Reply #19: Just a few general thoughts about 2008 strategy

[WildEyedLiberal]

I agree with whometense, karynnj, and beachmom, especially with whometense on the idea that the media will be our biggest problem. However - this is JMHO - I think the most crucial task for JK now is to construct his own narrative. He tried to do this in 2004, but the media, by giving credence to the Swiftboat liars, derailed Kerry's chosen narrative and instead promoted the Beltway insider/aloof/effeminiate meme through participation both active - (pundit snark) - and inactive - refusal to rebut obvious Republican lies. The cumulative effect took a major toll, and IMO made the election closer than it should have been - close enough to Diebold/disenfranchise/supress voter turnout.

However, what the media did not realize is that they inadvertently handed Kerry the script for one of the greatest literary narratives of all human history - the avenged hero narrative.

Why am I obsessing about the word "narrative"? Because I think, fundamentally, the media views itself not as an impartial news outlet, but as a storyteller. Just witness media coverage of any event from a sports competition to an election. The media thrives on creating narratives and storylines for the actors in any given situation, to turn current events into an elaborate real-life stage drama. At the Olympics, more time is spent telling dramatic and touching stories of athletes who overcame obstacles to make it to the top than is spent actually showing the sports themselves. The same is, in a way, true of even elections. Assigning a particular literary stereotype to a real life person enables the media to create a narrative without having to get into the arduous and often contradictory factual details of a person's life. Thus Bush, in 2000, became the "prodigal son" - the hard partyin' rich ne'er-do-well who found God and a sense of purpose in midlife. In 2004, they employed the Wild West John Wayne narrative for Bush - he was the tough, vigilante enforcer of frontier justice not afraid to break the laws in order to do "what's right".

It is obvious to a lot of people that what happened to JK in 2004 - the Swift Boat liars, etc - was wrong and cowardly. By basing their villainy on such obviously untrue and dishonorable tactics, the GOP and the enabling media have given JK the opportunity to assume the mantle of one of the most compelling literary narratives of all - the wronged hero. It's a classic narrative that has formed the basis for some of the greatest works of literature and drama in the English language - the good and honest hero, who believes in the decency of mankind, is done a terrible injustice by an evil villain. Hero is cast out/abandoned/framed for a crime/otherwise incapacitated, and villain assumes control. However, hero is made of sterner stuff, and - after a period of soul-searching/recovery - returns to confront the villain again, this time armed with not only goodness but the righteous anger of an avenger. Villainy cannot stand in the face of the indestructable force of justice, and the hero prevails. This narrative is one of the most popular literary narratives of all time because it is also one of the most compelling. Everyone loves the story of the underdog, the avenger, the phoenix rising from the ashes. And the terrible and unprecedented Swiftboating of John Kerry - a man who all but the most incalcitrant and dishonest freepers acknowledge is a war hero and an honorable man - dropped this narrative right into JK's hands.

I'm not generally speaking a big fan of the "framing" craze that's come over the left, but in this case, I think taking control of this narrative early and using it to our advantage can be one of the biggest boon's for JK's candidacy. We should couch all our defenses and testimonials for Kerry in the context of this frame - especially when responding to the people who are disappointed/let down/angry about 2004. Kerry is certainly not the first good and honorable man to be struck down by a cowardly foe using dishonorable tactics on the field of battle, and rather than be angry with him for suffering the treachery of villainy, people should see that, rather than lay down and die, he has gotten up, dusted himself off, learned a lesson from his wounds, and returned to fight again - this time, to settle the score. This time, fully aware of the evil they are capable of. This time, to avenge himself - and the country - and assume the rightful place that was denied him by the treacherous deceit of a craven foe.