The Hockey Mom Hoax

"Hockey Moms" were out in force for Sarah Palin last night...at least that's the impression the Republicans wanted you to have.

Last night, I went to the Republican National Convention mainly to see how it differed from festivities in Denver, and boy was it different. Probably one of the most notable things was the Republican use of "handmade" signs. You couldn't enter the Xcel Center with a handmade sign, but that's ok...when you got inside and got to a seat, there were handmade signs waiting for you. Interestingly, on either side of the arena, the signs were identical. As festivities began, I noticed the presence of "Hockey Moms for Palin" signs scattered in two strategic spots in the convention hall. They were placed only in the line of sight of television cameras. I'm sure it was only a coincidence that when Sarah Palin mentioned she was a hockey mom, those with the signs "went crazy," thereby opening the opportunity for Palin to make a little joke:

"Do you know what they say the difference is between a hockey mom and a Pit Bull? Lipstick."

Do they really need to do this? Do the Republicans really lack the grassroots support that makes such political theater necessary? Perhaps they do...one of the most striking distinctions between St. Paul and Denver is how much the Republican Convention looks nothing like America. It's white. It's male. In Denver, the big tent of the Democratic Party was out in force. It looked and felt diverse.

From a press standpoint, the placement of the "handmade" signs was smart, especially when that's all you've really got. It makes America think the support by moms for Sarah Palin is simply unstoppable. And given that everyone has a mom, they're hoping this will speak to a broad audience. They want to send a message that five days ago, Hockey Moms across America heard about Sarah Palin's nomination and immediately booked their ticket for St. Paul. But when you sit in the hall, you realize that's clearly not the case.

Being someone who didn't understand what apparently is a typical republican trick of placing handmade signs at rallies, I thought the one sitting in my seat meant someone else was sitting there. The woman sitting next to me said that wasn't the case. I moved the sign, and when the gentleman next to me started waving around the "Moms for Cindy" sign in front of him, I asked him if he knew where it came from. He shrugged. He didn't care. He most certainly wasn't a mom, but that wasn't really important. What's more important is to give the impression that women all over America are supporting this ticket. It was absolutely frightening to see so many people accept the reality of these signs the way my seatmate did. It showed me that the individual choice and identity the Republicans preach is actually secondary to the need to master political theater. It showed me that individual investment in the political process is meaningless in the Republican party. Image matters, policy doesn't.

At the end of the day, it's an act of desperation, and frankly, insulting. There wasn't a "Step-mom's for Cindy" sign sitting anywhere around, a sign that perhaps would have appealed to me...is that because we don't want to remind voters that families are broken...including the McCain family? Are Hockey Moms more American than Step-moms? That's what it felt like. And what's with the classifications of motherhood anyway?

This speaks volumes about the lack of support this ticket is receiving outside of St. Paul. A polling firm did a focus group of independent women voters last night during Palin's speech, and early reports are that they aren't convinced. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, in coordination with Women's Voices Women Vote found that: "After viewing the acceptance speech of the first female vice presidential candidate for the Republican party, there was no positive electoral movement toward the Republican ticket among either married or unmarried women in these groups...among these women, it did not fundamentally change the character of the race. "

Perhaps they need more signs, but my guess is that hearing some serious policy proposals from the candidate might work better, because at this point, the only thing we've seen is hackery and political theater.

Read more analysis from HuffPost bloggers on Sarah Palin

Comments

[ManhattanRat]

Good to know about the details of the hoax. I also wonder how many of these people were actual hockey moms? Because while ice hockey may be popular in Alaska, I doubt it is in Florida. Soccer, football and basketball are probably more common. So, many women holding the signs were supporters, but not the hockey moms they purport to be.

On another note, the signs were ugly, and give a bad impression of hockey moms, that just don't have the time or knowhow to design something attractive to represent themselves. Here's a different perspective.

http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/hockey-moms-deserve-better-design

[Pleistocene]

Palin gave the Obama campaign a perfect opportunity to talk about all the moms and dads who drive their kids to practice and lessons, to games and performances. And when all the years of teaching, coaching, cajoling and supporting are finished the most fervent hope of all parents is for their children to enter young adulthood in a peaceful world with abundant opportunities to develop their talents in a growing economy. More than anything else they and their children hope for a world where there is clean air and water and an economy that is not dependent upon fossil fuel. We can all imagine this campaign ad. Can the campaign give voice to the hopes of so many of us? Pleistocene

[truthsforsaken]

I thought that was a little ridiculous, all those hockey moms instantly falling in love with some Nationalist governor from Alaska. Thanks for illustrating the man behind the curtain.

[Appalled]

It's so unfair that the evil media showed two of those Hockey Mom signs at the same time -- and they were identical.

So hard to buy good help these days!

[BaxterJ]

It's almost embarrassing how much the media has been focusing on the delivery/appearance of Palin's speech instead of the content, which was chock full of lies and half-truths.
http://www.entertonement.com/collections/2908/RNC-Sarah-Palin-Acceptance-Speech

[zedthewizard]

THE NEGLECTED STORY

The neglected story and the most important story is the loss of the fourth estate in American politic. The republicans attack on the so-called liberal media performing biased reporting has dire consequences.

The current republican contradictions and the attack on the media lump all media together. The republican campaign has the nuance and the wherewithal to understand the difference between news media and tabloid, fact and fiction, truth and un-truth. We recognize cultural differences and perspectives. However, the republican contradictions and claims of unfair treatment use these cultural differences and perspectives to explain away their unreasonable disagreement with evident facts and truths.

The behavior by the republican party will ultimately erode and perhaps eliminate the role of a free press in American society. By not distinguishing between serious news reporting and tabloid reporting they have equated all information has equal. Therefore, there is not truth or fact. There is only subjective noise. If, we sound alarmist, we are alarmed. As with a round earth, and the earth"s orbit around the sun; our claim is indisputably evident. Some calling us alarmist would demand nothing. However, we now have come together to state unequivocally the erosion and eventual death of the fourth estate from American Institutions is well under way. Action is required. Action is demanded.

We believe that to continue down this destructive path to attempt to equate all information as equal must be pushed back by the republican party itself or by the American electorate.

[SurrealPumpkin]

Why doesn't McCain throw a BBQ for those guys we all want to drink beer and shoot moose with. Then we can all come and party.

[ceti]

Hockey moms and dads or often a crazy lot. There was a recent CBC show called the Tournament done in mockumentary style that basically outlined the insanity of some parents who push their children to perform to the point of coming to blows with referees and other parents. I would be very scared to have Hockey Mom as president.

[LeftRight]

It's obvious to ALL that the republicans have NEVER been for the individual! They've been for those who THINK that they are individuals, but would rather follow the herd. You can tell this by their policies. They will wage war without cause. They will claim EVERYTHING necessary regarding taxes, though none of it will be true. They will try to legislate morality, though this is impossible!

[caroljwj]

Speaking of legislating morality, has anyone out there ever known anyone who was forced to get pregnant and have an abortion by a doctor or by anyone else, for that matter. I haven't. But then, at 58 years old, having lived in 4 states, maybe I've just been lucky not to have known anyone who has sufferred this horrible fate. Oh yeah, I have also worked in the welfare system and with abused and neglected children and battered woman. Still can't recall anyone who has been in that particular position. Isn't it the Republicans who are so in favor of individual rights and small government? This election is making me very, very confused about everything except who I will vote for. And, surprise, surprise. It won't be McCain and his newly adopted family from Anchorage.

[LeftRight]

Yeah, I've always wondered what the problem was, since on the liberal side we are seeing more situations where there is personal responsibility, whereas on the right they are always trying to tell you what is acceptable and what is not!

[califkid]

Ms. Palin has made much of being a "hockey" Mom. I am wondering how many of her three daughters actually played hockey...

[escorpion]

What's really disturbing is that with all the reporters running around the convention floor, not one of them that I know of even commented on this phenomenon. Either they were too stupid to see they were being used, or they were purposely playing along with the GOP strategy. Either way, it's dismaying.

[2008WakingFromaNightmare]

This is what republicans do - they create myths - myths that never live up to their hype and promise. America buys these myths and despite being burnt, buys them over and over again.