Progressives should borrow pages from conservatives' playbook

[monk24]

I heard an interview on public radio with Paul Waldman, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, where he was promoting his new book, Being Right is Not Enough: What Progressives Must Learn From Conservative Success." A very articulate speaker, he made a number of great points. Here are a few of my favorites:


"... what Republicans understand that Democrats don't understand is that politics is not really so much about issues as it is about identity. Issues are a vehicle with which to communicate your identity."

"Let's think about what happens every time a presidental campaign rolls around. The Democrat gets up and he says 'Well, if you look at my 10-point plan, I'm sure you will realize it is superior to my opponent's and you will vote for me.' Now, he's doing that because it looks like on the issues he has the advantage. The Republican also knows the Democrat has the advantage on the issues, so what does he do? He doesn't get up and talk about his 10-point plan. He points to the Democrat and he says, 'That guy hates you and everything you stand for. He's a liberal Northeastern elitist, he doesn't believe in God, and he doesn't support our troops. I'm one of you, and he's not.' And lo and behold, the Republican wins. And the Democrat goes back and says, "Gee, we had the advantage on the issues - how did that happen?' Well, it happened because people don't make their decisions politically by filling out a checklist."

"Republicans understand that politics is about identity. It's about who you are as an individual candidate, as a party, as an entire movement. And they've worked to build up that identity."

"It's also about giving people a sense fundamentally of who you are. We often hear about this term 'values voters.' Rebublicans have convinced people that conservatives have values and Democrats just have positions."


The 2000 and 2004 presidental campaign strategies in a nutshell. And history will repeat itself in 2008 unless the Dems make fundamental, not just cosmetic changes.

[JeffR]

1. Great post

K & R

:kick:

[Warpy]

2. Their playbook features HATE. Sorry, but I'd prefer to use

a playbook that features HOPE. Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana showed us exactly how that one works, and got elected in one of the biggest Repug strongholds in this country.

They can keep their nasty playbook. We already have one of our own, if we can convince the witless conservatives inside the Beltway to use it.

[PerfectSage]

5. That's very Interesting to hear.

I'm Canadian so I don't know alot about what's going on in American politics on a local level. Could you please tell me how Gov Schwietzer won in Montana. tia

[rock]

3. "politics is not really so much about issues as it is about identity"

and thus they do a great disservice to their followers. I'll pass on this bit of advice.

One edit: spelling

[PerfectSage]

4. People unconsciously develop the same attitudes...

...as people they identify themselves with. That's why Rove smears Dems with 2/3 word negative frames or Swiftboat type smear campaigns.

Conversely Rove will always try to portray Bush positively or heroic. That's why no protesters were allowed at Bush rallies during 2004 and why "Mission Accomplished" photo ops are pulled and why every election social conservative issues like banning abortion and gay marriage are trotted out.

If the Democrats and Republicans both ran campaigns on issues, the Republicans would never win, which is why they resort to manipulation.
Bush's problem is that vast discrepancy between what he really is and what Rove has portrayed him to be. Which is why as more and more people over time experience cognitive dissonance about Bush his approval numbers over the last 5 years have been trending lower.


Remember people only use 10% of their brainpower, which means 90% of what they do and say originates from their unconscious. Which is why Rove & Republican election tactics rely on manipulating people unconsciously. Ironically Bush has been able to win the War of Hearts and Minds in America, but lost it in Iraq quickly.

Summing up, Dems can win the War on Issues and need to learn how to Win the War on Hearts and Minds to win.