In Politics, It's Image
These days, I'm still officially not affiliated with any one party; I left the Democrats a while back for various reasons, with one central one being that they've lost their way. Obviously from my postings, I'm solidly in the middle of the Left, with some moderate tendencies on certain issues. But no way you'll ever catch me hanging out on Free Republic, lending my mind to groupthink.
I do check out certain blogs, newspapers, and groups from time to time, trying to understand both sides of an issue. But once I've formed my opinion, I'm very opinionated (as if that weren't obvious!). The Democrats are still muddling along these days, despite the breath of fresh air they got with Howard Dean's ascendancy to the party leadership. They still aren't winning a whole lot of elections, and they still haven't developed a core message. It was hard for me to want to stay with a party that couldn't figure out what they stood for. This isn't to say that all Democrats or potential Democrats don't have opinions and principles; it's just that at the national level, there hasn't been very good articulation of just what it is Democrats expect of themselves, how they view themselves, and how they want the country to view them.
While I can't say I admire the Republicans, they're doing a better job on this front. That's largely because they're very good at showmanship, which is half (and sometimes, all) the game these days. Whether the Republicans are authentic isn't the case; it's how they present themselves. I ran across an editorial, "Republican Nemesis," the other day, and it's a thought-provoking read. The author, James Kroeger, discusses the current state of affairs in campaigning, and I agree with his main point: the Democrats have got to get it together, or they can't expect to win.
Kroeger argues that regardless of all the possible issues one could discuss, it comes down to presentation in the end. The use and manipulation of emotions is what counts: Republicans express disgust at the word "liberal"; they laugh contemptuously any time a Democrat opens their mouth; they are angry when any opponent says something half-way logical or reasonable. Most of all, the use, abuse, and manipulation of fear, which is something many voters buy into, largely from a self-centered, economic standpoint, and sometimes from a larger, communal fear. So much for FDR's proclaimation, "we have nothing to fear but fear itself."
I think if the Democrats can get in touch with how they want to present themselves, they too can master emotional discourse, in addition to being able to talk about the issues. What's equally important, though, is having a narrative. This is something that the Democratic candidates of late have failed miserably at. Who are you? What are you about? Where did you come from? Where are you going? Most of all, are you "genuine"? It's this authenticity that's most important-- the ability to be yourself, to show that you're just "you" and not anything else, and convey a sense of "realness" along with purpose. This isn't to say that I think the successful candidates of the last few elections were truly genuine, honest, aboveboard people-- they just passed themselves off better than their opponent. For example, I don't buy Smirk as a Western-style rancher, a "man of the people." For all his pretense, he's still a preppie slacker.
One thing that Kroeger doesn't really discuss is the fact that the solution is not just grasping the need to formulate better responses, to carry off a presentation; it's also understanding the reality that the main conduit to voters remains the Corporate Media, which is controlled by a handful of people, most of whom are largely in the pocket of the Republicans or are themselves right-wingers (see: Rupert Murdoch). This means the Democrats need to learn how to effectively use the media all over again, utilize the avenues they can, and stop responding (or not responding!) all the time. Rather than react, they need to become proactive. This is a lesson they've failed to learn so far.
It doesn't help any of us though, that on both sides we are surrounded by politicians and second and third-rate hacks, with precious few statesmen at hand. While one gets a sense of what the Republicans stand for and what their platform is, it doesn't mean it is the best path to take, or that they will stand on their principles; just as often as not, political expediency beckons. That's because in politics, it's image that's the key.
I do check out certain blogs, newspapers, and groups from time to time, trying to understand both sides of an issue. But once I've formed my opinion, I'm very opinionated (as if that weren't obvious!). The Democrats are still muddling along these days, despite the breath of fresh air they got with Howard Dean's ascendancy to the party leadership. They still aren't winning a whole lot of elections, and they still haven't developed a core message. It was hard for me to want to stay with a party that couldn't figure out what they stood for. This isn't to say that all Democrats or potential Democrats don't have opinions and principles; it's just that at the national level, there hasn't been very good articulation of just what it is Democrats expect of themselves, how they view themselves, and how they want the country to view them.
While I can't say I admire the Republicans, they're doing a better job on this front. That's largely because they're very good at showmanship, which is half (and sometimes, all) the game these days. Whether the Republicans are authentic isn't the case; it's how they present themselves. I ran across an editorial, "Republican Nemesis," the other day, and it's a thought-provoking read. The author, James Kroeger, discusses the current state of affairs in campaigning, and I agree with his main point: the Democrats have got to get it together, or they can't expect to win.
Kroeger argues that regardless of all the possible issues one could discuss, it comes down to presentation in the end. The use and manipulation of emotions is what counts: Republicans express disgust at the word "liberal"; they laugh contemptuously any time a Democrat opens their mouth; they are angry when any opponent says something half-way logical or reasonable. Most of all, the use, abuse, and manipulation of fear, which is something many voters buy into, largely from a self-centered, economic standpoint, and sometimes from a larger, communal fear. So much for FDR's proclaimation, "we have nothing to fear but fear itself."
I think if the Democrats can get in touch with how they want to present themselves, they too can master emotional discourse, in addition to being able to talk about the issues. What's equally important, though, is having a narrative. This is something that the Democratic candidates of late have failed miserably at. Who are you? What are you about? Where did you come from? Where are you going? Most of all, are you "genuine"? It's this authenticity that's most important-- the ability to be yourself, to show that you're just "you" and not anything else, and convey a sense of "realness" along with purpose. This isn't to say that I think the successful candidates of the last few elections were truly genuine, honest, aboveboard people-- they just passed themselves off better than their opponent. For example, I don't buy Smirk as a Western-style rancher, a "man of the people." For all his pretense, he's still a preppie slacker.
One thing that Kroeger doesn't really discuss is the fact that the solution is not just grasping the need to formulate better responses, to carry off a presentation; it's also understanding the reality that the main conduit to voters remains the Corporate Media, which is controlled by a handful of people, most of whom are largely in the pocket of the Republicans or are themselves right-wingers (see: Rupert Murdoch). This means the Democrats need to learn how to effectively use the media all over again, utilize the avenues they can, and stop responding (or not responding!) all the time. Rather than react, they need to become proactive. This is a lesson they've failed to learn so far.
It doesn't help any of us though, that on both sides we are surrounded by politicians and second and third-rate hacks, with precious few statesmen at hand. While one gets a sense of what the Republicans stand for and what their platform is, it doesn't mean it is the best path to take, or that they will stand on their principles; just as often as not, political expediency beckons. That's because in politics, it's image that's the key.
posted by Mr. Sandman | 7:11 PM
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