As I watch pundits speculate and pontificate about why President Obama was re-elected or where Mitt Romney’s campaign fell short, I keep marveling at how simplicity sometimes eludes. Unquestionably there are tactical factors, matters of arithmetic and so forth.
But then there’s that other piece — authenticity. Yes, yes, everyone lies in politics. Yada, yada, yada. It’s shifty. It’s shady. But people (read: voters) hate that. A glimmer of authenticity is like a beacon of light and people crave it. It is in that spirit that I crafted some advice for GOP strategists regarding their candidates.
Today’s Game Plan: Life Coaching GOP Strategists
“How, pray tell, did you not win with an American war hero like John McCain representing your party four years ago? Had you let him be quintessential John McCain, warts and all, and not saddled his ticket with a candidate clearly chosen to fill pandering gaps as opposed to strengthen the potential leadership in the White House, things could have been much different.”
Are you serious? The choice of Sarah Palin increased McCain’s vote tally–it did not lower it. He was going downhill in the polls till that selection. McCain lost (as did Romney and Bob Dole) because they were moderates who were doing a poor job of posing as conservatives. Please don’t blame McCain’s idiocy on Palin. Republicans don’t win by propping up candidates who are nothing more than weak-tea versions of their Democrat counterparts. They win by upholding conservative principles–something neither the Karl Roves of the GOP establishment, nor the Romney campaign–nor, apparently, you–understands.
Obviously I respectfully disagree. I do appreciate you taking the to write, though.
Nancy