Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Exploiting your dislike of arrogance

ABC News is reporting Karl Rove's latest advice to fellow Republicans on how to attack Barack Obama

ABC News' Christianne Klein reports that at a breakfast with Republican insiders at the Capitol Hill Club this morning, former White House senior aide Karl Rove referred to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, as "coolly arrogant."

"Even if you never met him, you know this guy," Rove said, per Christianne Klein. "He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by." Read the entire article.

I think this quote epitomizes the Bush Administration's attitude toward truth. Karl Rove is not claiming that Barack Obama actually has ever even been at a country club with a beautiful date (presumably other than his wife) holding a martini and making snide comments. It makes no difference to Karl Rove that of all the current male U.S. Senators Barack Obama is among the least likely to have ever been seen doing that. He has no interest in the reality of who or what Barack Obama is. He is talking about mental images and emotions that can be successfully implanted in listener's minds by the use of carefully chosen phrases, exploiting their insecurities and fears.

Charles Gibson of ABC referred last week to a political campaign as a "level playing field of ideas and personality." The assumption is that the voters make their choice based on the actual ideas, policy proposal and personalities of the candidates. In Karl Rove's world the reality of the candidate's ideas and personality have been replaced with marketing slogans and images created by professional, highly paid consultants.

When you hear Barack Obama being referred to as arrogant and elitist it is not just Obama who is being unfairly attacked. They are attacking you -- your emotions and susceptibility to manipulation. How arrogant is that?

1 comment:

JoeBama "Truth 101" Kelly said...

I never met anyone from Kansas that wasn't arrogant and elitist, except Bob Dole.