Harris is on message but painful to listen to at times. She needs zingers, catchy phrases that are repeatable and entertaining. Things like: Trickle-down’ economics? It’s more like ‘drip-dry.’ Unsolicited advice: If you can’t write them yourself, get help. Use AI if you need to.
Check out what ChatGPT wrote below — you can’t tell me they’re not significantly better than Kamala’s own messaging and now-infamous word salads.
I can relate. As a former magazine editor, I found writing headlines and cover lines tough. I brought in people better at it than me. Other presidents used speech writers. Now there’s AI.
Writing a headline and a deck is part of the skillset of magazine editing but it is not what makes you a great editor. Hopefully there are other things that go iinto the mix: Ideas, vision, leadership and an understanding of what your audience needs from you. I always had strong ideas, was decent at handing out writing assignments (one aspect of the job is to assign the best writer a topic and set them free onit) and talented top editors to bring the story home and “land the plane.”
Some people are born headline writers. Not me, as was painfully clear in my 13 years at the top of a masthead (or 18 years in all my chief editorial positions). No amount of practice or trial and error can make your mind think this way if you are inclined to longer sentences. Even when going on TV, which I did all the time I had to have talking points to finish my sentence, keep it to one quippy clause, and take a breath.
The same is true of Harris. A zinger machine does not make the best politician, but it helps. FDR, Churchill, Kennedy, Reagan had some of the best lines, fitting their moments in history, that we still repeat to this day. (I will spare you from doing that here.) Pretty much every great leader has had great oratory skills. Everyone loves to say Obama got better, but even his early speeches were full of inspirational messages. I love listening to great speakers, such as Bill Clinton (not so much Hillary) and even the Bushes had their moments.
So when I listen to Harris on CNN giving Anderson Cooper long and winding answers to questions like: How will a Harris presidency be different from Biden presidency? The answer is simple: We did a lot right, but there is room for new ideas. (That’s the headline, which would be followed by a longer deck, or subhead.)
The subhead or longer playing version could be a list of what they nailed and what priorities they still have to tackle, such as: “We passed the infrastructure act, the inflation reduction act, and created jobs, especially around climate change. Next we need to solve the border problem, the housing problem and the inflation problem. I am going to do that…” (For a better version, see what AI wrote, below.)
Say it. Be brief. Then stop talking. Or, add a zinger: “Donald Trump has an enemies list. I have a To Do list.” That was her best line EVER. More like that, and she will get through to people.
Trump is a Sound Bite Machine. Not a Good One.
Everyone hopes that Trump’s fascist Nazi-loving revelations will disqualify him. But part of the public is enamored with anything entertaining. “Make me laugh, tell me more vulgar stories, keep it coming!” Seems to be the thought line, like the election is some kind of Jerry Springer show, and the more outrageous the better. For those of us who deeply care about the issues (reproductive freedom, negotiating peace, and bolstering the economy) these are not only distractions but offensive comments that would have disqualified any other candidate in any other time and place.
But the unserious blather Trump spews hides a dark fact: His white supremacy plays to an audience that subscribes to this wway of thinking. Kamala needs to fight him on his level. She needs more zingers. wiwth apologies to Michelle Obama, when he goes low, you gotto go there too.
Zingers to use On the Campaign Trail Thanks To AI
Here is AI’s production of zingers for Kamala Harris to use. Let’s make a list of ten topics which zingers will help her win. (And Tim Walz has devolved into saying “Damn” a lot. As in “Mind your own damn business,” when it comes to abortion and reproductive rights. Just saying “Damn” won’t cut it. We need more repeatable lines. If you can repeat it, then you can win. Zingers are viral. Here are a few for her to try.
Reproductive Freedom
- “When it comes to reproductive rights, we don’t need politicians making choices for women. We need politicians protecting women’s right to make their own.”
- “Some folks want to take us back to the 1950s, but I’m here to ensure every woman in America has a future where she controls her body—no government should be in the room where it happens.”
- “You can’t claim to be for freedom and then turn around and tell women what they can and cannot do with their own bodies. That’s not freedom—that’s hypocrisy.”
The Economy
- “A strong economy isn’t just about stock markets and corporate profits—it’s about making sure working families can put food on the table, afford healthcare, and send their kids to college without drowning in debt.”
- “The economy can’t work when only the wealthiest benefit. My plan is to build an economy that lifts everyone—not just those already at the top.”
- “They say ‘trickle-down’ economics, but I’ve seen enough of that to know it’s more like ‘drip-dry.’ It’s time for an economy that works for the people who make this country run, not just the billionaires.”
The Peace Process
- “Peace isn’t just the absence of war—it’s the presence of justice, diplomacy, and dignity for every nation. My administration will lead with diplomacy first and build lasting peace through respect, not recklessness.”
- “If we want lasting peace, we need leaders who listen, not leaders who lecture. My approach to foreign policy is about partnership, not posturing.”
- “Peace is built through tough conversations and smart diplomacy—not by sending tweets at 3 a.m. My administration will restore America’s role as a global leader in solutions, not in creating chaos.”
How She Will Be Different From Biden
- “Joe Biden has led this country through some of its toughest challenges, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. But now, it’s time for fresh energy and bold vision to take us even further.”
- “Joe laid the groundwork. I’m here to build on it—with urgency, with innovation, and with a fierce commitment to making government work better and faster for the people.”
- “I will honor what we’ve achieved, but I’m not here to repeat the past. My presidency will be about breaking new ground and addressing the challenges of today, from climate change to digital equity to reproductive freedom.
These lines balance wit and strong messaging, while positioning Harris as a progressive leader ready to tackle modern issues head-on. Kamala, let’s chat.
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