinton’s loss was the result of a sophisticated “right-wing misinformation campaign.”
The memorandum blames poor online communications from Democrats for Trump’s victory:
“Generally speaking and simply put, Democrats got clobbered in the digital space.
Digital programs – both tactical and messaging – failed to actively listen and engage the online grassroots universe.
The Trump camp spoke effectively to the grassroots and relied on online channels to disseminate information and misinformation and influence the media, even getting fake stories onto cable TV.
And the right colonized Facebook, which has established a virtual monopoly on information distribution.”
American Bridge – a “progressive research and communications organization” and arm of the Democrat Party – promises to “cement itself as a standard-bearer of opposition research” in order to “[drive] the narrative on Republican officeholders and candidates.”
The memorandum describes “what success will look like:”
“Trump will be defeated through impeachment or at the ballot box in 2020.
The balance of power will shift back to Democrats. We will measurably impact US Senate, gubernatorial, and state legislative races
We will free ourselves from solely relying on the press. Our robust digital platform will reach voters directly online.”
A partisan Democrat social media platform – “Shareblue” – is also proposed as a political communications strategy:
“Shareblue will become the de facto news outlet for opposition leaders and the grassroots.
Trump allies will be forced to step down or change course due to news published by Shareblue.
Under pressure from Shareblue, Democrats will take more aggressive positions against Trump.
Shareblue will achieve financial sustainability while diversifying content offerings and platforms.
Top editorial and writing talent will leave competitors and join Shareblue.”
The memorandum outlines a strategy “to resist the normalization of Donald Trump…. [and] his every radical departure from foreign and domestic policy norms.”
Media Matters will reshape its focus to “serial misinformers and right-wing propagandists.”
Social media platforms such as Google and Facebook “will no longer uncritically and without consequence host and enrich fake news sites and propagandists,” promises the memorandum.
The memorandum identifies the Media Research Center (MRC) and Breitbart as primary targets of MMFA’s opposition research.
MRC is said to “reinforce the myth of a liberally biased media” while “[pushing] journalism to the right.”
Breitbart is said to be funded by “extremist billionaires,” operating as a “nexus point for the so-called alt-right (the newest branding for American white nationalism, anti-Semitism, and misogyny),” while “[exporting] its brand of anti-establishment racism on a global scale.”
MMFA’s attempts to obstruct Breitbart’s access press credentials from the Senate are highlighted in the memorandum as examples of its effectiveness:
“When Breitbart applied for Permanent Senate Gallery Credentials, Media Matters was quick to act by advising the credentialing committee of the myriad ways that Breitbart violated their requirements. Additionally, Media Matters did something that the committee was unable to do: A deep dive study of Breitbart content, reviewing thousands of their stories to demonstrate that they do not meet the credentialing requirement for original reporting.
Media Matters also first sounded the alarm about Breitbart’s international expansion and began working with journalists in the United States and abroad to educate them on Breitbart’s model as well as the larger universe of alt-right activity for which Breitbart is the nexus. Most significantly , we helped journalists understand the symbiotic relationship between Breitbart and opposition political parties so that they can accurately report on the danger that is spreading across western democracies.”
MMFA claims credit for having “stopped Donald Trump’s phone interview privileges.” CBS News and NBC News coordinated in denying Trump access to phone interview in the latter part of 2016’s campaign season. Chuck Todd of MSNBC and NBC expressed support for the move in an interview with former Obama administration communications advisers Dan Pfeiffer and Jon Favreau.
The memorandum claims that Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites are collaborating with MMFA to combat “fake news.”
The memorandum “media fragmentation,” calling for the promotion of “good journalism” to combat “confirmation bias” resulting from news consumers’ retreats into “filter [bubbles] isolating them from contrary views.”
Political and media observers should note that MMFA’s boasts of collaboration with media outlets such as MSNBC/NBC, CBS, and CNN are largely substantiated. Following her departure from CBS News, Sharyl Attkisson noted that MMFA often led the charge of “controversialing” any reporting it deemed damaging to its neo-Marxist and partisan Democrat agenda.
The memorandum does not offer any recommendations for recalibrating the Democrat Party’s platform.
MMFA enjoys tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization.
H/T Joe Schoffstall at The Washington Free Beacon
Follow Robert Kraychik on Twitter.