[Note from Mark: I think Mikey does a great job with this post and thought it should be bumped to the front page.]
Mistakes are often repeated. But a repeated mistake in politics can have severe consequences. Least of which, is a poor reflection of a politician.
Here in lies John McCain’s under-reported problem. Not only has he demonstrated his lack of political strategy against Obama, but he’s eagerly adopted Hillary Clinton’s strategy. We all know that there’s nothing worse than seeing a copycat. But much worse is seeing a not-so-good copycat.
Since McCain has no basis to run a successful campaign, the media (which affectionately calls him the “maverick”) has attempted to help him out. They’ve coined the phrase: “it’s a referendum on Obama”. So what does McCain do? He adopts Hillary Clinton’s campaign strategy memo.
Unfortunately, for McCain, he didn’t get her updated memo after the primary season ended. Here’s what the updated memo says:
Strategy Tactic 1: Champion your manufactured “Experience”. Trumpet Obama’s perceived “Inexperience” by the press. Keep saying you have “Experience” until the media catches on to it. Publicly chide Obama’s “Inexperience” in town hall meetings, press interviews, and via campaign surrogates. Refer to him as “a roll of the dice”, “untested”, “unprepared”, “naïve”, and “too risky”.
Employ a new campaign theme. Maybe something like: “I have 35 years of experience”. Tell the media and voters that Obama’s “Inexperience” is too risky for the country’s current challenges … of course, forget to mention that you’re part of the reason that those problems actually exist.
Timeframe: Dec 2007 – Feb 2008
Result of Strategy Tactic: FAILED
Strategy Tactic 2: Subtly interject hints of race. Do it frequently but yet scrupulously. Leave the dirty work to campaign surrogates and outside political organizations. This will ensure that your hands “remain clean”. Swiftly deny everything when accused of interjecting divisive racial tactics. Be sure to point to Obama as being at fault for “interjecting race”.
Complain to the media & press that Obama is somehow trying to use his race to his advantage. Falsely accuse Obama of calling you a racist. Seem outraged about it. Maybe even demand publicly that he and his campaign apologize to you. Be very melodramatic. Remember, the press loves drama.
(Geraldine Ferraro anybody?)
Timeframe: Feb 2008 – Mar 2008
Result of Strategy Tactic: FAILED
Strategy Tactic 3: Ridicule Obama’s inspiration to voters and his oratory skills. Downplay his ability to galvanize tremendous campaign support across the country. Dismiss the excitement that young people, Blacks, Hispanics, and moderate Democrats/Republicans/Independents feel about the prospects of his candidacy. Disrespect his supporters as being naïve and gullible. Refer to him as a “rock star”, “arrogant”, “presumptuous”, “full of himself”. Mock his campaign slogan of “Change” in town hall meetings, press interviews, and via campaign surrogates. Tell the media and voters that you’re really the candidate of “Change”, not Obama.
Timeframe: Feb 2008 – Mar 2008
Result of Strategy Tactic: FAILED
Strategy Tactic 4: Criticize the media of bias toward Obama. Tell the media that they’re giving Obama “a free pass”. Chastise them for not “going after him hard enough”. Complain that they’re “in the tank for Obama”. Mock the media’s “love fest” with Obama in debates, town hall meetings, press interviews, and via campaign surrogates. Tell the media and voters that you already expected to be treated differently because of who you are … of course, forget to mention that they had already crowned you the Democratic nominee winner as early as February 2007.
Timeframe: Mar 2008 – Apr 2008
Result of Strategy Tactic: FAILED
Strategy Tactic 5: Go negative. Do it deliberately. Run negative TV ads in competitive states. Call Obama names. Make his wife an issue in the campaign. Try and associate him with everything and anything that someone who supports him says or does. Infer he’s different than most Americans.
Repeat the negative attacks often. Be aggressive with negative campaigning. Encourage the media to run your new negative TV ads in constant cycles on the air. This will help keep your TV ad cost minimal. There’s nothing like free air time.
Say outrageous things about Obama. But never apologize for it. This will get the attention of the press. They love political bickering and fights. It helps their ratings. If they see that you’re ready to go negative, then they’ll embrace you. It’s considered a mutually beneficial relationship.
When the press asks if you’re going too far with your negative attacks against Obama, defiantly say ‘No’. Tell them to lighten up. Say that this is the fun part of campaigning. Mention it’s just humor. Keep using the words “contrast” and “differences” when explaining why you’re running negative TV ads.
Timeframe: Mar 2008 – Jun 2008
Result of Strategy Tactic: FAILED
Strategy Tactic 6: Just repeat Strategy Tactics 1-5 until one of them hopefully works and you win.
Timeframe: Now
Result of Strategy Tactic: YOU BE THE JUDGE
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