BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

There's at least one thing that Republicans do much better than Democrats, and that's marketing their initiatives. It doesn't matter how regressive the idea, Republicans manage to frame it in a way that if you oppose it you look like you're either degenerate, or at the very least, un-American. For example, instead of accurately calling themselves "The Order of Religious Bigots Dedicated to Shoving Our Version of God Down America's Throat," they market their insanity as "The Moral Majority," and instead of being honest and calling themselves "The Public Vagina Brigade," they call themselves "The Right to Life" proponents (even though they're willing to let that very same life starve to death after it's born). Conservatives get a lot of milage out of their creativity in this area, and progressives would do well to follow suit.

The initiative to legalize same-sex marriage would have been much more marketable, for example, if it had been dubbed "The Right to Love."  And the same is true of healthcare reform. Proponents of a public option for healthcare could make life a lot more difficult for opponents in congress if instead of calling it "The Public Option" they simply dubbed it "The Congressional Option" - that way the issue would be self-explanatory. It would force every member of congress who placed the interest of the insurance industry over the welfare of his or her constituents to explain why they want to deny the American people the opportunity to opt into the exact same plan that congress and their families enjoy.

But I only bring this issue up as an introduction to a much more serious problem - demagoguery. All of the public manipulation above is symptomatic of a system that's out of control. It's a clear example of how politicians who are suppose to represent the people, are using marketing and public manipulation to feather their own nests.

“This isn’t the party I planned but I sure like the company,” Hillary said as she opened her concession speech at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.

Speaking to the “18 million...from all walks of life,” who voted for her, Hillary congratulated and endorsed Barack Obama, stating:

"The way, the way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passions, our strengths and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama, the next president of the United States."

cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama

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With almost no votes counted (again) the race is called in North Carolina. Being skeptical of numbers from news, I recommend the Indiana Elections Site. Updated as Counties report, the list as of this minute (5:12 pm PT) is mostly empty.

Enjoy the count. I think I'll just wait for morning . . .

cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong

obama smiling during editorial meet of indianapolis star in indiana

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cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong

On Track For Change.....
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cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong

barack in south bend, in

Democratic Debate

cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong

senator bob casey (d-pa) endorses obama

Democratic Debate

cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama & One Million Strong

obama endorsed by gov. bill richardson in portland, or

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cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong

obama in fairless hills, pa, march 11, 2008

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cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong

obama enroute on jet, march 4, 2008

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Campaign Appearances

March 10, 2008 - Town Hall Meeting with Barack Obama, Columbus, MS

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cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama & One Million Strong

obama in austin, texas

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cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama & One Million Strong

obama at university of texas-pan american, edinburg, tx, with secret service in tow

Debates

February 26, 2008 - Cleveland State, Cleveland, OH - MSNBC

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cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong

10K, bangor, maine, february 10, 2008

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