Democrats Arm Members for Message Wars

House Democratic leaders have ramped up their efforts to give their rank-and-file Members plenty of messaging fodder to take home during the August recess.

The strategy is twofold: emphasize efforts to create jobs and boost the ailing economy while underscoring Democrats' deep-rooted support for social safety-net programs. Both have been tailored to facilitate drawing contrasts with Republican challengers.

And both were on display Wednesday when Democratic leaders passed three planks of their new trade and manufacturing-based "Make It in America" initiative and also held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol commemorating the 75th anniversary of Social Security. Democrats plan to argue over the upcoming six-week recess that Republicans might revive former President George W. Bush's plan to partially privatize Social Security if they win control of the House in November.

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