Republicans: Let’s make our New Year’s Resolution early, shall we? Say it with me: This year, I will not give my attention away to those who so desperately crave it.
To my Dem friends: Prepare yourselves now. You’ll thank me later.
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Anyone thinking of running for office in 2008, or thinking of working for someone running for office in 2008, should read this excellent post. The author isn’t focused on political messages, but his rules still apply to candidates and campaigns.
Those of you who sent me spam-sounding/cut-and-paste “pitches” this election cycle should drop to your knees, pray to the god of clueless corny candidates and thank her that I haven’t made fun of you. Yet.
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With today’s announcement, this disclosure statement will become a permanent link on the right-hand side of this page.
Disclosure: In November 2006, I began working for The Vandiver Group, Inc. (TVG) which represents clients in both the public and private sectors. Occasionally, news articles on johncombest.com and opinions on johncombestblog.com may contain references to TVG clients, client industries or market segments. Such references are not authorized by TVG, nor do they necessarily represent the views of TVG or their clients.
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I’m writing a column for the Arch City Chronicle about the Republican Party’s attempt, or lack thereof, to mobilize black voters for the GOP cause. In the coming weeks, I’ll be brainstorming ideas and thinking out loud on this blog.
Disclaimer to my Republican friends: I know, I know: we shouldn’t have to change our message to appeal to a certain demographic, our agenda is one of empowerment and hope for all people, the power of our ideas should inspire African-Americans to give up their time for free, blah blah blah.
OK, now back to reality. Watch the following video. It’s 38 seconds long, and speaks volumes (seriously — turn up the sound) about the Democrats’ operation.
Antonio French reported on his blog that some of the people in line thought they were going to be paid $250 for the day; others thought they were going to be paid $300. Some thought the pay was $9 per hour.
For the sake of simplicity, let’s say the average person who showed up to work on Election Day thought they would get paid somewhere in the middle of the two extremes: we’ll call it $200.
Now, imagine for a minute that this same crowd was lined up outside Republican headquarters.
First, imagine the reaction of Republican staff. I think it’s safe to say that most of the young field staff, interns, and full-time volunteers come from affluent (or at least middle-class) families somewhere in the suburbs. How do you think those kids — universally overworked and underpaid — would feel about the activists-for-a-day getting paid $200 for a day’s work?
Second, imagine the reaction of hardcore Republican volunteers — the people who give their time and effort to make phone calls every day at the campaign office or go door-to-door on weekends. How do you think they would react to seeing tens of thousands of dollars being paid to hired help?
So far, my working thesis for the column is that “cultural” (read: racial) and institutional factors will prevent Republicans from ever making street money part of their GOTV playbook. True?
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