The former Research Director of the Republican Party of Minnesota, now active Republican strategist and consultant revealed the ten-point strategy on the Senate race last night. Here’s the recap:
- Try to distract and mislead Al Franken’s base: People that work for a living. While Franken strongly supports workers rights as well as all democratic principles, twist facts and present them in a manner to confuse voters. Even if it means lying. Cooperate with phony national front groups.
- Instigate and promote as much DFL infighting as possible. Nobody causes Democrats to lose as much as other Democrats. Publish and distribute misleading information about Franken to the media and Democrats. If any DFL’er has any question about Franken, no matter how minor, give them a megaphone. Get them to believe and regurgitate MNGOP talking points about Franken publicly. Help them appear in newspapers, on the radio and on television. When there is dissent amongst Republican ranks, squelch them as much as possible.
- Contextualize Franken’s words used as a satirist as if it reflects on how Franken actually is as a person. As Minnesotans traditionally skip career politicians and vote for honest, personable people that fight for Minnesotans, Franken would win in a landslide. Try to redefine Franken’s strong principles by saying he is a personification of what he wrote fictionally, regardless of how absurd and unethical that might be. Do it even if it means lying to people.
- Winning the argument isn’t important; controlling what people argue about is. Exaggerate and blow out of proportion anything, even if it is a losing argument in the long run. As Coleman deals in corrupt circles, refuses to return dirty money even after its exposed and actually has the gall to rent from Jeff Larson, distract voters by twisting half-truths about Franken, using partial quotes or even make stuff up to keep non-issues current even though they aren’t. It doesn’t matter if you are right or wrong — keep the argument about Franken.
- Try everything possible to distract from Coleman’s actual record in the Senate. If there’s an attack on Coleman’s record, counter with a distraction, no matter how absurd. Even if it means lying. Three examples: If it involves Coleman’s almost 90% voting record with Bush, say that Franken should run against Bush. If it involves satirizing a Coleman bowling ad showing Coleman’s voting record, say that Franken is ripping on hockey. If it involves exposing Coleman’s corruption with big oil, say Franken dislikes fishing. By the way, Franken likes hockey, loves fishing and is a fantastic bowler.
- Attack the campaign and its staff. Try to discredit Franken by labeling the people that surround him as the opposite of what they are. Criticize every campaign decision that hurts Coleman’s chances. Even if it means lying.
- Lie about lying and then lie. Franken has one of the strongest records of exposing lies and corruption in government and media. He has spent most of his recent career devoted exposing the people that lie and making them face the truth. To try to discredit this by framing Franken as a liar even though he certainly isn’t. Then lie more about it.
- Distract from what Franken stands for and what he promises to support for Minnesotans. While Franken tours the state explaining realistic plans to lower gas prices, helping senior drug costs and fixing the housing crisis, change the subject, then change the subject again. As Franken wins on the issues and will fight for Minnesotans, distract.
- Distort the truth about Coleman “getting things done.” Completely ignore, for example, the fact Coleman was the Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation and got almost nothing done. Ignore the billions of taxpayer dollars unaccounted for in Iraq, corruption within contractors in Iraq, torture at Abu Ghraib, intelligence reports about Iraq’s “weapons of mass destruction” and much more that went without investigation under Coleman’s watch. Give touchy-feely, empty and sometimes non-factual statements about Coleman’s “accomplishments.”
- Repeat, repeat, repeat. Repeat, repeat, repeat, then repeat, repeat, repeat.
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I was excited for a second thinking this was for real, but then I read it and realized it was a lame Aaron concoction.
Serious question from a progressive, not troll:
Why do Democrats suck so bad at branding and message? Aaron’s list is depressing because it is so true, and they get away with it.
Their energy policies are just plain retarded, and straight from big oil, who do not have the consumers interest in mind, which is understandable, but Repubs have the public fooled like the oil companies interests in profits and the publics interests coincide.
The Repubs vote against the troops every chance they get, yet they are the party of the soldiers.
After shitting on the troops, the Republicans wipe their asses with the constitution, yet they are the party or law and order.
Alito, thomas, and Scalia are judged as the most activist judges ever, yet libeal judges get branded as such.
Why are Dems so damn incompetant at branding? The repubs do everything wrong, but get credited with doing it right, while the Dems work for the people,yet get branded as whatever the Repubs want to brand us.
You cannot blame this all on the corporte media spreading the Republican lies. Someone please explain why we are terrible at this.
Thanks, Alec
Alec, you should study up on Leo Strauss, more or less the godfather of neo-conservatisim. Lying is considered a usefull and justifiable tool to those who share this philosophy. I dont think very many progressives could stomach being such evil pieces of shit.
Why do so many people buy evil. Hmmmpph. I used to wonder, not how someone so evil as Hitler could exist, because there will always be catastrophic scum bags, but I wondered how ordinary German, good people all, cold stomach what was going on.
Now I wonder that about us. Torture, indefinate detainment, domestic spying, privatized Armies(black water), and on. One chink at a time, it ha built up to this. I fear what is next.
@ the seal:
BINGO!!!!
Which, of course, is why I’m no longer a GOPer.
Alec, the reason is because they all do it. GOP races are all controlled from high up. The party apparatus controls talking points, campaign strategies, etc., and it works great.
Alec-Have you ever listened to Thom Hartmann on AM 950 (Air America)? Have you ever read his book “Screwed?” Great insight to the real pricks of the world — Republicans. Some people are just bad seeds…
Reading this thread makes me dislike both Republicans and Democrats.
DTM,
You have reached the only sane conclusion. A problem for both parties is the real solution to the problems we have aren’t popular ones and neither side can afford to be unpopular.
The first Republican party leader was Thomas Jefferson, who along with James Madison and other Republicans of the late 1790s and early 1800s, were the first politicians in the negative sense of making things simple in order to have the biggest impact on voters. For example, they argued that if you think the executive branch of government should be strong, you (John Adams) are a monarchist who plans to claim presidency for life, even if I know that’s not technically true. “Monarchy = bad” resonated with people just 20 years removed from revolution. (Obviously, the Republican party doesn’t have any problems with a strong executive today!)
The branding of most current Republicans (and some successful Democrats) works because they use the simplest messages that resonate with voters. Whether they see complexity in issues, I don’t know. But they don’t bother trying to confront and explain the complexity of issues. They go with the message that’s easy to understand as right vs. wrong. For example, drilling means low gas prices, not drilling means high gas prices. Never mind that drilling won’t actually lower gas prices, and certainly won’t help alleviate pollution issues, or prepare us to transition away from polluting, limited-supply fossil fuels, and therefore avoid certain economic collapse. That’s too complicated to think about. It makes our heads hurt, and so do Al Gore and John Kerry and anyone else who bothers with nuance these days.
“Low gas prices = good” on the other hand … well that makes us smile.
Kerosene is right on. The only real solutions are going to be unpopular on both sides with voters. All the government bailouts need to stop and people need to stop looking to government to solve all their problems. Politicians need to put country ahead of party and realize that good policies make good politics.
Stop Obamunism ‘08
Humm, I think it was a self proclamed liberal(you know, someone forward thinking) who said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”.
Now JT, DTM and KH, dont you have a candidate to support who is busy whoring out his wife to a bunch of bikers? Family values are eroding right before your eyes and you have time to troll on liberal blogs?
Alec-
We are not good at branding because the republicans spent many millions of dollars, and many years perfecting the art of spin and lies. George Lakoff spells it out pretty well in the book “What’s the Matter With Kansas?”
I was going to add that partisans tend run out of ideas quickly devolve into people that use shallow memes, ad hominems, circular logic and false assumptions to attack anybody who disagrees with them rather then engage. Fortunately “the seal” was able to provide the perfect example before I got a chance.
Seriously now: Where do I sign up to get paid to visit blue blogs and sow seeds of discord? I could use the extra money.
The two party system is regrettable, but for now, an inevitable reality. If you support progressive causes, you can vote for the democrat who will likely disappoint you on some issues but will largely mirror your own positions — or you can watch the republicans win again and systematically work against what you most believe in.
The Minnesota gubernatorial race in 1998 was a freak “perfect storm” that we’re not likely to see again. Don’t think for a minute that the independence candidates have any more of a chance in this election than Ralph Nader had in 2000 or 2004. A “perfect” candidate is pretty to think about, but a pretty good candidate who can actually win is far more important than “making a statement” with your vote.
This post did a nice job of creating a civil environment for discussion of serious issues by folks with differing opinions. Keep bringing the love to the table commrades!
Drew, your party called me a traitor, for opposing the ill-fated War Of Choice.
Yes, “traitor.” I had to remind one GOP bootlickin’ ChickenHawk I went to high school with, that called me a “traitor”, that I was the one that enlisted; not him.
And let’s look at those wonderful terms of endearment Newt “Is She Well Enough To Divorce?” Gingrich urged you republiCons to smear Democrats with: “Language: A Key Mechanism Of Control”
And here you come, talking about “creating a civil environment”…so, in the immortal words of D*ck Cheney, who told Senator Leahy, in the Senate: “Hey! Senator!! Go (cheney) yourself!!!”, I say:
Go (cheney) yourself, Drew.
Seriously.
And thanks again, for proving “Hyocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP”
Why are the Republicans better at branding? First, I think the Republicans have just outplayed us. Guys like Frank Luntz were light years ahead of anyone the Democrats had. Second, Republican ideas are easier to sell than Democratic ones. A two word message like “Cut Taxes” is easier to get out than explaining that teachers and cops and roads are funded by taxes.
The fact that a lot of the electorate doesn’t fully understand the issues, that they respond to negative ads, and that superficial things are often more important than issues. The Republicans understand this and tailor their message accordingly. The Democrats sometimes think they can change the electorate, i.e., making people appreciate Franken’s satire and not holding it against him.