The DPP vowed to improve its members' ability to explain and defend party policies after President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) demanded on Tuesday an improvement in members' performance.
Michael You (游盈隆), the party's deputy secretary-general, said yesterday the party will invite better-spoken representatives to talk to the media. The proposal is designed reduce opposition stemming from misunderstanding of government policy.
Members of the party's Central Standing Committee recommended at Tuesday's meeting that the DPP strengthen its members' ability to explain and advocate the policies introduced by the government.
Committee members said many policies with the best of intentions have been twisted because DPP representatives are unable to speak to the media on behalf of the government.
After hearing the opinions, Chen instructed You to form a task force to improve media relations.
The task force will train mem-bers in defending policies and give them the ammunition to launch attacks.
You said that talk shows appear to be a major source of anti-government sentiment as public policies are frequently distorted in the programs.
"The popularity of call-in shows is a fad, but the DPP is short of talent to promote its policies on these programs. To allow the public to better understand the government's plans, the party has to improve by fortifying the speaking skills of guests on the shows," You said.
He said the party will invite articulate members, providing them with sufficient information from the executive branch, to explain the government's policies in simple and clear terms.
The party's recent troubles following the policy about-face on the reform of the grassroots financial institutions illustrates the problem.
Party officials reasoned that the political crisis could have been averted if there had been better communication, but the dozen of talk shows controlled by the opposition parties served as a stumbling block.
"Those who are fully equipped with capable speaking skills are unwilling to attend the shows, whereas the presenting guests are usually under-qualified. They talk at their own will, without bothering to refer to the given documents," a party official said.
Leading party officials restated the DPP's resolve to reform the financial institutions, but added that the party will have to wait for a better chance to proceed.
The officials said they hope the agricultural finance meeting on Saturday will give the party a chance to clearly outline its policies.
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