Kirk Muse: In a presidential race, learn from your enemies

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Kirk Muse

The Republican Party would be a small minority party if they only garnered votes from those who benefit from their policies. That's probably about 3 percent of the voters.

If John McCain wins in November, it will not because most voters like or trust him, but rather because he has convinced voters to not trust Barack Obama. He is using the Republican strategy of attack, attack, and attack more. And it is working.

The voters in 1988 did not vote for George H. W. Bush -- they voted against Michael Dukakis. The Willie Horton ads and the revolving door ads were very effective. Not based upon the truth, but very effective.

Voters in 2004 did not vote to re-elect George W. Bush -- they voted against John Kerry. The "Swift Boat" ads were very effective. Not based upon the truth, but very effective.

The strategy of attack, attack, and attack some more is very effective, especially if it comes from an organization not directly associated with the candidate or his or her campaign. Like the so-called "Swift Boat Veterans."

Many people have said and written that Republicans have better bumper stickers than Democrats. That may be true in the past but it should not be true this year. Pro-Obama supporters need to give the swing voters compelling and emotional reasons to vote against John McCain. And put those reasons on a bumper sticker.

The swing voters who will decide the presidential election of 2008 are not reading this article. They don't blog and they don't visit political Web sites.

And they don't read newspaper editorials, op-ed pieces, columns, or letters to the editor. They make their voting decisions from television ads and by reading bumper stickers. Yes, bumper stickers. And negative bumper stickers are 10 times more effective than positive ones.

Of course, television ads are also very persuasive, if and when they go negative against their opponent. Positive television ads and bumper stickers are almost useless.

Lee Atwater, the late mastermind of George H.W. Bush's presidential campaign was asked how he would campaign against George H.W. Bush.

Atwater indicated he would emphasize Bush's pedigree. In other words, capitalize on the working class resentment against those born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Like George H.W. Bush. And I'd like to add, George W. Bush and John S. McCain III.

Class warfare is very real. The Republicans are doing everything they can to effectively destroy the middle class, and they are succeeding. And the Democrats had better use this issue to their advantage or else watch McCain win the White House.

Obama supporters need to let the swing voters know that the reason McCain is who he is and where he is, is because of who his father and grandfather were and who he married. As the son and grandson of four-star U. S. Navy admirals, John McCain was very privileged. He attended a private prep school.

Even though John McCain was a very poor student, he was admitted to the U. S. Naval Academy. Even though McCain was a very poor student at the Academy, he graduated -- fifth from the bottom of his class of 899 cadets.

Even though John McCain had a very poor academic record, he was admitted to the Navy flight school. Even though John McCain crashed and destroyed three naval aircraft and it was clearly his fault, he was not grounded because his father was a four-star Admiral.

Even though John McCain was still legally married to his first wife Carol, he applied for a marriage license to marry his second wife Cindy Hensley and they were married five weeks after his divorce from Carol.

Cindy Hensley, who is now Cindy McCain, is the sole heiress to a beer industry distributorship. Cindy McCain has a net worth of greater than $100 million. John and Cindy McCain own eight private homes. Most of them are worth several million dollars each.

How many of your friends own more than two non-rental homes? Probably none. How many of you or your friends wear $520 shoes? John McCain does. McCain's favorite shoes are a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo "Pregiato Moccasins." What do $520 shoes do that $75 shoes won't do? Like most of the readers, I've never worn or even tried on a pair of $500 shoes.

How many of you and your friends own a private jet airplane like John and Cindy McCain? Probably none.

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

Kirk Muse
Mesa, AZ

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