This is how the GOP will attack Barack Obama. I think we need to strategize how to counter this now.
More after the break.
The GOP attack machine usually attacks democrats by focusing on a few points that they repeat over and over again, no matter how false, or racist, or sexist, etc.
As an example, take Hillary Clinton, who has been demonized by the Right for 16 years. They use countless attacks, but their attacks all boil down to a few simple, ugly themes.
a. She's a stuck up bitch.
b. She's a communist.
They use code words like "elitist", and "liberal", and "socialized medicine" and bring up the laundry list of pseudo scandals that I don't need to go in to here, but they all basically come down to those two themes. And they have been successful in their attacks on her, as far as giving her longstanding negative opinions in certain segments of America.
For Gore in 2000, they used:
a. He's a stuck up nerd.
b. He's a communist.
Replay the 2000 election in your head, and you'll see the attacks essentially boiled down to these two things. If there's one thing the GOP attack machine knows, it is to keep things simple. Rush Limbaugh, et al., make millions each year just packaging themes and filling up 3 or 4 hours a day doing this.
For Kerry in 2004, they used:
a. He's a phony traitor.
b. He's a stuck up snob.
c. He's a communist.
a. was the key in 2004, bringing in the strategy we now know as swiftboating and the terminology of 'flip-flopping'.
The GOP attack machine will do the same thing in 2008, and I think these are going to be their planks against Obama.
a. He's a secret Muslim terrorist sympathizer
b. He's an uppity Negro
c. He's a communist.
We've already seen the foundations of these planks being set.
a. The emails and FOX news stories about Obama being a secret Muslim have already given his campaign problems. As an evangelical let me tell you there are tons of people in America who believe this now. I've come across plenty. The GOP loves this plank because it ties in well with their overall strategy of using FEAR ever since 9/11. They will say that he will be the terrorists' best friend, getting rid of Gitmo, and saying he will talk to Iran, Syria, etc. We've already seen them referring to him as B. Hussein Osama. They will do this endlessly.
b. He's an "uppity Negro" is a racial appeal that they'll use just like they have used "stuck up bitch" against Hillary. Again, it will all be in code, but it will line in nicely with their political strategy of playing into racial fears, like immigration. We saw the seeds being sown in the fixation on "is Obama black enough?"
c. The communist attack (which was recently brought out specifically with the flag with Che on it at a volunteer Obama office in Texas) is used against all democratic presidential candidates. It was also brought out with Obama being labeled the most liberal Senator by a magazine. We'll start hearing McCain talk about Obama's "socialized medicine", etc. The Obama camp has to do a better job countering that than Kerry or Gore did in previous races.
My initial thoughts on countering the upcoming attacks:
a: Really lean on the media to come down harder against the secret Muslim smear. He definitely has the national media on his side. They can help him if they want to by ridiculing this notion on air. Ignore it, and the whisper/email campaign will keep having a greater impact.
b. Do more 'blue collar' focused events. He has the experience in organizing, he just has to show that he is closer to ground level than just a rock star. Michelle Obama has given some excellent speeches that talk about how they have been living a relatively regular life until recently. He should take more of those themes to counteract the 'uppity negro slur'.
c. He has done a good job in this area I think because he's emphasized American people doing things together. When democrats focus on 'we need the government to do this', even if they are right, they make it easier to be attacked in this area. He just needs to get ready to defend every vote he has ever cast that can be described as 'liberal'.
Other thoughts on how to counteract the GOP attacks against Obama?