Republican propaganda contesting the purported intentions of President Obama falls into two broad categories:
- He's a socialist, leading a fifth column working to undermine Our Way of Life
- He's going to bankrupt the American economy (see Point #1)
So we have otherwise intelligent Republican legislators refusing to work on any of the plans coming out of Washington, and certain Republican governors declining some or all of the funds that come along with said plans. Instead, they're dedicating their not insubstantial skills of insight and oratory to appearing as talking heads across the mediasphere, claiming "principled opposition" as they repeatedly point out that anything President Obama does will hasten the arrival of Armageddon.
And then something occurred to me as I was at the gym, watching Newt Gingrich, Glenn Beck, or some other guy blather on about something: it's as if Obama is Darth Vader, and the Republicans are the vailiant Ewok soldiers, fighting to defend the natural order.
This would be funny if it weren't so damn serious. One of the two major political parties in America has opted-out of participating in government. It's a slash-and-burn strategy, and it makes perfect sense from a branding perspective. Circa about 1950, that is.
Before you read any further, please understand that I'm not exploring (or promoting) the merits or details of any of the President's plans. Nor am I a fan of the Democratic branding machine; for the past 8 years, the party stood for absolutely nothing. At least the Republicans have decided to commit to something.
But that something is pretty much irrelevant, isn't it?
Opining about the threat to civilization might appeal to Palin-ified voters, but it trades utility for provocation...while substituting demagoguery for policy. It's simply not true, no matter how brilliantly the strategists twist and abuse the facts. So even if it makes for quotable TV interviews, what good is it?
Imagine if Unilever's branding strategy were to publicly claim that P&G was owned by the Devil? Or Wrigley's officially alleged that Bubble Yum was made with spider eggs. Or whatever.
It's also all but impossible to negotiate with a leader whom you've likened to the Antichrist. So the comments coming from the Republicans don't leave much room for compromise.
But then again, compromise is not on the agenda; rather, its branding strategy is to stand on the sidelines while the President governs, content to harp around the edges of every announcement. Somewhere in the dark corridors in which such things are decided, strategists decided that the Republicans would "go back to their roots" and be the party of small government.
That means the best it can offer for, say, an answer to millions of people at risk of losing their homes is...a tax cut. The challenge of a warming planet, and the geopolitical need to wean ourselves off oil is the opportunity for...a tax cut. The way to finally rid ourselves of the most expensive and inefficient healthcare system in the civilized world is...a tax cut.
Like I said, this would be laughable if the stakes weren't so high.
We need government to do things for us...like have a vision for our energy or health care future...because economies are political organisms, not just financial. They're also emotional, cultural, and social networks. If we don't work toward an end, we may never get there...that's why the Founding Fathers formed a government in the first place. Claiming otherwise is either a purposeful disregard for the facts, or the result of complete ignorance.
So the real debate should be about what the government should do, how it should do it, and what it should cost. Republicans and Democrats can and should clash on those details, and then agree to a conclusion, and get behind the President.
Claiming no part in the conversation, other than to harp about it heralding the end of life as we know it, is political idiocy..even if it's a typical brand/ marketing decision.
Instead of participating, the Republicans have chosen to stay true to some imaginary abstraction of the party's image, which requires it step back from the messy reality of governing. So we voters get no dialogue, conversation, and certainly no compromises on the issues that require lots of heated and engaged debate. Instead, the party saves everything for the Fox network and the blogosphere, where the epic battle between Good and Evil regularly needs a new installment.
A one-sided debate is a lot easier to conduct. And it’s all about reinforcing the brand.
It's a bummer, really. With a socialist bent on ruining our economy running things, you'd think the Republicans would want to get more involved, not less.
