It's War. And it's coming close to the end. So, this is an SOS to all would be surrogates, especially appearing in the media: No nuance, no qualifiers, no nice: OWN THE STAGE. KILL WITH THE TRUTH. OR SPIN THE MEME IF YOU HAVE TO. DON'T LET UP. DON'T BACK DOWN. DON'T LET THEM CHANGE THE SUBJECT FROM YOUR TALKING POINTS. IGNORE THE HOST AND TALK DIRECTLY TO THE AUDIENCE.
Why do we have such weak surrogates out there especially on TV? Why are the surrogates so mild, so disjointed, so, well, weak?
From now on they need to stay on message or stay off the airwaves. And they need to have emotion, righteous anger, confidence, short soundbites and coherence above all.
Why do we Dems try to beat back snark and b.s. with logic and nuance? Why do we play defense and not offense? Why do we simply not play hardball? They do. And that's why they win...the argument, the story and maybe the election.
I am not in panic mode. Personally I think McLame may have peaked too soon, and the bloom is coming off the Sarah rose real soon, but still, they won't go gently into that good night.
In my profession I am used to ebbs and flows, back and forth. But I know one thing above all else: control the message, control the debate; frame the issue, win the issue. Our surrogates don't do either. "It's Mc Cain, stupid." He's old, he's mean, he's out of touch, he's a liar, he's no more a Maverick in real life than that guy who played one on that old TV western. He's a right wing, pro war, pro Bush, inside Washington player who has sold his soul to the wingnuts of his party in order for a last shot at the big prize. And he's the past,and not a good one at that.
So, if you can't attack Mc Cain because "you know him", sorry, say nothing. That goes for you Carville: pretend it's Bill if you have to.
If you want to give an inch in the name of fairness, don't book an appearance. Enough Kiki and Stephanie and the rest with the "that's a good point, but..."crap. When the ladies of The View take down Mc Cain better than the female surrogagtes sent out by the campaign, need I say more?
If you'd rather give advice to Obama, then criticize Mc Cain, make a phone call not a TV appearance. Can you hear me Ed Rendell?
If you can't read the day's talking points, read a book If you can't say on message, shut up. Got it Richardson?
If you want to bring a water pistol to a gun fight, we don't need you.
All I've heard lately is about pigs. Well, guys and girls in surrogate land, that's where they want it to be. In the mud. They have said it: they can't win on issues, only on what they call "character" (assassination more like it). Obama has to stay out of the mud, and on Mc Cain and issues, but the rest of us gotta get in it for him. So, to all those so-called media surrogates: you can shower all you want after the first Tuesday in November. Right now, enjoy the mud you'll be throwing. Or get out of the way.