The GOP has mastered the trick of making their leadership look moderate and diverse by using a number of tricks.
- They run moderates in the presidential campaigns and let moderates speak prominently at their convention, then they shut them out of power for 4 years. Pro-choice republicans get to speak at the convention but the "party fathers" make sure that right radio gets the message through to their faithfull that although they are a big tent they are still the pro-life party.
- They run minorities in races they can't win. Even though they had no hope of beating Evan Bayh in Indiana, Obama in Illinois. This allows them to show case Black Republican. Remember polls have consistently showed that suburban woman (of all incomes) and college educated professional men in swing states are the two groups most repelled by Southern Republicans they feel are racist. So even if they can't win the GOP gets to advertise these sunny faces on FOX. To all the people who think this is playing the tired old race card against the GOP, TOO BAD this is hard ball politics we play today.
The GOP has mastered the trick of making their leadership look moderate and diverse by using a number of tricks.
1) They run moderates in the presidential campaigns and let moderates speak prominently at their convention, then they shut them out of power for 4 years. Pro-choice republicans get to speak at the convention but the "party fathers" make sure that right wing christian radio and talk radio gets the message through to their faithfull that although they are a big tent they are still the pro-life party (translation we need them to win but don't worry we still run the show).
Remember about 20% of the electorate makes up their mind with-in 8 weeks of the election another 15% about 3 months before. So while we pay attention to what they are doing and don't buy it 35% of the electorate only really see this view of the GOP. I don't know the exact number but I would bet 50% of the population doesn't regularly watch the news or read the newspaper.
2) They run Blacks or other minorities in races they can't win. Even though they had no hope of beating Evan Bayh in Indiana, Obama in Illinois, and little hope now in Maryland they have Black Candidates. This allows them to show case Black Republican. Remember polls have consistently showed that suburban woman (of all incomes) and college educated professional men in swing states are the two groups most repelled by Southern Republicans they feel are racist. So even if they can't win the GOP gets to advertise these sunny faces on FOX.
To all the people who think this is playing the tired old race card against the GOP, TOO BAD this is hard ball politics we play today. The fact that race is one tool used to win election is reality if this worked because of hair color they would still do it, and I would still blog about it SO RELAX, MENTIONING RACE IS REALITY.
How do we combat this?
A) In election we can't win we need to run combat vets, entrepreneurs, and maybe even pastors in places like Utah, Idaho, and Alabama. Can we win? Most likely not but make the GOP defend these places, if they loose even ONE, we start to hype this guy as a MAJOR contender for the president. This increases the chance they will spend money their because now THEY REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO LOOSE the race. Yes it requires that some people take one for the team, well the leadership should reward them by giving them a chance to work for the nationalparty after wards or on think tanks (Think Alan Keyes!)
B) I would start by hyping Bill NELSON after the election, try to get him on every talk show we can when ever their is a SAFE issue to defend ( we don't want to endanger him politically). I would let prominent business type democrats (Warren Buffet, Steve Jobs, Iacocca?) be feature speakers at the convention. Remember how Bush used Colin Powel to alleviate fears of lack of experience before he became president. The next candidate for president should see if he can tour with Warren Buffet, Jim Kramer, and Steve jobs, this is a shot at a republican strong point. Are you listening Mark Warner or Russ Feingold?
MOST IMPORTANTLY
When the news media ask our groups "Do you feel the democrats are abandoning the liberal position on __( woman rights, civil right, environment), by running this moderate who is not your typical Democrat. DO NOT FALL FOR THE BAIT. Smile and say democrats are a big tent with many voices but its still the ___ party, Republican have taken ___ group forgranted and then...WALK AWAY!
DO NOT SAY
- we know its an election year strategy (this is away of telling your supporters I'm in the know I'm not a sell out, give the base some credit we will know what it is), admitting this off camera is the kiss of death,take one for the team
- Do not use un-named sources to say this, this is a form of back stabbing.
- When the MEDIA makes up a story about how the democrats have backed off this issue because they are loosing the culture wars according to their un-named source (their un-named democratic source will be a mail room boy in peoria) , off the record have every major democrat call their competitors and tell them this story didn't come from them, trust me it will get reported their competitor ran an uncorroborated story.