Stop Going After Palin
Stop. Stop right now. The only way this is a positive for the McCain campaign is if Democrats cede the moral high ground.
This was an incredibly telling selection and I think it betrays a sense of absolute fear. How?
1. EXPERIENCE. The only way this is beneficial to Republicans is if Democrats continue to argue that Palin is inexperienced, which ultimately results in a comparison of Obama's experience to Palin's -- engaging the conversation is a validation of the comparison. Stop doing it. Now. Let the conversation take its own course.
2. FOREIGN POLICY. In seeking to neutralize Biden's strengths, the Republicans have effectively given up on any argument about the philosophy of America's role in the world. Obama laid out a very clear philosophy -- Biden was intended to be the experienced executor and point man for the Obama philosophy abroad, but Palin's complete lack of knowledge and experience makes the argument completely unnecessary. Obama should continue to make the case in direct, positive terms in the abstract. There is absolutely no reason to showcase Biden's experience here. It's only a loss if Democrats actually allow themselves to validate the simplicity of Palin's views by equating them as a counterargument to an Obama presidency. Let them stand on their own without rebuttal.
3. DIVERSITY. The Republicans have telegraphed somethng here -- their shallow attempt to take advantage of the Clinton (and Obama) phenomenon will backfire on its merits UNLESS Democrats are perceived as bullies and attack dogs. Stop thinking that you need to point out flaws in Palin's philosophies, experience, and views that women are smart enough to uncover themselves. In other words, let Clinton supporters and women in general come to their own decisons based on the actual merits and facts of the argument. This pick betrays an absolute lack of understanding of feminism -- the only way Democrats can subvert the mistake is again, by being bullies, and attacking unnecessarily, which effectively changes the discussion away from Palin's views to an analysis of the interaction between Obama supporters and McCain supporters. In other words, we're on the right side of every single issue and there is absolutely no reason to point this out or even counter McCain / Palin arguments.
OVERALL. I think the pick is astounding in what it telegraphs. The McCain campaign has abandoned every single argument and strategy it was attempting to execute prior to the convention. They've banked ENTIRELY on stealing women voters and secondarily, working class folks through a shallow misunderstanding of the actual concerns of those voters. The only thing that was successful about this strategy was the fact that it neutralized Biden's strengths by making them unnecessary. If he comes out swinging, he looks like a bully. However, there are absolutely NO NET POSITIVES. The obvious strategy here is that the Republicans think that a female VP candidate will peel off Hillary supporters. After this week's convention, I think that's absolutely impossible UNLESS Democrats create a sympathetic persona in Palin.
Ultimately, what we need here is the EXACT opposite of what we needed going into the convention. Obama needs to lay out the case in a positive manner for what an Obama/Biden presidency will look like, refuse to attack Palin in any matter whatsoever, and basically behave like a gentleman. There is no positive result from attacking. I think this choice telegraphs that the Republicans have effectively given up, and anything contrary to that attitude will evoke public sympathy.
Unless we ruin it for ourselves, the election is over.
This was an incredibly telling selection and I think it betrays a sense of absolute fear. How?
1. EXPERIENCE. The only way this is beneficial to Republicans is if Democrats continue to argue that Palin is inexperienced, which ultimately results in a comparison of Obama's experience to Palin's -- engaging the conversation is a validation of the comparison. Stop doing it. Now. Let the conversation take its own course.
2. FOREIGN POLICY. In seeking to neutralize Biden's strengths, the Republicans have effectively given up on any argument about the philosophy of America's role in the world. Obama laid out a very clear philosophy -- Biden was intended to be the experienced executor and point man for the Obama philosophy abroad, but Palin's complete lack of knowledge and experience makes the argument completely unnecessary. Obama should continue to make the case in direct, positive terms in the abstract. There is absolutely no reason to showcase Biden's experience here. It's only a loss if Democrats actually allow themselves to validate the simplicity of Palin's views by equating them as a counterargument to an Obama presidency. Let them stand on their own without rebuttal.
3. DIVERSITY. The Republicans have telegraphed somethng here -- their shallow attempt to take advantage of the Clinton (and Obama) phenomenon will backfire on its merits UNLESS Democrats are perceived as bullies and attack dogs. Stop thinking that you need to point out flaws in Palin's philosophies, experience, and views that women are smart enough to uncover themselves. In other words, let Clinton supporters and women in general come to their own decisons based on the actual merits and facts of the argument. This pick betrays an absolute lack of understanding of feminism -- the only way Democrats can subvert the mistake is again, by being bullies, and attacking unnecessarily, which effectively changes the discussion away from Palin's views to an analysis of the interaction between Obama supporters and McCain supporters. In other words, we're on the right side of every single issue and there is absolutely no reason to point this out or even counter McCain / Palin arguments.
OVERALL. I think the pick is astounding in what it telegraphs. The McCain campaign has abandoned every single argument and strategy it was attempting to execute prior to the convention. They've banked ENTIRELY on stealing women voters and secondarily, working class folks through a shallow misunderstanding of the actual concerns of those voters. The only thing that was successful about this strategy was the fact that it neutralized Biden's strengths by making them unnecessary. If he comes out swinging, he looks like a bully. However, there are absolutely NO NET POSITIVES. The obvious strategy here is that the Republicans think that a female VP candidate will peel off Hillary supporters. After this week's convention, I think that's absolutely impossible UNLESS Democrats create a sympathetic persona in Palin.
Ultimately, what we need here is the EXACT opposite of what we needed going into the convention. Obama needs to lay out the case in a positive manner for what an Obama/Biden presidency will look like, refuse to attack Palin in any matter whatsoever, and basically behave like a gentleman. There is no positive result from attacking. I think this choice telegraphs that the Republicans have effectively given up, and anything contrary to that attitude will evoke public sympathy.
Unless we ruin it for ourselves, the election is over.
