Posted on 01/25/2010 4:20:41 AM PST by Sub-Driver
Democrats' Bush-bashing strategy goes bust
By: Jonathan Martin January 25, 2010 05:07 AM EST
After three consecutive losses in statewide races, some top Democrats are questioning a tactic aimed at boosting the partys candidates in each of those contests: Bush-bashing.
Running as much against the Bush White House as he was running against Sen. John McCain, Barack Obama easily carried Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts in 2008.
Yet when Democratic nominees for governor in Virginia and New Jersey and for Senate in Massachusetts sought to tie their GOP opponents to the still-unpopular former president, the strategy didnt resonate. Voters were more focused on the current administration or local political issues and the onetime Democratic magic formula seemed yesterdays news.
Voters are pretty tired of the blame game, said longtime Democratic strategist Steve Hildebrand, a top aide on Obamas presidential campaign. What a stupid strategy that was.
Howard Wolfson, a senior official on Hillary Clintons campaign and veteran Democratic communications guru, noted that his party was able to run against Republican Herbert Hoovers Depression-era presidency for 30 years.
That doesnt seem to be the case here, he said.
Another well-respected Democratic consultant put it simply: Need a new game plan!
Having so effectively lashed GOP candidates to President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in their successful 2006 and 2008 cycles, and seeing the Republicans still-dismal approval ratings, some in the party arent quite ready to turn over a new political leaf.
But following their recent defeats, there seems to be consensus now in the Democratic consulting community that candidates cant simply insert grainy footage of the former president into a commercial or say their rivals will support Bush policies and hope voters will respond.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
If Obama had not bankrupted the nation, the meme may have had some legs.
But when Change=Worse, that dog just don’t hunt.
The “grainy footage of Bush and Cheney” can be trumped with HD clips of Obama’s trainwreck. Not a good battle for the the Dems.
“Howard Wolfson, a senior official on Hillary Clintons campaign and veteran Democratic communications guru, noted that his party was able to run against Republican Herbert Hoovers Depression-era presidency for 30 years. “
Little Orphan Annie helped their cause, LOL!
Shhhhh!
Don’t tell them that.
Hey, Democrats, the “Bush/Cheney/Haliburton is Hitler” meme is very, very good strategy. Just use it again in November, ok?
This guy still hasn’t figured it out. Good!:
“Obama Senior Aide Axelrod Still Blames Bush for Current Voter Anger and Economic “disaster””
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2436637/posts
Better send an e-mail to Carville, Steve. He just wrote a piece demanding more of the blame game!
I have to give Bush credit; the man has stayed out of the public eye for over a year. I love how Cheney is the attack dog. We need more Cheneys.
Wait until the Democrats see grainy footage of their candidates morphing into Pelosi, Reid and Obama. We’ll see what works come November...
That was because their friends in the media controlled information to the public. You can not have an informed voter if they are being lied to.
Those days are over. The truth now has a way around the gatekeepers at the New York time and the once mighty three major networks.
Here’s what carville thinks, if you’ve got the stomach to read it. I only read part, because my guts started churnin’!
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5d87e54e-0925-11df-ba88-00144feabdc0.html
Isn’t it obvious? BUSH is making them pursue this strategerie. :)
You know, through the evenhanded reporting on politics by the media.
Mark
Yes, I know that was a Saturday Night Live sketch, but if the media can do it to Governor Palin, I'm going to do it to PrezBO!
The tear-stained Dem political consultants pine for the days when FDR was mainlined into the voters' consciousness.
How very sad for them.
You have the purity of your idealogy to support you. You are the One, after all and you won...don't change your tactics...just keep blaming Bush!
Ignore the results of Virginia, New Jersey and Mass...they were just angry at Bush!
I just posted this on another thread:
This team has been nothing but propaganda artists from day one. Its all they know. They cannot govern, they cannot deliver on their promises, all they know how to do is write and give great speeches.
So they will continue to use rhetoric that has worked for them this far until it doesnt work any more. Then they will move on to something different and see if that works.
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