Posted by
Andrews on Friday, March 06, 2009 10:09:01 AM
I have noticed something. Conservatives are very bad salesmen. Or some are. The Angry Left is even worse, of course, but they have the MSM and professional comedians to smooth over their rough edges. On the other hand, we are watched through a microscope and even the slightest slip is written about ad nauseam. So, when it comes to all matters political, before we end up doing irreparable harm to our own cause, we need to be careful about what we say.
At this point I am sure some are shaking their heads and asking why we should bother. They are mad and want to be heard. And I can understand. However, political debate isn't about feeling good, at least if one is serious. Politics is about trying to persuade the other side, or, in most cases, the undecided, that one's cause is just, or at least that one's position is the more practical.
And that is where we come apart. Somehow, the "Angry Left" has managed to remain hidden in plain sight. The left may be rife with those who demonize Bush, who ascribe to an "evil genius" theory for all our woes, and generally hold ideas out of synch with the American mainstream, but, again, thanks to the MSM, they have managed to portray the mainstream left position as a fringe belief, giving the impression that the left is more moderate than it really is.
On the other hand, every time we adopt a position which sounds extreme or bizarre, the left and the media portray it as the conservative mainstream. Should a single racist vote for McCain, suddenly the Republicans become the "party of a new Jim Crow". Should a single Republican mention Islam, suddenly we are hate mongers trying to use fear of Islam to win elections.
Which is why we really need to distance ourselves from the more
crazy sounding positions. Valid or not (and I tend to think it is not), the
birth certificate controversy is done. Whether that pleases you or not, it is time to stop going on about it, as it makes the mainstream equate the right with the truthers and flat earthers. To the average American there was never a question, and it certainly was settled when he posted his certificate, so let it go. There are plenty of grounds on which to object to Obama, harping on this is just doing the right irreparable harm, making us appear part of the lunatic fringe.
And the same with charges that Obama is a "
covert Moslem". That sounds even crazier to most people. With even less foundation. (For what it's worth, Islam isn't big on abortion either. Making me think Obama is a secularist more than either a Christian or Moslem.)
Even some legitimate complaints can sound crazy if presented wrong. For example, mentioning Saul Alinsky and his book sounds like conspiratorial thinking. Granted, Emmanuel's statement about not wasting a crisis is drawn straight from that book, but then why not use the quote rather than mention Alinsky? Mentioning Alinsky is just bad PR. It sounds too much like other conspiracy charges. Simply point out the socializing measures taken, along with Emmanuel's quote and let people decide, don't bother with Alinsky and socialist conspiracies. It sounds too far out there.
It really does make a difference. When we repeatedly mention birth certificates or Alinksy it just makes it that much easier for the left to dismiss us, to convince independents we have nothing worth hearing.
POSTSCRIPT
I will admit, some of what I have written here may fall into the "sounds crazy to others" category. However, I think there is a small difference. I will raise a possibility and examine it in detail, but I am not doing so, at least initially, with the intent of persuading anyone, and generally I do not revisit it unless some evidence of its truth comes out of my first look. On the other hand, those mentioning Alinsky and the birth certificate are saying the same thing over and over and over, obviously in an effort to persuade. That makes quite a difference. I am examining possibilities and confess what I write may be proven false, while those pushing these positions are appealing to other to accept them as true. And that is what can turn off independents. A political movement pushing a line that sounds too bizarre will manage to alienate the independents quite quickly. (Even were my posts part of the problem, I would argue my own imperfection does not prove or disprove my advice. An alcoholic can tell you alcoholism is bad, it is no less true because he fails to follow his own advice.)