Posted on 01/19/2009 9:31:27 AM PST by St. Louis Conservative
The last election cycle bore more online fruit for Democrats.
"Obama is really Howard Dean 2.0 when it comes to online fundraising," said Phil Tajitsu Nash, who runs Campaign Advantage, a company that makes Web sites and develops Internet strategies for candidates.
So it's understandable that Republicans are green with envy and scratching their heads wondering why the Internet works for Democrats but doesn't work for them. The simple answer:
There is no technology that can help overcome the left's current online dominance.
There is no wizard in Silicon Valley who can make things better.
There is no Joe Trippi who can take an obscure Republican and push him to victory using online tools past, present and future.
Facebook won't do it. Twitter won't do it. Countering Soros and MoveOn .org won't do it. And mimicking Kos and Arianna won't do it.
Sorry, Republicans, there is no magic Internet button.
The Democratic Party resonates on the Internet because it resonates in pop culture. The Democratic Party resonates in pop culture because it has been committed to dominating it for over a generation.
Democrats are celebrities, rock stars, magazine covers and stadium concerts. Republicans are a small list of famous people who have to make public excuses for their affiliation.
Democrats throw parties, get models to show up, and Red Bull and Stoli pick up the tab. Republicans feature a no-host bar hoping an astronaut from the Mercury mission stops by.
Democrats pull off a star-studded, entertainment-laden Obama acceptance speech at Invesco Field. Republicans get a black dude to wear red, white and blue and perform a 1985-era patriotic rap song dressed as Uncle Sam.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Republicans don't use the Internets to launder illegal anonymous foreign contributions, so they will always be behind.
“We follow all the rules and laws and still fall behind”, said one spokesperson, who asked that her whines not be attributed to her.
This is the largest mistake the GOP is making. They think that they lost because they did not organize. They lost because they have no defining message. Democrats are for Unions, Socialism, big government, wealth transfer to minorities, votes for illegal immigrants and criminals, and the homosexual agenda. Republicans say they are for the same things, just not as much.
And the funny thing is, I’ll take a subdued thought provoking meeting with a guy running for office over a star studded circle jerk any day of the week.
Could start by undoing some of the foul-ups of the past 14 years. Such as halting building a private road for the former speakers private development. Just a starting point, there are a few laws that needs reversal.
Precisely, and because Obama didn't take 'public money', the FEC is not required to audit his fundraising. Slick, huh?
The 'GHOST REPUBLICANS' that we had elected prior to this election lost it for us all.
Anyone that can push the Clintons aside has huge backing and power.
Money works ... if you have enough and spend it lavishly.
What part of “illegal foreign contributions” is it so hard to understand?
I hate that Obama won, but he ran a better campaign.
No point in worrying. The GOP is dead. Wait until the millions of illiterate illegal aliens are granted citizenship. Who do you think they’ll vote for? What kind of policies do you think they’ll favor? Protect yourself and your family, but forget about America—it’s passing into history before your eyes. Elections matter.
"I don't know how to use the internet. I've never even sent e-mail!"
I guess McCain thought this was something to be proud of, something that would show us voters just how "conservative" he is 'cause everyone knows only liberals use the internet!
You can make all the excuses you want but it all comes down to the fact that the candidate SUCKED! The only time McCrazy’s fund raising went up was immediately after he named Sarah Palin for VP.
This is a key point. The GOP nominee in 2012 needs to promise to limit themselves to matching funds...and then reverse themselves just as Obama did. No matter how biased the press is they will not be able to completely ignore the fact that Obama surely could not protest since he did the same bait-and-switch in 2008. Of course I am expecting that funding laws for 2012 (even 20120) will change to the exclusive advantage of the Dems.
Whoops...
...(even 2010)...
I keep seeing these types of articles, but I don’t buy it. What beat us were three things: 1) an inept candidate; 2) money; and 3) moderates on our side.
This idea that the rats are better organized due to the net is merely them gloating. Both sides have a presence, it’s just that they took advantage of dirty money.
Maybe I’m being naive, but I think these stories are meant to get us doubting ourselves. I mean look at freerepublic.com. It doesn’t get the notoriety of Kos or the Hutchison post, and yet it has a strong presence.
You got it. Republicans just come across as stingy, mean-spirited Democrats. The Republican Party spends most of its effort promoting the Democrats and their agenda.
The Democrats propose a “generous” increase in the minimum wage. The Republicans either oppose an increase and opt for staying at the current level or counter with a more modest increase. The Democrats say that we need to increase the school lunch program by x million dollars. The Republicans answer by offering an increase of one third x. Democrats say that the government needs to spend a lot more subsidizing housing and Republicans say that the current level is adequate. Democrats say that more people should be made eligible and Republicans defend the status quo.
So the predictable dynamic is that the Democrats fight for an increase in spending for some government program and the Republicans either oppose any increase or counter with a proposal for more modest growth. What impression of the Republican Party does this give? What is the one principle that people are able to discern from Republicans’ policies as stated above? That the Republicans are cheap and uncaring. Some may manage to construe it as fiscal responsibility but what it comes down to is withholding funds from worthwhile programs. Thus ultimately withholding help from those who need it.
If the Republicans agree to spend two billion dollars on a program they are inherently saying that it is good and just and worthwhile. Why else would they agree to spend such a massive amount of money on it? If people who position themselves as fiscally responsible spend that kind of money, it has to be for something good. Something right. Something necessary. And here they cede the moral high ground to Democrats, liberals, leftists by validating their policies, programs and agenda. It’s Democrats who are fighting for all of these good and righteous schemes and the Republicans who are dragging their feet.
Every time Republicans say yes but not so much. They are saying that the Democrats are right and they, the Republicans, are cheap. The Democrats are looking out for the needy and the Republicans are looking out for the cheap and stingy. We are cheap! Hardly an inspiring philosophy. Hardly a winning strategy.
Today’s Republicans are all to the left of FDR. Even when we win we lose.
Raise the voting age to 30 and the democrats would never win another election.
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