The Hill reports that an internal democratic memo tells them that their party message is off.

“Democrats are losing the battle for voters‚Äô hearts because the party‚Äôs message lacks emotional appeal, according to a widely circulated critique of House Democratic communications strategy.

“Our message sounds like an audit report on defense logistics,” wrote Dave Helfert, a former Appropriations spokesman who now works for Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii). “Why are we defending [the State Children’s Health Insurance Program] instead of advocating a ‘Healthy Kids’ plan?”

Helfert sent the memo this week to an e-mail list of all Democratic press secretaries and communications directors after staffers met on Monday to discuss rolling out the Democrats’ latest message.
He said the meeting left him cold because it focused on what polling shows voters want rather than how to present persuasive messages. Republicans have done a better job by developing poll data into focus group-tested messages like “culture of life” and “defending marriage,” along with attacks like “cut and run” and “plan for surrender” in Iraq, he argued.

In particular, Helfert points to Republican pollster Frank Luntz, who helped develop the 1994 “Contract with America” and is credited with helping Republicans come up with terms for polices like “Healthy Forests” and “Death Tax.”

“Republicans have been kicking our rhetorical butt since about 1995,” Helfert wrote.

Democratic leadership aides were not impressed, and indicated that the memo did not have a vast and immediate impact.

“Everybody’s a message expert,” said one Democratic leadership aide. “The fact of the matter is Democrats are working hard to communicate our accomplishments. There is work to be done and that’s why Democrats are working together and mounting an aggressive campaign to discuss the real victories we have won for the American people.”

Actually, they haven’t lost their message, they’ve been making their positions loud and clear.

1. They want to tax the hell out of you - see Charlie Rangel’s plan.
2. They think that our troops are murderers - ask John Murtha.
3. They say that we lost in Iraq - ask Harry Reid.
4. They say that no matter how many shadow families you funnel campaign finances through it’s OK - ask Hillary Clinton.
5. They tell our enemies that it’s not their fault for causing terrorism, it’s America’s - ask Nancy Pelosi.
6. They have no problem is keeping an indicted congress man on the job - ask William Jefferson (or Nancy Pelosi).
7. Pete Stark informed us that the President of the United States get’s his jollies on watching our men and women in combat die.

I could go on, but as you can see they have a message, it’s just that America doesn’t want any part of it.

UPDATE: Michelle Malkin examines the amygdale of the Democrats.