Go Team! 5 Ways The Democrats Can Lose The Un-Loseable Election
The Democratic Party's long, glorious history of losing presidential elections it should have won stretches before us. Michael Dukakis looking like a chipmunk riding in a tank. Al Gore sighing and rolling his eyes. John Kerry, well, just being John Kerry. These are just a few of our finest moments in election fumbling.
In 2008, with anti-Republican sentiment at a fever pitch and a nationwide hunger for a fresh new face in the White House, the Democratic Party has an unprecedented opportunity -- not just to lose the White House for the third straight time, but to lose what seems to be an un-loseable election. The odds may be against us, but with a little luck and a lot of good old-fashioned stupidity, we can get to the promised land of failure once again.
Barack Obama showed early on that he had the potential to blow a sure thing during the primary season, when he almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Unfortunately, he didn't really hit his stride, losing one big state after another, until Hillary Clinton was too far behind mathematically to catch up. But his concerted effort to lose touched a nerve with Democrats across the nation. Slowly but surely, we began to think, "Wow, maybe this thing can be botched after all!"
The Republicans have nominated a formidable opponent who has "loser" written all over him -- John McCain, an old, grumpy, out-of-touch so-called "maverick" who's spent the last several years in bed with the wildly unpopular Bush administration. Not since Bob Dole in 1996 has the GOP picked such an obvious turkey to be its standard-bearer. Clearly, this will not be an easy election for the Dems to lose.
But here's where we can put our experience and vast knowledge to use. Nobody, after all, knows how to lose elections like the Democrats. So, taking the lessons of previous losers and adapting them to the current climate, this is what we can do to ensure another blown election come November:
1. DON'T RESPOND TO REPUBLICAN ATTACKS. John Kerry and Michael Dukakis have shown that not responding to attack ads for as long as possible is essential to derailing a winning campaign. The Obama camp is doing an excellent job of this so far. McCain's feeble and disorganized attacks make him seem like a punch-drunk boxer desperate for a knockout. But as long as Obama doesn't respond to any of it, eventually something will land. Responding to and nullifying those attacks is the worst thing Obama could do if he wants to not be in the White House come January.
2. OPEN YOURSELF UP TO "FLIP-FLOPPER" ACCUSATIONS. Changing your position on issues like public campaign financing and offshore oil drilling can be explained away very easily: "I reserve the right to change my views as the situation changes," Obama could say. "In contrast to the stubbornness and inflexibility of the present administration, which is why the country's in such a mess to begin with." Thankfully, Senator Obama has NOT said any of this, which opens him up to accusations of flip-flopping by Senator McCain. Obama knows that "flip-flopper," like "liberal," is a dirty word to the electorate, and if he's branded as such, it will help pave the way for defeat in November. Good work!
3. LET PEOPLE BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO RAISE THEIR TAXES. So what if you're only going to raise taxes on people who earn more than $250,000 a year and super-rich corporations? Who cares that the Clinton administration did the same thing in the '90s and it didn't affect the decade-long economic boom? Let the Republicans convince the American people that Obama equals higher taxes equals economic disaster. Before you know it, we Democrats will be able to start bitching about a McCain administration with the same gusto as we've bitched about W & Co. for the last seven years.
4. KEEP HONORING McCAIN'S MILITARY SERVICE. Wesley Clark almost derailed Obama's "Quest To Lose '08" by hinting that getting shot down and being held prisoner for years, in a war that America lost, may not be the greatest qualification for commanding our armed forces. Fortunately, Obama quickly disavowed General Clark's comments and went right back to praising McCain's military record. The main lesson here is to keep the campaign unified and on-message, while distancing yourself from any "loose cannons" who may say or do something to help you not lose.
5. NEVER ACCUSE THE MEDIA OF BIAS. If the mainstream media decides that traveling to other countries and meeting with their leaders six months before you may become one of them is "presumptuous," do not suggest otherwise. If "John McCain" and "maverick" are still synonymous even though he's been in Bush's back pocket since 2002, keep your mouth shut. The media's right-wing bias can be the key to failure and defeat, so the best thing to do is not call attention to it. Three words to remember, Senator Obama: "Fair and balanced."
Despite our best efforts, we're still facing an uphill battle. Every time we see John McCain's withered, ghostly-white face on TV saying "My frenz, when I'm pres'd'nt..." we're one step closer to possible non-defeat. But let us take heart in the words of that great Democratic loser Adlai Stevenson, who said, "The time to stop a revolution is at the beginning, not the end." We can nip this revolution in the bud if we're willing to try. Now let's get out there and screw ourselves!
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It's just possible that even though you do remember history you're still doomed to repeat it.
So all you people of the democrat party, all you fighting under that big umbrella; you PUMAs and kittycats and Big Dawgs and Blue Dawgs..... go out there and lose one for the Gipper!
i beg to differ
the reason why democrats have lost so many elections is because the majority of voters unfortunately made the wrong decisions.
each of the candidates were smart capable and decent men.
but the voters chose based on who the like to drink beer with or have a barbeque with, rather than who can move the country forward
its the american way.
Here's is what you don't say. People like myself, who was an Independent have decided that unless we are DEAD on election day, we are voting for Obama.
You do not understand that we have made up our minds and nothing Mc Cain, T.V people, The Clintons or anyone else says or does, will change our minds. WE ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA.
You do not get it! We have had it with the Republican agenda. It is over, the courtain has been drawn. We cannot be convenced to change our minds. WE ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA.
Here is why: (1.) Home value lower than home loan. (2.) Gas is $4.35 a gallon. (3.) Groceries up 20% over last year. (4.) Outsourcing our jobs. (5.) College tuition from $30,000 to $125,000 for a BA or BS.
(6.) Aging parents who need better benefits that they have PAID for during their working years. (7.) Depreciating value of the U.S. Dollar.
No Sir, we have lived through too much to put the Republicans back in power no matter what they say, now matter what the Clintons do, no matter how the T.V. "Personalities" act. WE ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA!!
As a fellow Independent I agree.
I consider myself an Independent even though I changed it to Dem so I could vote in the primary this year (Florida doesn't let Indies vote in primaries). I'm with you heyjoe & okay - I'm voting for Obama and nothing will stop me. The economy proves that Repubs in charge is a bad, bad thing. You give them a surplus & look what they did - although they're still trying to convince everyone it's the Dems fault. I've had it.
6. Don't stop the PUMAs.
PUMA's are Rethugs.
Don't know if that is possible, they are probably on RNC's payroll and an important part of Operation Chaos.
Yeah, 4 more years of Bush policies...thanks PUMAs!
for as long as the majority of the electorate falls into the category of "Low Information Voter"
(that is the PC term du jour, correct?)
for however long that phenom lasts, the "High Road" will lose
I think we are assuming that if Obama amped up his attacks, the media would receive them as well as they have McCain's. I see NO reason to believe that will be the case. In fact, I think if he goes even remotely as negative as McCain's campaign has so far (and worse is to come), that the media would eat him alive.
And Obama is WINNING! If the election were today, he WINS. More importantly, his support has been VERY consistent...and this is not even including newly registered voters, who are far more democratic in number than republican. This is also not including the massive voter registration drive planned for after the Convention. Are we totally missing the fact that his campaign is increasingly more competitive than Kerry's or Gore's, for that matter? Let's examine: CO, VA, AK, IA, MT, ND, GA, FL, NM, and others are very competitive and very likely he could carry 3-4 traditional republican states. Could Kerry or Gore boast this when they were running? Have we forgotten the record turn-out for EVERY democratic primary?
That said, I would recommend that Obama surrogates do a better job pointing out all of the flaws of McCain and his campaign.
I agree about withholding money. Why doesn't Obama hit McCain on his sellout of the Ohio employees of DHL? He needs that state for a decisive win, and McCain sold them out while allowing his campaign manager, Davis, to make gazillions of bucks on their misery. Have you heard a word from Obama on this? Didn't think so.
Just heard Obama on his campaign plane refuse to go after McCain on the Paris Hilton ad and the rebuttal that Paris made!!! Taking the high road again. SHEESH! And now the "headline" of the day is disunity between the Clintons and Obama. Why are we still listening to this stuff about what role Hillary will be playing at the convention? It's his convention, so why is she deciding how it should be run?
I am very concerned that despite the good polls (state polls, that is), Obama is running pell mell towards the cliff face while thinking, just like Gore and Kerry, that he will stay above the fray and run a high-road campaign, all the while the Rethugs are returning to form and fighting a gutter brawl. He may be intelligent and intellectual, but it doesn't take rocket science to figure out how to go after McCain. Warm and fuzzy rhetoric and lovely platitudes just ain't gonna cut it.
Making an operation more efficient and saving your customers money is not selling out. Do you even know we live in a capitalist country?
One can never underestimate the stupidity of the electorate. Proof? Who's been President for the last 7-plus years. He and his wicked team have mastered the black arts of smear and sloganeering. How did Clinton prevail against Pappy Bush and Ol' Dole? Lessons well worth learning by Proefessor Obama before his campaign dissipates in a fog of high-mindedness and lofty oratory -- Adlai Stevenson redux.. A little down-and-dirty is called for before it's too late. This is not the primaries, and it sure as hell ain't bean bag. Go, O, for the jugular!
So the ENTIRE electorate is wrong and YOU are right???
Jeeezus, and they call ME arrogant....
Michale.....
I refer to that portion of the eelectorate that "enthroned" our present incumbent, the Bush family black sheep. What, my friend (McCainspeak), has the Bush team done for you? Are you better off now than you were 7+ years ago? Are you a member of the Bush League? Has that whole bunch done you proud?
I would refer to the 44% that would still vote for McCain. Why is he just a step behind in the polls. Democrats can wish all they want, but the chances are, they'll lose in November.
Amusing, very amusing, the guy who was the dark horse (no pun intended) a year ago is now the nominee for the Democratic party. He won by playing by the rules and playing it by the numbers. In spite of the odds, he beat the Clinton machine and did it in an election marathon the likes of which we haven't seen in a long time.
The Republican party has thrown stuff at him, the Clinton party has thrown stuff at him and he remains upright and cool. He's made mistakes and continues to tell us that he will make them. The issue is not the Democratic party's lack of marketing and media savvy; it's the insurmountable media and the control that the Republican party has over that media since 1985. We have to break their stranglehold on radio and Television.
The voting DNC base is how big?? From news reports yesterday I know it now outpaces GOP (thanks to voter registration), and when I think of that many people the idea occurs to me: “You know that sounds like a pretty powerful lobbying group.” Obama's organization is unlike anything this country has EVER seen (For those old croaks out there not paying attention, it's called an internet grassroots network). If 36 million or so people refused to watch their stupid little biased newscasts and instead focused en masse on placing viewership of news media that dumped the junk and just reported the dang news, can you imagine the impact? Don't let the media hype-types fool anyone, they live and die by ratings like everybody else. Swinging viewers is like swinging votes, it makes a lasting impression!! This is the blogosphere election, the tail wags the dog~!!!
@duadave07
So, what you are saying is that a Democrat must campaign like a Republican in order to win elections..
What does that say about Democrats and their beliefs???
Michale.....
It says more about a good portion of the American electorate than the Democratic party. Like it or not, the Republican's negative tactics work (look at the last election). If it takes fighting fire with fire- so be it. Better to stoop to their level, than to have 4 more years of the B#sh dynasty.
Once again, I ask..
If it takes acting like a Republican to get elected, that obviously indicates that Joe Q Public prefers the Republican POV.....
That being the case, what does that say about the Democratic Party platform???
Michale.....
AWESOME article. Gore's campaign, Kerry's campaign. C'mon, if there's any lessons to be learned on how to lose, it's those two fiascos. Obama's sweet little, kid-gloved, "high-road' campaign is doing just that. GET A CLUE! The Republicans are dirty, nasty, underhanded bastards. FIght fire with fire, for ONCE!
Absolutely right Tony! From Adlai Stevenson (who presumed to "talk sense" to the American people) to Dukakis (who presumed that "competence" mattered) to Kerry (who presumed a smart and authentic war hero could beat an illiterate who fought the Vietnam war on a bar stool), Democrats have made the fundamental mistake of being too smart for their own good. Fact is, if you are intellectually qualified to be president, you cannot possibly get elected in this country.
Here's another tip:
Act like you think that 250 K p.a. is really big money, that it makes one "rich." Then, when the upper middle class types hear you talk about "taxing the rich," they will know you mean *them*, and react with appropriate alarm.
I mean, for goodness' sake, the Huxtables would make well over 250K in today's dollars, and they are America's archetypal upper middle class TV family
$250k DOES make you rich.
According to 2004 census data, the median household income was $43,389. The mean household income was $60,582.
Mean is determined by taking everyone's income and dividing it equally, which tends skew the picture. For example: take 10 people. 1 of them makes $5 k a year, 8 make $20k a year and one person makes $1 million a year. The mean (average) income is $116,500. That's not an accurate representation on the situation. The one person at the high end drastically throws off the numbers.
Median is determined by splitting the group into 2 sections and using the number in the middle. In this case, using the same people listed above, the median income is $20k, which is a much more accurate picture.
If you earn 5 times the median household income, you're very, very well off. Stop kidding yourselves, people.
Every point exactly correct. I truly hope Obama's campaign is getting this advice. Why do the Republicans have the market cornered on accusing the media of bias? It's been a very effective ploy for years, while, of course, the media is actually biased in FAVOR of Republicans. Why do Democrats just let this "flip flop" business pass for a genuine argument? Why do Democrats feel they have to "play nice?" I'll give you an example: this war. People are sick of it, thousands have died, McCain was a big cheerleader for it from the word go--and every word he said about it proved to be either wildly wrong or an outright lie--why don't the Dems go AFTER him on this? Show ads with crazed idiocy coming out of McCain's mouth (stuff he repeatedly said), and attack him for it! I don't get it. Go get him, Dems! If Obama pussyfoots around like Kerry did, he might actually lose this thing.
Democrats are noteworthy for ripping defeat from the jaws of victory.
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