Since the 2016 election, I’ve received both emails from the Trump campaign and from the Democratic Party.
Trump has NEVER stopped campaigning.
Democrats shifted their rhetoric to try to win everything back for the past 4 years.
Wow, the rhetorical tones are quite different. Both emails want your votes, but the difference in tone and style to persuade you to do so are very different. But, amazingly enough–both Republicans and Democrats instill FEAR in their emails.
Let’s take a look at some examples:
Trump likes to discredit Joe Biden. Of course. In Trump’s campaign emails, he gives very little proof.
In the email below you see, a quote from Biden taken out of context that says, “It’s easy being Vice President. You don’t have to do anything.”
Then he continues to call him by his nickname, Sleepy Joe.
Of course, the email includes the buzz word Fake News and questions Joe Biden’s competency. The email if FILLED with buzz words, but really, they are just that–buzz words the campaign uses repeatedly. Repetition is key to Donald Trump’s rhetorical strategy. Little proof, but lots of seeds of doubt that the campaign plants. They want you to repeat the buzz words, so you can fill in the blanks with your already held assumptions–that are probably not based on any facts–just by the quick buzz phrases they have repeatedly told you because Donald Trump doesn’t provide examples.
A democratic campaign email with former Secretary of State’s Madeline Albright’s name on it exudes eloquence but instilling a subtle fear in the reader. “I’m deeply concerned, Janet.” Nice touch, including my name.
“Donald Trump poses an existential threat to our standing in the world…”
“We’ve spent decades building our nation’s reputation on the world stage through careful, strategic diplomacy…”
All while saying Trump has done unspeakable damage to those relationships.
How can we is reverse this damage? The answer is obvious–vote for Joe Biden.
The email is driven by pathos to tap into your sense of patriotism of America and how YOU could save America.
Trump’s emails LOVE to use RED fonts. Using the color red creates a sense of urgency, especially when there is none.
The email then starts with, “Can you believe it?”
It’s been proven that false ANTIFA rumors have spread across the Internet. Yet, the Radical Democrats (which is a bit radical to say with the language this email uses) are ruining the liberal run cities. Yet, they want to make a statement SO LOUD (use of capital letters) that Fake News won’t be able to drown them out.
Again, GOP buzz words: Radical Democrats, ANTIFA Thugs, Law and Order, Fake News.
Here is another email from Trump’s campaign. Wow, all those important people emailed me? This email sounds as if the Trump campaign is ANNOYED by me. Why? I ignore every email.
“And now I’m emailing you, Again.” Notice the italics. Maybe that adds to the tone that they are annoyed by me. Then the email states, they’ve repeatedly seen my name is still missing.
At least the democratic emails have learned to input my name INTO the email. I’m finding a common theme in Trump’s emails to me–Threatening and verbally abusive.
Uh-Oh–Donald Trump, Jr’s Twitter account has been suspended. Well, that’s what happens when you spread misinformation about COVID-19. He posted a video saying masks are not necessary. Tsk Tsk Tsk… maybe he should seek out GOP’s Herman Cain and see how he faired without wearing a mask at a Trump’s lackluster Tulsa rally. It’s sad to say that Cain passed away due to COVID, but it was also reported he was seen repeatedly without a mask–especially at the Tulsa rally.
Twitter has new policies, and yes, they apply to ALL users–even the president and the president’s son. Here’s Twitter’s statement about misinformation
Our teams are using and improving on internal systems to proactively monitor content related to COVID-19. These systems help ensure we’re not amplifying Tweets with these warnings or labels and detecting the high-visibility content quickly. Additionally, we’ll continue to rely on trusted partners to identify content that is likely to result in offline harm. Given the dynamic situation, we will prioritize review and labeling of content that could lead to increased exposure or transmission.
Oh, I better not post the next email–it’s labeled CONFIDENTIAL!
Did I hear the news? What news? Oh, the wall? We are still talking about that? I actually care MORE about COVID-19 and how you want to save my life than you calling immigrants illegal aliens.
So, this survey you want me to take is HIGHLY confidential, and no one should share this email. I don’t take instructions well. So, I posted this email to the blog but won’t share the survey because any survey a campaign wants you to fill-out is all about data mining–you don’t REALLY want my opinion–you want my information to target messages to me.
But, I’m not sure if your wall will keep out dangerous criminals. From all the mysteries and thrillers I read, criminals will ALWAYS find a way to get where they need to be to do what they want to do.
Immigration is a controversial topic. I want people to follow the law, but I also believe in humanity. So, reforms need to be made, and our rhetoric needs to shift on how we address this problem. These people are humans, not aliens.
Oh, I love this line from Cory Booker’s email. “You and I both know that democracy is not a spectator sport, Janet.”
Nice touch incorporating my name into the email.
Very cliche–“This is not a moment in our history when we can afford to sit on the sidelines.”
Then the bold print cuts to the chase–DONATE.
This next email is from Tom Perez, Democratic National Committee Chair.
He writes…
Almost 250 years ago, our democracy was born in revolution by little more than words on parchment and the courage of those who dared to write them.
Their declaration was heard around the world. But while it promised that all men were created equal, it only marked the beginning of the struggle for equality.
America won freedom, but Black lives did not.
America won independence, but women did not.
America celebrated liberty, but LGBTQ+ Americans did not
He adds that Donald Trump is “hell-bent” on dragging America backward. At least I can see some fire in his belly. Some of these emails I feel as if they are not “fighting words.” But to amp up the rhetoric and the narrative, democrats need to create their own buzz words in their own way.
Then they address me AGAIN by name. Nice!
Let’s just say the Democrat emails are more personalized, more about reaching for the patriotic spirit differently. I don’t feel threatened. It’s more thought-provoking. And, Tom Perez does an excellent job of building a strong narrative about America in this email.
This next email is from Joe Biden himself. Interesting… he never mentions Trump’s name. Smart. It’s about building HIS narrative and his credibility.
Trump’s campaign emails are threatening, harsh, bombastic, in your face manipulation, and dare I say: Fearmongering?
Democrat campaign emails are softer, cliche-ish, pathos driven, and dare I say: Empathetic?
The difference between the email campaigns is Trump’s buzz words and Democrats trying to reason with a potential voter who may never have voted for a Democrat.
Trump’s email messages provide very little proof of his accusations that he slams people with. His campaign’s strategy is to name call and keep pounding the buzz words into your heads.
I feel as if Democrats are then saying, “There there… it’ll be alright, BUT this is what we need to do to get back on track.” Subtle, not too in your face, and not threatening other than the threat of four more years of Trump.
The point of the email campaigns is to reach all possible audiences. Emails allow a more personal touch if you include the names of the receiver. Also, campaigns can provide links to donate and, most often, times to collect data. Watch out for campaign surveys! Campaigns can’t confirm beliefs if you don’t tell them.
Data is gold for message control.
