#NewTone Watch: communications lessons from an expert, Allan Brauer (D). Updated, Brauer apologizes. Update 2, Brauer resigns
**Posted by Phineas
This was an interesting morning on Twitter. After the House voted to pass a continuing resolution that funds the government but provides no money for Obamacare, conservative journalist Amanda Carpenter wrote the following:
GOP beat gun control, changed Obama’s mind on Syria, is holding the line on amnesty. We can defund Obamacare, too!
β Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) September 20, 2013
Reasonable people can of course disagree on the merits of this move and post their thoughts on Twitter in reply. Which is what Allan Brauer did:
@amandacarpenter May your children all die from debilitating, painful and incurable diseases.
β allanbrauer (@allanbrauer) September 20, 2013
See? That’s a professional handles disagreement on sensitive issues. In fact, Brauer is a Democratic Party official, the Communications Chair for the Democratic Party of Sacramento. So you can bet he knows the fine art of messaging and marketing. In fact, the tag line on his blog reads:
“It matters how you say it!”
Indeed, Allan. Indeed.
Here are some more examples of a professional Democratic communications expert’s concern for a civil tone in politics:
Busy blocking the tapeworms that have slithered out of hellspawn @amandacarpenter‘s asshole. How’s your day so far?
β allanbrauer (@allanbrauer) September 20, 2013
…and…
I’m being attacked on Twitter for wishing one of Ted Cruz’s pubic lice to experience the pain her boss is inflicting on Americans.
β allanbrauer (@allanbrauer) September 20, 2013
…and…
Yes, your party takes bread from the mouths of starving children and medicine from the sick, and I’m the problem. Got it.
β allanbrauer (@allanbrauer) September 20, 2013
Actually, yes, Allan. You are.
I’m sure there’s more, including at least one example of the way not to respond to him, but Sacramento County Democratic Party Communications Chair Allan Brauer has blocked me, so I can’t see them.
Darn. I guess I’ll just never be popular with tolerant progressives who wish death on children.
PS: The Chair of the Democratic Party in Sacramento County is Kerri Asbury. If you have a Twitter account, you might want to let her know well her comms guy is doing his job. Politely, of course.
UPDATE: Brauer has apologized, and Amanda Carpenter has accepted:
@allanbrauer Thank you. I appreciate it.
β Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) September 20, 2013
However, the California Democratic Party doesn’t quite seem to get it:
Response from CA Dem Party to Sacramento Democrat’s comments to Cruz spokeswoman: pic.twitter.com/Q580T6Xebf
β Chris Moody (@Chris_Moody) September 20, 2013
Sigh. Shouldn’t be surprised. This is the state party of Bob Filner, after all.
UPDATE 2: BrauerΒ resigns:
The Democratic Party of Sacramento County (DPSC) Friday called forΒ and accepted the resignation of its volunteer communications chair following of series ofΒ personal twitter comments directed at GOP staff after Republicans voted to defund PresidentΒ Obamaβs health care law.
DPSC chair Kerri Asbury said the personal twitter comments made by CommunicationsΒ Committee chair Allan Brauer were βappalling and inexcusable.β She accepted his resignationΒ Friday, and issued the following statement:
βThe comments by our volunteer communications chair are appalling and inexcusable. No matterΒ what our political disagreements may be, wishing harm is never an acceptable response duringΒ heated public debate or any other time. Mr. Brauer has apologized for his comments andΒ expressed his remorse.β
viaΒ Legal Insurrection
(Crossposted at Public Secrets)