I, for one, am sick of anyone ever playing "defense" against the right-wing attack machine. The right-wing has nothing to use but nonsense. We all know it. I mean, the right-wingers are firing blanks.
We The People have an incredible arsenal of weapons that, frankly, cannot be defeated. The ONLY way we can lose is if we let them control the conversation, and if we only respond rather than seize control of the dialog.
I remember all the nonsense about how Kerry didn’t fight off the right-wingers fast and hard enough. But that analysis is wrong. Defense is ALWAYS a loser; we need to attack, relentlessly, every moment without mercy. Because our country needs us and depends on us -- the patriots -- to save it from authoritarians, torturers, and 4th-rate bullies who have had their day only because we’ve let them.
Here’s the strategy:
- Always hit the big issues, never the little stuff. Ignore any misstatements or verbal slips by anyone...Obama, McCain, Clinton...anyone. Ignore it, because whatever it is, these non-issues are a diversion from what needs to be done.
- ASK THE UNANSWERABLE QUESTIONS:
a. Our country tortures as policy, in direct violation of the Geneva Convention and in violation of the concept of unalienable rights, which the founders described in the Declaration of Independence. Are you going to vote for a Republican who went along with that policy, or vote for a Democrat who opposes it?
b. The Republicans have instituted a domestic spy policy more comprehensive than the one described by Orwell in 1984. These policies are also a violation of our unalienable rights and our Constitution. Will you vote for a Republican who went along with it, or for a Democrat who would oppose it?
c. God-fearing Republican candidates who call themselves Christians forever speak as if Jesus talked of nothing else but hatred of homosexuals and opposition to abortion, and tax cuts for wealthy people and corporations. Will you go along with this, or will you insist that being a Christian might better be represented by the sermon on the mount, a spirit of charity, and spiritual richness rather than material wealth? Are those Republican politicians really Christians, or merely church-goers?
d. Republicans claim to be appointing judges who enforce the Constitution and do not legislate from the bench. Yet, one of their favorites, Justice Scalia, says that the 9th amendment -- one of the Bill of Rights -- is unenforceable. Are these people really enforcing the Constitution, or are they simply diminishing your unalienable rights? Do you want another conservative Republican to appoint more such judges? How many more of our rights need to be taken away before we are no longer free?
e. The conservative Republicans were wrong--either through ignorance or willful deceit--about the threat of WMDs from Iraq. They ordered an invasion and continuing occupation of that country based on a mistake or a lie. They also have no policy for either winning or withdrawing from that country. Do you want another Republican who wants to continue this policy -- with untold death and injury to our soldiers -- or will you vote for a Democrat and demand an end to the war?
f. Are you doing better financially now than before the Republicans came into power in 2001? Are you worried about your mortgage? About a recession or worse? About affordable healthcare? Republicans have been in charge of economic policy for more than 7 years. Would you like more of the same, or will you vote for a Democrat who might consider a different approach?
- Bring these points up, and other similar ones every chance you get with anyone who talks politics. If they bring up anything like a misstatement by a candidate, or the verbal sludge like "John McCain is a maverick" or "Obama lacks experience"...just say what it is -- either nonsense or unimportant or both. And get back to things like:
a. "Are you for torture or against it?"
b. "Are you for the destruction of the 4th amendment? Should the government be able to violate our Constitution and our unalienable rights? Or do we want to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States?"
c. "Do you think the Republicans have done a good job of managing the economy or would you like to see a change?"
d. "Do you like the Republican approach to religion -- spewing hatred as if it were Christ’s position -- of do you believe in charity, love and good works?"
The important here is this:
• Always talk about the important things, and do so forcefully and clearly.
• Always ignore (or ridicule) the nonsense and change the subject back to the important things.
• Continue doing this no matter who gets nominated or who gets elected. As patriots, we need to protect our rights and enforce justice. We can’t delegate this to anyone, even to a good president.