Sarah Palin has overtaken the narrative of this election. There can be no doubt about this. No other stories will stick in the current media environment, and it's only likely to get worse in the foreseeable future. She has a three part interview coming out on ABC in the next couple days, and a special on CNN over the weekend, in which she will steal the narrative for at least another week.
Meanwhile, there will no be focus on what she is saying, only on her as a symbolic construct.
She was picked as an empty image, with no previous associations for most of the American public. Thus, she became everything which the republicans wanted her to be. They filled her associations, projected them through the media, and have created their own symbol—one which cannot be attacked and which presents a figure to control the media narrative of their campaign. Through her, they have been able to redefine themselves as the reformers in Washington, and have stolen the meme of "change."
MORE BELOW THE BREAK:
The Obama campaign needs to respond and respond quickly. The only symbol of the entire campaign now belongs to the Republicans. Obama needs a new symbol which people can relate to, and can compete in and win the national media narrative.
Let's brainstorm all sorts of ideas for words, slogans, and concepts, which DO NOT have previous associations, but can be supplied with the necessary connotations for the Obama campaign to regain control.
The Republicans have been very good at creating these words: maverick, surge, flip-flopper, etc... These are all words that meant nothing to most people, before they were brought into political usage. Obama has been relatively successful at introducing effective words and phrases, but we need something new to combat the Palin narrative.
It is new words which make the news, as in "bitter," "monster," and other words we remember from this year. A single word can reshape the election.
This country needs your help!
I sat down with some friends to work on this and here are some we have come up with so far:
POSITIVE:
"Reclaim your country"
Solidarity
"Thirst for change"
NEGATIVE:
Deceit
McCain and Palin: Liars (they've started on this one already)
Trumped-up
Petroleum politicians
We should also think about concise ways to frame McCain's policies, in the same way that the Republicans have been able to brand Democrats as "cut and run" or "tax and spend." Maybe something like "McCain's tax scheme for the rich, by the rich."
Also, is it too late (post conventions, post VP picks) to do more branding at all?
What have you got?