Rep. Tiahrt definitely has the right idea. But Republicans tend to get bogged down in the details and forget to do the marketing. That’s fine for people like us who have been following this, but we don’t need convincing. And the Dems are too good as painting us as mean when we try to stop them.
In the meantime we also need to focus on those who occasionally tune in & just want their free stuff & can’t be bothered with the horrible details in this bill or how it’s funded. We only have a few seconds at a time to reach these folks, so there’s no point in talking about the trillions it will cost or cooked CBO numbers.
Rather, Republicans need to hit hard with things that reach these people directly, such as taxing now & getting the free stuff much later or the cost of student loans going up by $1500-$1700 a year or IRS enforcement.
Another is to stress the congressional exemption of these exchanges. This is particularly important because those looking for the free goodies believe in fairness, which always translates into spreading the misery equally.
Certainly keep the lawsuits going, and definitely defund. But while Obama is running around peddling utopia, Republicans need to identify their targets and keep it simple for the public.
Dems realized long ago that it’s easier to feel than it is to think. Republicans need to market to the “feeling” group & make them feel very bad about what’s coming their way while constantly working behind the scenes to tear this thing apart.
Market it? (I agree with you):
The marketing message, in much nicer words, is:
“if you are a senior or baby boomer - the rest of your life is eff’ed and it will be absolute s**t but you have one last chance in November 2010.”
Think Russia after the fall of the USSR with millions begging and sleeping in the subways. I saw videos and photos and it was heartbreaking.
And if the GOP wins the House (they have to) - they HAVE to DEFUND it. The GOP has been given a gift but they MUST fight for America and they & we must purge the RINOs.
Speaking of marketing conservatism, here's a great PJTV video about that very subject from Bill Whittle.
All good ideas.
I also think somebody for the tea party needs to step up and demand proof of these so-called racial epithets last weekend and these so-called death threats. If something isn’t done to put them in check, they will use this over and over to completely smear pubs and independents indeifnitely to or through the election.
How about defund Congress?