The Power of Passive Campaigning - Political Fever

Lumara · #1 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 10:10 PM

I thought this article brought up some thought-provoking points and interesting, if not sometimes entertaining, analogies. But isn't what the author refers to as passive campaigning actually the lack of negative campaigning?

Quote:

The Power of Passive Campaigning

by Stanley Fish

In the aftermath of the 2000 and 2004 elections, the post-mortem verdict was that the Republicans had run a better campaign. They knew how to seize or manufacture an issue. They were able to master the dynamics of negative advertising. They kept on message. Now, when many print and TV commentators are predicting if not assuming an Obama victory, the conventional wisdom is that this time the Democrats have run a better campaign.

When did the Democrats smarten up? When did they learn how to outdo the Republicans at their own game?

The answer is that they didn’t. They decided — or rather Obama decided — to play another game, one we haven’t seen for a while, and it’s a question as to whether we’ve ever seen it. The name of this game is straightforward campaigning, or rather straightforward non-campaigning.

We saw it in the 10 days when the activity around the mounting economic crisis was at its height. Henry Paulson alternated between scaring members of Congress and scaring the public. Nancy Pelosi alternated between playing the responsible Congressional statesperson and playing the partisan attack dog. Media commentators went from one hysterical prediction to another. John McCain went from saying there’s nothing to worry about to saying there’s everything to worry about to saying that he would fix everything by suspending his campaign to saying that he was not suspending his campaign and that he would debate after all.

And Barack Obama? He didn’t do much and he said less (O.K., he did say some reassuring, optimistic things), and his poll numbers went up.

Weeks later, the pattern continues, but in an even more intense form. The McCain campaign huffs and puffs and jumps from charge to charge: Obama consorts with terrorists; he’s a socialist; he’s a communist; he is un-American; he’s not one of us; he’s a celebrity; he’s going to take your money and give it to people who never did a day’s work; he’s going to sell out Israel; he’ll cozy up to foreign dictators; he’s measuring the drapes.

In response, Obama explains his tax policy for the umpteenth time, points out that capitalists like Warren Buffet support him, details his relationship with Bill Ayers, lists those he consults with, observes that Senator McCain, by his own boast, voted with President George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, and calls for change.

What he (or his campaign) doesn’t do is bring up the Keating Five, or make veiled references to McCain’s treatment of his first wife, or make fun of Sarah Palin (she doesn’t need any help), or disparage his opponent’s experience, or hint at the disabilities of age. He just stands there looking languid (George Will called him the Fred Astaire of politics), always smiling and never raising his voice.

You can read the rest, including the funny (IMO) analogies at The Power of Passive Campaigning - Stanley Fish Blog - NYTimes.com

Zephyr · #2 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 10:19 PM

Yes, the Democrats have performed much better this time around. The Republicans are, once again, selling their souls to try to win, and this time it really looks like the American people are tired of it. Even if I disagreed with McCain on practically every issue, the manner of his campaign would have turned me away from him by now. He and Palin are being straight up assholes to Obama who is staying on the high road and running a (pretty much) clean, positive campaign.

I'm still very nervous about the election, however. I don't know what I will do if McCain and Palin win, and I do think it would a disaster perhaps unparalleled in the nations history.

golfnut · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zephyr

Yes, the Democrats have performed much better this time around. The Republicans are, once again, selling their souls to try to win, and this time it really looks like the American people are tired of it. Even if I disagreed with McCain on practically every issue, the manner of his campaign would have turned me away from him by now. He and Palin are being straight up assholes to Obama who is staying on the high road and running a (pretty much) clean, positive campaign.

I'm still very nervous about the election, however. I don't know what I will do if McCain and Palin win, and I do think it would a disaster perhaps unparalleled in the nations history.

Politics are indeed an unexact science that is driven by many different factors within party supporters.Case in point: There are numerous people that would and have expressed that exact sentiment but transposed the candidates.

What's ironic about all of it in the conclusion of the election process,despite all of the partisan posturing, is that noone can be certain as to how either will actually play out.

I for one would welcome a more unified mindset amongst our Nations citizens in the future where more important things can be focussed on................................................ ....................Like golf.

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