Reinvention, Spin, and Claiming the Middle

Cross posted from Political Strategy.

It's not hard to see how and why the gears of the GOP spin machine are finding it hard to get a firm purchase in the effort to demonize the Democrats this time around. The Republican party has drifted so far to the right that Democrats are the party of hope, the party of progress, the party of unity, the party of ideas, and the party of "strength and wisdom."  It's the message that's important, and Democrats have captured that flag.

Here's irony for you. In 2000, the Republican party repackaged George W. Bush as a "compassionate conservative," "a uniter, not a divider," and a person who would bring "honor and dignity back to the White House." Once "elected," Bush showed his true colors: he's a radical, not a conservative, and has succeeded in polarizing the nation even after twice enjoying the overwhelming unity and approval of the nation - after September 11, and upon the invasion of Iraq.

Now, the Republican party has deployed a "War Room" near the Democratic National Convention. Their acknowledged goal is to prevent Kerry and the Democrats from portraying a centrist image, which they are calling the "extreme makeover." After all, Kerry is "one of the most liberal Senators ever," so any effort to appear moderate can be accomplished only through a Swan-like reformation, right? Well, the Republicans know all about reinvention, so I guess they know one when they see one.

Their problem is that the Democrats haven't given them much to go on, at least not yet. Before the convention began, Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie stated: "They are a very angry, bitter, harsh party. They are united in their anger, but they will try to tamp that down here at the convention." (Gillespie was promptly awarded the "No duh" award.) The first two days of the convention have proven Gillespie right...no, wrong. No anger evident, but is it tamped down, or is it because Democrats aren't angry, bitter, and harsh? Just goes to show how easy it is to build strawmen and knock them down.

In fact, the Republican spin machine has had a hard time during these first two days of the convention. On day one, Gillespie was reduced to expressing his "sadness" and "disappointment" that the Democrats trotted out a former President (Jimmy Carter) to be attack dog. (In response to David Brooks's similar expression, Carter said: "I'm not surprised that David Brooks is disappointed in my speech.") President Clinton's speech had conservative commentators (like Bill Kristol, Andrew Sullivan, Mort Kondracke and Fred Barnes) impressed, some visibly shaken or deflated, some almost with their heads in their hands. The only spin left from the GOP rapid response was to demonize the first-day speakers "liberals."

On day two, the GOP spinners were forced to call the speakers "conservatives." Andrew Sullivan noted the "conservative notes" of Barack Obama's speech (self-reliance, hard work, opportunity, and immigrant's dreams - since when did the conservatives own those?). The National Review Online said Obama's speech was at the wrong convention (yeah, because Obama's talk of immigration fits so well in the GOP). In fact, Obama praised the government's role in our lives (in addition to personal responsibility and hard work), conjured the melting pot that is America (while noting our racial and cultural differences), and embraced unity while disparaging the GOP's efforts to divide us into gay/straight, red/blue, black/white, liberal/conservate, right/wrong.

It's not hard to see how and why the gears of the GOP spin machine are finding it hard to get a firm purchase in the effort to demonize the Democrats this time around. The Republican party has drifted so far to the right that Democrats are the party of hope, the party of progress, the party of unity, the party of ideas, and the party of "strength and wisdom." Reports are coming in that the GOP will play an 11 minute video excoriating Kerry as a liberal flip-flopper. I'm not surprised, since they have no record to run on and no ideas for the future (except fear and terror). Well, if that's how they want to spend their convention, fine. But it's the message that's important, and Democrats have captured that flag.

(See more of PeteyP's posts on Political Strategy here and here.)

•  Should be working

  Instead I'm blogging.

  by PeteyP on Wed Jul 28, 2004 at 01:52:09 PM PDT

•  won't link to drudge

  but he's got his fucking little siren up there--headline about kerry's film containing re-enacted war scenes. I'm so tired of this burn and trash mode. the only good thing about the early bush years (and I say this as somebody who didn't sleep for the first few nights after he stole the election) is that the right wing press shut up for a while. Now they are back and just desperate to do to Kerry what they did to Clinton.

  by Skyresh on Wed Jul 28, 2004 at 01:57:28 PM PDT

•  Wow....

  They're going to play the anti-Kerry video at the convention?  Talk about a study in contrasts-- a few throwaway references, plus a lot of cutting codewords about Bush in the Dem convention vs. a freaking anti-Kerry documentary at the GOPers?

  Which is the angry, bitter, hate-filled party again?

  by ChicagoDem on Wed Jul 28, 2004 at 02:36:42 PM PDT

•  You make a lot of good points

  I especially loved Jimmy Carter's understated disengagement from David Brooks.  "I'm not surprised that David Brooks is disappointed in my speech."

  Oh, Mr. Brooks, I know where you come from and you know very well where I come from.  Our views do not match.  I do not speak to please you or pander to you and yours.  I have not lived 81 years on this earth striving to be a good person that I will back down now from what I believe in.  So let us be gentlemen and agree to disagree.  (Well, that's what I thought he said.)

  by hazey on Wed Jul 28, 2004 at 05:29:55 PM PDT