Kos offers an e-mail he's come across from the Press Secretary of the National Republican Congressional Committee to Republican congressional staffs on "earned media" opportunities in May. It provides a pretty intriguing look at media, image, ideology, and the Republicans. A few of the highlights: Older Americans Month: The theme for this year's Older Americans Month is "Aging well, Living well." Because of your member's efforts, America's seniors are living well...You member can hold a summit or workshop on housing issues, like long-term care housing, or mental health issues that affect seniors each year. A nutritionist can help you talk to seniors about the importance of eating right and exercising. Everything should be geared toward seniors not only extending their lives, but increasing the quality of their lives. Jewish Heritage Week (May 4-11):...One of the biggest issues facing many older Jewish Americans is stolen insurance benefits during the Holocaust. National Police Week (May 12-18):...Hold a press conference in front of a precinct touting their efforts to keep your community safe. Go on a "ride along" with the police in a high-crime area for a night and invite one television camera to come along. Write op-eds on the importance of the week and touting Congress' efforts to fund first responders. Also, cut PSAs asking for the community to support their local law enforcement officers. Loyalty Day (May 1):...our member can call on all local governmental buildings to fly the American flag that day, as President Bush has asked all federal government buildings to do. Your member can also lead a class of young school children in the Pledge of Allegiance or address a school assembly on the importance of loyalty to the nation. This is also another good PSA opportunity, reminding all of your constituents to be aware of the day and to honor it in their own way. Cinco de Mayo (May 5):...Prepare a statement or press release acknowledging the significance of Cinco de Mayo to the Hispanic community. This statement should be added to your Website and disseminated to both the local Hispanic press and your regular media list...you can announce the launch of your Spanish Website; announce someone that was hired in your office or campaign to work specifically with the Hispanic community; or announce a policy or proposal of particular interest to the Hispanic community that you will fight for in Congress. Work with local and state parties to identify the top three to five Cinco de Mayo events throughout the Congressional district. There should be a booth or table at each one of these events with campaign literature (in Spanish and English). You should work on getting Hispanic volunteers to work these booths. You should tape a short 15-second radio spot in Spanish for the Mexican community. This message should be played in the local Spanish radio stations on the day of Cinco de Mayo. National Day of Prayer (May 6): ...have your member release a statement on the importance of praying for the country, praying for our troops and praying for each other. The National Day of Prayer Task Force asks everyone to say a prayer at noon, wherever they are. Your member can echo that request. Mother's Day (May 9): Have your member highlight local mothers who have either numerous children or children with disabilities; and praise them for their strength and how they're an example for all of society to mirror... 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education (May 17):...Have your member go to a charter or voucher school if you have one in your district and talk about education as the ultimate civil right, and Republicans are leading the way. If you don't have a charter or voucher school, announce your support for the creation of one. You can also talk about the numerous benefits of the No Child Left Behind Act. ...For Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, doing the typical op-eds, statements, parade participation and flag waving go without saying. For National Defense Transportation Day, talk about the importance of transportation in our fight in the War on Terror. Talk about your member's vote for the $87 billion for Iraq and the armor plating for the Humvees that are making our soldiers safe. And how anyone who opposed that vote opposed keeping our military men and women and, in effect, all Americans, safe. Notice, in this memo, the payoff of years of methodical construction of an ideological framework to drive and sell the Republican party. Notice the leit motifs: Compassion. Conservatism. Freedom. Patriotism. Loyalty. Choice. Security. What I'm wondering is, is there an equivalent Democratic memo? What would it say?