Posted by
Patrick Henry on Friday, September 24, 2010 5:28:17 PM
With elections coming on like judgment day, the blather coming from the White
House and congressional Democrats more closely by the day resembles the cries
of those in the streets of Pamplona as the bulls are being released. In what they
are trying to pass off as a campaign, those on the left are simply confirming what
most Americans believe: they haven't a clue.
Their first ploy is best characterized as "rats off the sinking ship." From early
on in the campaign Democrats seeking re-election have sought to distance them-
selves from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the least popular politician in America,
and Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader. Some have even told President Obama
to stay away from their campaigning, or have refused to appear with him. Many
have purchased campaign advertising spots saying that they voted against the so-
called "Affordable Healthcare Act," the gigantic stimulus or TARP. Mind you
these are Democrats shunning their leadership and the centerpieces of Democratic
"accomplishment." They don't want to go down with the ship.
Another gambit has been "attack the straw man." Obama has used the tactic
to his advantage ever since his 2008 election campaign. This time, however, it
has colossally backfired. The straw man Obama went after was John Boehner,
House of Representatives Minority Leader. Boehner had challenged Obama on
taxation and spending, so Obama chose him as the whipping boy for his policy
speech in Cleveland, Ohio. The attack failed because very few know who Boehner
is. It's like Alex Rodriguez bad-mouthing a batting practice pitcher. It is difficult
not to wonder what someone is hiding when he chooses as an opponent someone
so far below his political pay grade to pick on. Voter response? Say what?
Next came yet another campaign to convince America to like the unpopular
healthcare bill. Americans don't understand the bill. Democrats moaned. It's just
that Obama is so smart and Americans aren;t smart enough to understand him,
they said. America's response? ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
A later tactic is to attack the Tea Party as radical and insane, and to paint
Republicans as Tea Party sympathizers (and thus al radical and insane). The
fundamental flaw in this diversion is that the Tea Party, in its own way, is
simply giving voice to what many Americans of all parties and no party at
all are feeling. Arguing that the Tea Party is insane is like teller voters they're
insane too. Not a very good idea if you want to court votes.
Most recently comes a transparent attempt to redirect Americans' anger
toward Wll Street and the big bad coroporate bogey men. It is surely they who
must be responsible for the 9.6% unemployment, tight credit and home fore-
closures, yada, yada, yada. Sme boring song, another boring verse.
Desperation is born of Democrats waiting too long to realize how much
trouble they're in. America said, "Don't pass the health bill." They did.
America said, "Think twice about the stimulus spending." They didn't. Most
favor a strict approach to immigration law enforcement and support Arizona
1070. Obama, instead, sued Arizona while his Department of Homeland
Security continues to plot how to release illegals already detained. America
wanted Obama concerned about and immediately involved in the Gulf oil
spill disaster. His response? Detachment, government interference with state
clean-up efforts and a job-crushing moratorium on offshore drilling that was,
in both of its iterations, rejected by the court. One would think that if a
government had set out intentionally to anger voters, they couldn't possibly
have done a better job. Now they know they've really stepped in it, and the
full-scale panic is reflected in their amateurish strategy and tactics.
Polls show Democrats doing poorly against Republican and Tea Party
opponents with just 40 days left until the election. No one can say what their
next ruse or misdirection will be. But I, for one, am learning to love the
sounds of pure panic.