The relentless onslaught of TV political ads is getting tiresome, but I have picked up on one particular technique the Republicans are using here in upstate NY and doubtless elsewhere. Both Chris Gibson and Elise Stefanik are going out of their way to tell us what kind, wonderful people they are, and how they'll fight for us. Stefanik for one has a short ad showing her driving in a car and talking about how she's for equal pay for women, will defend Social Security and Medicare, and so on. Chris Gibson has his military record, and even poses with his mother in one ad, who calls him a good boy who'll also look out for seniors. He too promises to address healthcare issues, supports equal pay for women, will reach across the aisle, and wants to do something about infrastructure. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
There's one little detail they don't share with the voters: they're both Republicans.
Now, there have been plenty of ads from their opponents and those "independent" groups which bring up some unpleasant things Stefanik and Gibson would probably rather not share. Stefanik is a DC insider and apparatchik from the Bush White House who was involved in the effort to privatize Social Security; Gibson is an incumbent with voting record you'd expect from a House Republican. But Democrats are missing a real opportunity here.
Don't attack Stefanik or Gibson as individuals, however much they deserve it - just point out who their friends are. Point out that as Republicans, the two of them would be joining the party that has spent the last 6 years trashing the government, and even shutting it down. Point out that however nice they are, and even if they mean those things about equal pay for women, defending Social Security, etc. - there's not a chance in Hell their Tea Party bosses will ever let them keep those promises.
This is what Democrats should be doing everywhere. For decades now, Republicans have made Democrat and Liberal such 'scary' things, Democratic candidates reflexively try to distance themselves from everything they SHOULD stand for. (It can be done, as Digby notes.) Well, the Republican brand is now so toxic, we don't have to do anything to portray them as bottom-feeding, religious-fanatic, racist scum-sucking, America-hating oligarchs - all we have to do is remind voters of what they've seen with their own eyes. (The ones who don't watch FOX all the time, that is.)
Republicans have been doing this to the Democratic party for decades; call yourself a Democrat, you're expected to apologize for it. Well, the stink coming off the GOP isn't imaginary - they've earned it and they should all be made to own it. A Democratic Party that saw itself as a 50 state party wouldn't even have to think twice about doing it. There's two weeks to go; let's spread the message far and wide. Anyone who wants to run as a Republican has a lot to answer for - and they should damn well be made to!