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发帖数: 29846 | 1 'In Their Faces': Republicans Borrow Page from Obama's Book, Will Stage
Counter Convention in Charlotte
In 2008, an aggressive candidate Barack Obama told supporters to “argue
with them, get in their faces.” In 2012, Republicans are taking a page from
Obama’s book, holding a “counter-convention” outside the Democratic
National Convention at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC. While
Republican nominee Mitt Romney will be keeping a low profile all week, his
party is taking the fight straight to the gates of the opposition.
The “counter-convention” will feature GOP leaders--including Sen. Marco
Rubio (FL), Gov. Nikki Haley (SC), and Republican National Committee chair
Reince Priebus--among fifty Republican “communicators.” There will also be
zany, street-theater tactics--such as “You Build It” Legos and a NASCAR
race car emblazoned with the number “12.” (The picture above is from last
week's Republican convention in Tampa, FL and suggests some of what may be
in store.)
The Republican Party has never done anything like this before, and is
showing an ability to adapt both to the new media era and to the Alinskyite
“community organizing” tactics of Obama himself. Amidst the fun and
fanfare, the counter-conventioneers will push a pointed message, asking
Democrats and Americans in general whether they feel they are better off
than they were four years ago--a key question in re-election campaigns.
Democrats had planned similar tactics at the Republican National Convention.
Vice President Joe Biden, for example, was to have addressed a rally in
Tampa on the first day of the RNC, but the event was canceled (as was the
first day of the convention) due to concerns about the possible impact of
what was then Tropical Storm Isaac. Later, Democratic National Committee
chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz turned up, together with Rep. Jan Schakowsky
(IL) and DNC speaker/contraception activist Sandra Fluke.
Wasserman Schultz and her colleagues, however, showed little stomach for
debate or confrontation, and sought out friendly liberal or mainstream media
outlets. Their goal was evidently to send a message of strength to their
core supporters, not to challenge Republicans for the attention and trust of
independent voters watching the convention.
The deadlocked race for the presidency in 2012 is fast becoming a test of
wills. Obama has crossed new red lines in American politics with his
negative tactics against “felon” Mitt Romney. Romney has been criticized
by his own side for being slow to respond--but the counter-convention is a
sign that the gloves are off and the fight has only just begun. |
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