Mother Jones - Comments for "The Republican Brand"

The "McCain=Bush" meme is important because there have been other Republican presidents who were intelligent and non-disastrous, so "McCain=Republican" wouldn't be saying nearly as bad a thing about him. Besides, Bush is polling around 28%, much worse than Republicans in general, so bad that Republicans didn't want him to show up at their convention -- reason enough for us to attach him to McCain with duct tape, baling wire, and SuperGlue™.

John McCain has said he doesn't understand how the American economy works. How could he manage economic disasters? Could we really say, "We'll be better off in four years."

John McCain isn't the person we need to be President in 2009.

Exactly what I've been wondering.

Kevin, I agree completely. The McCain = Bush meme is a bit of a hard sell, because they have different personalities. The description that I would like applied to McCain is 'standard issue Republican'. It is entirely accurate -- he agrees with the Republican stance on all important issues. Plus, it's kinda pithy.

I agree with Steve Duncan above. Where are all the Democrats? They should be just pounding away at the Republican brand. The economy is in free fall. There are so many areas of fertile attack for the Dems. I really don't get it. This should be all hands on deck time. Both Clintons, Gore, Biden, Richardson, Governors, Pelosi, Kerry, Reid, everyone. It's almost like they don't want it.

Great post and many profound comments. I predict that Democrats will increase their positions in the House and Senate. Nobody however mentions Obama's major obstical, the color of his skin.
Racism is alive and well in these United States.

On the sunday shows yesterday it seemed to me that there was a regular McCain talking point about how McC had "bucked his party's policies" but that Obama had not similarly disagreed with Democratic policies. The response to this seems so easy [1) if McCain doesn't agree with the Republicans he should leave the party -- like Bob Barr!-- and 2) Obama doesn't have to disagree with good ideas...] but I didn't hear any good responses..

I used to think that an Obama campaign would have long coattails - longer than HRC's anyway. But nationally, Dems are now doing better in the congressional races than the presidential candidate. Obama, through his successful ground work, may have coattails but a threadbare coat. Going after Republicans, especially in states with strong Dem congressional contenders, would get him some reverse coat-tails.

I think Obama should identify a failed brand of Republicanism.

I call it Talk Radio Republicanism (TRR). Somewhat jovially, but insert serious messages, identify this industry of divisiveness as the reason of the unseriuousness of the Republican party.

These blowhards have become the intellectuals of the Republican party, and its killing that party.

Go directly at them with a smile. Many thinking Republicans will acknowledge this as a problem.

If you say, "Failed Republican policies", registered Republicans will be turned off. That's not a good September strategy.

Attacking the conservative/Republican brand within, say, 6 months of an election is problematic. But slamming "Washington" will always work anywhere outside of DC.

spot on. i spent my entire brunch this morning wondering why obama doesn't directly ask republicans to change brands. the old brand doesn't work. time for something new. simple, right?

this is especially critical given the tribal relationship people have with their brand, or in this case, their party. as a democrat, i can honestly say that i don't expect to ever, in my entire life, vote for a republican president. that's not blind partisanship (okay, maybe it is), it's simply how i see the world. (as a philly native who lives in los angeles, i also have no plans to change allegiance from the phillies to the dodgers. i'm a philly fan for life. like it or not, i fear this is how many people view politics.) so knowing that, why should i expect a republican, even a dissatisfied one, to so smoothly transition to an obama vote?

sarah palin isn't a great candidate, but she's a great excuse for loyal, lifelong republicans to stick with their brand. obama's entire campaign message shouldn't be for generic change, it should be for specific party change. he should somehow make it okay -- and not disloyal -- to switch parties. he shouldn't waste time playing to the inscrutable independent vote (are they stubborn? are they ignorant? are they arrogant?), but instead focus on convincing actual republicans to try something new. actual registered republicans, as opposed to wishy-washy independents, have at least demonstrated the capacity to believe in something. obama's mission should be to convince those people to believe in something else... without them feeling weak or ashamed about abandoning their previous affiliation.

which is i guess my long way of saying... good point, kevin!

While your suggestion would be a nice touch to add to the mix, Kevin, but I think that keeping the message simple and disciplined will be the key. At least, this is the first time I've seen the Dems successfully try to stay on message.

Also, Craigslist founder, Craig Newmark, recently wrote about this site on the Huffington Post. I thought it sounded like a great fusion of politics and technology - and worth passing along:

http://ObamaTravel.org real grassroots democracy

"Hey, this is a good example of genuine grassroots democracy:

http://ObamaTravel.org is a platform that connects volunteers who want to travel to a swing state with financial sponsors and swing state host families. It's sort of a political hybrid of craigslist and Team-in-Training - volunteers post profiles and solicit sponsorship from their family and friends. Sponsors can see their donations in action by following the activities of their volunteers.

... and let's remember that "community organizing" is pure grassroots democracy."

Also, Craigslist founder, Craig Newmark, recently wrote about this site on the Huffington Post. I thought it sounded like a great fusion of politics and technology - and worth passing along:

http://ObamaTravel.org ? real grassroots democracy

"Hey, this is a good example of genuine grassroots democracy:

... and let's remember that "community organizing" is pure grassroots democracy."

Also, Craigslist founder, Craig Newmark, recently wrote about this site on the Huffington Post. I thought it sounded like a great fusion of politics and technology - and worth passing along:

http://ObamaTravel.org ? real grassroots democracy

"Hey, this is a good example of genuine grassroots democracy:

... and let's remember that "community organizing" is pure grassroots democracy."

Luther,
You may be right, but take a look around. The elephant is in the room! The financial system is near collapse. Deck chairs, Titanic.