GOP seeks to win with anti-Pelosi strategy

[Judi Lynn]

Source: McClatchy

GOP seeks to win with anti-Pelosi strategy
By Rob Hotakainen, McClatchy Newspapers Rob Hotakainen, Mcclatchy Newspapers – 1 hr 32 mins ago
WASHINGTON — If all politics are local, don't tell that to Jimmy Higdon .

Higdon, a Republican from Kentucky , won a state Senate seat in December in a largely Democratic district with an unlikely strategy: He nationalized his race, warning of one-party rule by featuring Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's pictures in his television advertisements and campaign literature. Higdon, who was outspent by a 4-to-1 margin in the race, is happy that she's so unpopular.

"It worked for me. ... And I'm really happy that I had a good team that recognized that," he said. "Because that's not something I would have dreamed up."

Expect the Republican Party to replicate the strategy in races around the country this year.

"The strategists will try to make her the lightning rod who represents all that is wrong in Washington ," said Jeffrey McCall , a media studies professor at DePauw University in Indiana .


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100221/pl_mcclatchy/3431465

[rfranklin]

1. Isn't Knetucky solidly Republican anyway?

I think this strategy only works where Democrats are already at a disadvantage.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Yes, it is

Higdon probably would have won anyway, so latching onto criticism of Nancy Pelosi as a reason for the win may be a false assumption. Let the repugs continue tilting at windmills, as I haven't encountered much in the way of anger directed at Ms. Pelosi personally. Goopers in Ohio have been attempting to demonize my rep in Congress, Zack Space, for several months now - portraying him literally as a puppet of Ms. Pelosi in print, on radio & on billboards. It doesn't seem to have resonated among the people I've questioned about it, however.

[mwb970]

3. Pelosi doesn't make a very good demon for the wingnuts.

Most Americans have never heard of her, and she hasn't really done anything spectacular for good or ill. They're better off going after Olbermann. Of course, he's not part of the government, but then neither are most of the republican "leaders".

[pattmarty]

5. I disagree. Because of the "liberal" media, most have at least..............

............heard the Pelosi name and probably know what she looks like. Fox has been the major culprit in this. They won't go after Olbermann because they don't want to elevate him more than he is already AND most importantly he fucking FIGHTS BACK.

[mwb970]

7. You're probably right.

I should have said that most Americans don't know anything true about her. Lots of them do know the Fox spew about how she is an anti-American socialist fascist, or whatever she is supposed to be.

[bc3000]

16. I agree

One of my favorite questions to ask right wingers is "Why don't you like Nancy Pelosi?" It always throws them. They know they hate her, but they never seem to have any reasons for it. If you know any right wingers that have a little bit of sense left under the layers of propaganda, you can see the brief look of confusion pass over their face as they realize they hate someone but have absolutely no idea why.

[pattmarty]

17. But, you missed the point. They don't fucking care. They were...........

.............told (by Fox) that she's bad AND a Democrat, that is all they need. I mean, think about it, they are all (most of them) fucking idiots.

[roseBudd]

20. The don't need reasons, they have been taught to salivate at "pelosi, frank, reid'

They were also told that Pelosi put earmarks into the recovery act for a mouse.

A lie of course, but dittos always believe what they are told

[jmowreader]

31. Earmarks for a MOUSE? Come on.

If you pinned the fuckers down, they'd probably show you something about reconstruction work on I-4--which connects Daytona to Tampa through Orlando. "See? They're making it easier for people to see Mickey Mouse!"

[pattmarty]

4. No, what is the MAIN thing that is "working" for the Republicans...........

.....is the Dems incompetence. I mean really, what have they done in the last year? One thing they did do was truly fuckup healthcare "reform". I am not advocating it, but they DESERVE to be thrown out in November. As one of ONLY two parties in the country, the Dems are really pathetic. The Republicans are ruining the country, but at least they get ALL of their destructive legislation passed (with the help of Dems!!!).

[RBInMaine]

11. First, you are ignorant. Second, you are virtually breaking the site rules with your Dem bashing.

I will agree they have not done enough and have not smashed the RePUKES and have not messaged well enough, but Dems also have a far more diverse caucus. They do need to get tougher and clearer. But, to say they have done nothing is very ignorant bordering on stupid. They have done the stimulus, SCHIP, Lilly Leadbetter Law, New Credit Card Rules, have come closer than anyone on healthcare, and on and on and on. It has only been a year, and only a very numb person would expect miraculous perfection. The House has passed over 200 bills. The trouble is the Senate, and Reid says he has finally found his nads and will go reconciliation. But don't say nothing at all has been done, and save your outright Dem bashing for your friends at Freepland.

[pattmarty]

14. Well, talk about the pot and kettle. Since I don't want to get.................

..........."deleted" I'll be nice. I've been a bad boy "breaking" rules and such, AND called ignorant on top of it. If you think the Dems have done "things" in the last year, you either are blind or stupid probably both. Jesusfuckingchrist, Reagan passed shit (with dumb Dem help), look at all the shit W passed (with Dem help) and Obama WON'T even get off his ass to threaten/cajole his Party to get anything of consequence done. Sure a few "crumbs", but nothing (yet) of real substance. And, you CALLING ME a "Freeper". If being "liberal/progressive" is what has been done so far, I think you better think of calling yourself a conservative, because his agenda so far has been very cautious (conservative). You want a real Liberal, try educating yourself with the likes of FDR, Truman, LBJ, Nader, Sanders, Wellstone, Kucinich and get back to me.

[RBInMaine]

27. Apparently you are both ignorant and can't read.

First, I agreed that Obama/Dems do need to be tougher and clearer. They need to message better, and they need to quit trying to work with the RePUKES on major policy issues. That's futile. But if you did just a tiny bit of research, you could find all of the policies that HAVE been enacted through legislation, executive order, and foreign policy initiatives. I will agree Obama/Dems need to message these accomplishments better. But your premise is that "nothing" has been done, and that simply is not the case. Like so many Americans who wanted instant gratification and an instant end to the recession, you seem to not be "feeling" change, but a number of changes have indeed occurred, the first being action to dramatically slow the economic bleeding. Ignorant citizens need to get out of their numbness and realize that this recession was almost the second great depression and it will take a while to really get the recovery moving, but it is moving. If you are not happy with the Dems, then get organized and see if you can get the "progressives" to make at least half the showing the TeaIdiots do. Show me you can start a third party that can turn red districts deep blue. Go ahead. Make people "see the light." It is YOUR responsibility as much as anyone's if you aren't happy. People on the far left do an awful lot of bitching and, in too many cases, so little organizing. When the going gets tough, they bitch and then sit on their butts and don't even vote. If there is so much far left anger, where is the million-progressives-march on Washington???? Hell, I'd join them. But where is the leadership? Is there anything at all aside from bitching? The Dems have their problems, and, as said, I have my dissatisfactions too, but I don't ignore the facts and I don't incessently bitch and bash. I am involved in my local Dem party bigtime, and I act.

[pattmarty]

33. Apparently to conservidems like you. It only took a whole fucking.......

.......year for Obama to "explain" what HE wants in a healthcare bill. And, that's if he actually does explain it this week. I ran for office as a Green in 2004 so don't give me your bullshit. What the Democratic Party once stood for once under FDR & LBJ it does not anymore. Furthermore it doesn't even try to reach working class people anymore, hence my calling them incompetent. Since you're involved "in my local Dem party bigtime" you are part of the fucking problem. Go back now and re-bury your head in the sand.

[Cha]

32. +1

[TheWraith]

12. Uh, they couldn't pass healthcare because of REPUBLICANS...

And two or three Dem bedwetters. So you think that the Repubs deserve to be rewarded for stonewalling by having the chamber back?

[pattmarty]

15. Did you even read my post? Why EXACTLY do you think the Dems..................

...............lost in Mass? It's because they ain't doing a god damn thing, that's why. Voters wanted change, all WE got was status quo. Can you blame uninformed/uneducated voters for "voting the bums out"? Obama is a nice suit that is intelligent and gives really cool speeches and so far that's all. What we needed was an FDR, what we got is a black Clinton.

[AlbertCat]

18. One thing they did do was truly fuckup healthcare "reform".

That's ONE thing. (which isn't over yet)

We need more one issue voters to throw out all those Dems who only did one thing!



Cheesus! :eyes:

[pattmarty]

24. Okay, let me re-phrase, "did not do shit in one year with large majorities........

.......in both houses". How's that?

[roseBudd]

21. yeah, throw out dems in nov, get repugs, good times! sarcasm off

[yava]

28. yes Dems have to deliver big before November

and make their adversaries look obstructionist, otherwise...

[tanyev]

6. And the majority of American voters respond, "Who?"

[husky92]

8. Pelosi?

It is probably smart on their part to blame Pelosi, but what the hell has she done. Honestly. Sure, she's the Speaker of the House, but has she rammed through any questionable bills? Hell, has anyone rammed through bills of any type that has caused us egregious harm. Nothing has happened in Congress. It's a logjam and they blame Pelosi? I guess someone has to be the whipping boy (or girl in this case), but come on. I guess all the righty pundits have been on her rear end since she took the job and it's a never ending string of lies. Knowing how dumb so many righties are, they've taken hook, line and sinker. I guess they all forgot about Denny Hastert!

[Demeter]

9. Well, They Won't Go After Harry Reid

After all, like calls to like. They protect the white male idiots.

[skyounkin]

10. Yeah, Pelosi is the only one acting

out of her Reid and Obama like they won the majority back in Nov.

This will fail- she has done alot to keep her side of the house in order.

[NecklyTyler]

13. Republicans are the party of hate and lies running on a platform of hate and lies

It truly is a one party system when the opposition party makes no contributions. The Republicans only know how to oppose legalization

[SlingBlade]

19. Bi-Partisanship is their most effective weapon

[Jennicut]

22. Why not go after the far more spineless Reid? Oh right, he actually helps their agenda.

Nancy has been doing her job.

[Bluesbreaker]

23. It may not be a great strategy

But at least the GOP has a strategy. Dems need to get a strategy, too, instead of playing on a tactical level (i.e., talking about the relative merits of any issue or the features of a bill). The Democrats have to put what they're doing into an overarching context, like saving the middle class.

[Stargleamer]

25. Conservatives don't have an ideology anymore

they have a playbook, in which lies and distortions are frequently used tactics.

[DallasNE]

26. This Could Just As Easily Backfire

Pelosi has done a much better job in getting measures through the House than Denny Hassert ever did. Republicans also run the risk of coming across as sexist and there are more women voters than there are men. Pelosi has delivered Obama's agenda in the House so the problem lies with Reid in the Senate.

[alfredo]

29. fight back by asking why do Republican always make women the enemy.

[Enrique]

30. you mean the same strategy they use every election?

:wow:

[Arkana]

34. Yeah, this is a real winning strategy.

[deacon]

35. The GOP is anti everything. 6 more months of "No" and they will get creamed in november. n/t