The Budget: Ending Wasteful Washington Spending

"PUTTING OUR NATIONAL PRIORITIES IN ORDER." That is the top American priority right now. And that should be at the core of your communication efforts.

"Common sense" and "accountability" are the two principles that matter most in the upcoming budget debate. Yes, these attributes matter in every national debate, but they are particularly important to Americans who universally think you waste way too much of their taxpayer dollars and blame Republicans just as much as Democrats for the deficits. If you can demonstrate these two attributes, you win the communication war. If you don't, you won't.

"PRINCIPLES" should be at the heart of any discussion about the budget. At the outset of your speech, list numerically and then descriptively the process you follow in deciding how to spend the money of America's hardworking overburdened taxpayers.

"Cutting wasteful Washington spending" has always had greater emotional appeal than "balancing the budget." This is still true today. Americans still believe the primary cause of the deficit is wasteful Washington spending, not the tax cuts. So tell them: "Americans aren't taxed too little. Washington spends too much."

"Economic growth" is the best way to balance the budget. Remind people that raising taxes discourages work, investment and achievements and it only gives the IRS a larger piece of a smaller pie. The economy is growing and expanding thanks to lower taxes and other policies that encourage job creation and innovation. And when the economy grows, the government collects more and we will be able to keep more.

"Winning the war on terror is the first budget priority." As President Bush has said, homeland defense, rebuilding our military, and conducting the war on terrorism must be our top priorities. "We must and will spend whatever it takes to keep this country safe."

Talk in real terms, not in terms of economic theories. While the typical Republican spends too much time discussing procedural budget details, Democrats make a grand show of responding to everyday American concerns. Language that works: "The budget isn't about numbers or about theory. Our common sense budget is about priorities and people - real people with real dreams for the future.

It's about the future, not just the present. What are we going to do to secure the budget responsibly for the next generation? "The choice is clear. Either we tie the hands of Washington and stop it from spending our money, or Washington will tie the hands of our children and spend them further into debt. That's an easy choice for me to make."