Posted by
AuVox on Thursday, December 18, 2008 12:04:03 PM
Bernard Chapin has a terrific piece; he recommends that Conservatives rally around a simple message:
"Give the people their money back". He's dead-on: Conservatives need to condense their messages into what people can remember and understand. And--most importantly--what will
resonate.
But I'd recommend changing "Give the people their money back" to "Hey, it's YOUR money."
His line tells the individual that government should act for the good of everyone (else). My line talks directly to the voter. And what the hey... it's also more youth oriented, with a little Dennis Leary influence there
While the idea of giving us ALL more of our money back is good, just, and charitable, people with those values are already Conservative.
We need to speak to the 20% of undecideds that sway elections, and they vote largely in their own best interests.
Hugh Hewitt had a good idea a cycle or so back, where he broke his suggested Republican talking-points down to a few words:
1) Win the war.
2) Cut the taxes.
3) Control the spending.
4) Confirm the judges.
5) Secure the border.
Nobody running for office listened to him, of course; and we got our butts whipped.
The messages we promote need the short, concise, memorable effect of the above five slogans. We're talking to people who get bored by commercials that last :15 seconds. So far, Lefties have been far more effective with their slogans--"tax cuts for the rich" is an example. Total horse-puckie, of course, but the Democrats don't care because it works.
Our principles, of course, have the added advantage of being good for America.