posted by ginger baker
The big story in American electoral politics, at least ever since the late 60s, has been perception, or what Pat Buchanan has on occasion defined as "defining your opponent." And the GOP, with the complicity of mainstream medias, has always benefitted from evoking the images of 60's radicals and other angry malcontents, and the Park Avenue latte guzzers who sympathize for them. Not only does it work by putting the Dems on the defensive; it also works by making them appear disengaged. And why would they be disengaged? Either because they're idealists aloof from the realities of "real" Americans and realpolitik or (& this is wher ethey leave it up to the voters on Election Day) cuz deep down they don't care enough....there is something, shall we say, hypocritcal about them.
Obama has to start going on the offensive without changing his tune of "change" and "hope." He has to remain above the race baiting and liberal bashing that will surely continue to come his way. But neither can he appear to duck electoral realpolitik...he has to succeed better in defining the opponent and setting the agenda for political discussion, Stephanopulous and otherwise. Because if Hillary steals the Dem election, all hell is going to break loose...the Democratic Party's worst fucking nightmare.
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