the art of political war for tea parties - by david horowitz _ frontpage mag

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THE ART OF POLITICAL WAR FOR TEAPARTIES - BY DAVID HOROWITZHow to stop the Obama machine's socialist assault on America.November30,2009 DavidHorowitz(/author/davidhorowitz)

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AspecterishauntingAmericathespecterofapeoplerising.AllacrossthenationAmericansarewakinguptothethreatofaleftistelitedeterminedtofundamentallychangeAmerica,pushthroughasocialistagenda,andmakeeverycitizendependentonthestate.TheObamamachineisspendingtrillionsoftaxpayerdollarstofinancetheirtakeoveroftheAmericanworkplaceandstifletheindependenceoftheAmericanpeople.ButAmericaisresilientnation,builtontheprinciplesofprivatepropertyandindividualfreedom,andtheresistancetotheirsocialistplanshasalreadybegun.

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InMay2009,justfivemonthsintotheObamaadministration,thepeopleofCalifornialaunchedataxrevoltinthebiggestspendingstateinthenation.SorecklessweretheleftistDemocratswhorunCalifornia(andhavedonesoforaslongasanyonecanremember)thatitsdeficitalonewaslargerthanthebudgetsofmostotherstatesintheUnionandofmanyofthenationsoftheworld.Leftwingpoliticiansdontcutbudgetstheyproposenewtaxes.AndCaliforniasleftwinglegislaturedidjustthat.ButthankstoaconstitutionalamendmentputinplacebytheCaliforniaelectoratethroughthestateInitiativeprocess,Californialegislatorscantraisetaxeswithoutatwothirdsreferendumofthepeople.SotheywereforcedtoholdaspecialelectioninMaytoappealtotheelectoratetopassfivenewballotInitiativestoraisetaxes.

Butwhenthevoteswerecounted,allfivetaxraisingInitiativeshadbeendefeatedby60%margins.EveninSanFrancisco.AsixthInitiativedesignedbytaxopponentstopunishlegislatorswhodonotbalancethebudgetpassedbyamorethan70%margin.EveninSanFrancisco.IfoneofthemostliberalstatesintheUnionissayingnotothesoakthepublicphilosophyofleftwinglegislators,Obamasocialismisinbigtrouble.

TherevoltinCaliforniaquicklyspreadtotheentirenationthroughtheeffortsoftheTeaPartiesmovement,themostinnovative,excitingandpowerfulgrassrootsforceinthehistoryofAmericanconservatism.ItisvitaltothehealthofthiscountrythattheTeaPartiesmovementgrow.Moretothepoint:itisessentialtoAmericansurvivalthattheTeaPartiesmovementsucceed.Ontheeveofthe2008presidentialelection,BarackObamasaidWearefivedaysawayfromfundamentallytransformingAmerica.TheTeaPartiesmovementistheAmericanpeoplesayingnotoObamasplansforrevolution.

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Amovementwithoutaneffectivestrategyfordefeatingitsopponentscannotsucceed.Thereforeitisimportanttoreacquaintourselveswiththeartofpoliticalwar.

WhileDemocratsaremorallybankruptandcluelessaboutpolicyaboutwhatmakesthingsworktheystillwinelectionsbecausetheyunderstandasimplefact:Americanpoliticsisdrivenbytheromanceoftheunderdog,thestoryofthelittleguywhogoesupagainstthesystemandtriumphsintheend.Itisastoryaboutopportunityandfairness.TowintheheartsandmindsoftheAmericanvoter,youhavetotaptheemotionstheromanceoftheunderdogevokes.Whoeverdoessohasawinningedge.

Americasheroesareallcuttothiscommonmold.WhetheritisGeorgeWashington,AbrahamLincoln,DavyCrockett,ThomasEdison,HenryFord,AmeliaEarhart,JackieRobinson,RonaldReaganorColinPowell,thethemeisalwaysthesame:Thecommonmanwhorisesagainsttheodds.AmericaspoliticalromanceisMr.SmithGoesToWashingtontomakethingsright.ItisMeetJohnDoewhospeaksforthevoiceless.ItisLukeSkywalkerwhosavestheplanetbyusingthegoodsideoftheForcetodefeattheEmpire.Itistheodysseyofindividualswhochallengepower,overcomeadversityandrisetothetop.EveryoneinAmericathinksofthemselvesasanunderdogandaspirestobeahero.

ThecauseoftheunderdogwinsAmericanheartsbecauseitresonateswithourdeepestreligiousandmoralconvictionsofdoinggoodandhelpingothers.AndbecauseitisAmericasownstory.Webeganasasmallnation,standinguptotheworldsmostpowerfulempire.Wededicatedourselvestotheideathatallmenarecreatedequal.Weareanationofimmigrantsandagenerouspeoplewhoarrivedwithnothingandmadefortunesinanewworld.ThisistheAmericanDream.

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Itsastorythatwillgetyoueverytime.Butatelectiontime,itsthepoliticalleftandtheDemocraticPartywhoknowhowtowielditasapoliticalweapon,andRepublicansandconservativesgenerallywhodont.OfcoursetheTeaPartieshavechangedallthat.Andthatisanothersignthatweareinanextraordinarypoliticalmoment.TheTeaPartiesdrawontheheritageofAmericasownrevolutionasanunderdognationandarethevoiceofthepeople,oppressednowbytheirowngovernmentwhichisoutofcontrolanddeterminedtocrushthem.

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Inpositioningthemselvesaschampionsoftheunderrepresented,neglectedandoppressed,leftistsemployaversionofAmericasstorythattheyhavemanufacturedthroughtheirgriponthemediaandtheacademicculture.TheyhavetransformedAmericasstoryfromanepicoffreedomintoataleofracism,exploitationanddomination.Intheirtelling,Americanhistoryisnolongeranarrativeofexpandingopportunity,ofmenandwomensucceedingagainsttheodds.Instead,itisaMarxistMoralityPlayaboutthepowerfulandtheirvictims.

Instagingtheirpoliticaldramas,progressivesinvariablyclaimtospeakinthenameofAmericasallegedvictims.EverypolicyoftheDemocraticPartyispresentedasaprogramtohelpthesevictimswomen,children,minoritiesandthepoor.Simultaneously,DemocratsdescribeRepublicanpoliciesasprogramsthatwillinjuretheweak,ignorethevulnerable,andkeepthepowerlessdown.

RepublicansplayrightintotheDemocratstrapbecausetheyapproachpoliticsasaproblemofmanagement.ToRepublicans,everyissueisamanagementissuetheutilityofataxcut,theefficiencyofaprogram,theoptimalmethodforrunninganenterprise.Republicanstalklikebusinessmenwhowantachancetomanagethecountrysothatitwillturnaprofit.

Thereisnothingwrongwithinstitutinggoodpoliciesandrunningthingsefficientlyorturningaprofit.ButwhileRepublicansareperformingtheseGoldStaractivities,Democratsareengagedinadifferentkindofdrama.TheyarebusyattackingRepublicansasservantsoftherich,oppressorsoftheweakanddefendersofthestrong.Andenemiesofthepeople.

ListentoMarioCuomodescribingRepublicanstotheDemocrats1996NationalConvention:

WeneedtoworkaswehaveneverdonebeforebetweennowandNovember5thtotaketheCongress

backfromNewtGingrichandtheRepublicans,becauseladiesandgentlemen,brothersandsisters,

theRepublicansaretherealthreat.Theyaretherealthreattoourwomen.Theyaretherealthreatto

ourchildren.Theyaretherealthreattocleanwater,cleanairandtherichlandscapeofAmerica.

MarioCuomoknowsthelanguageofpoliticalwar.

Democratsconnectemotionallywithpeoplesfearsandconcerns.TheappealtohelptheunderdoganddefendthevictimresonateswithallAmericans.ThisisbecauseAmericansareafairmindedpeople.MostsuccessfulAmericanscamefromhumbleoriginsthemselves.Theywanttohelpothers.Theywanteveryonetohavethechancetosucceed.

SodoRepublicansandconservatives.Buttheyrarelyconnecttheirpoliciesandprinciplestothispoliticalromance.

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Theresagoodreasonforthis.ConservativesarebusydefendingtherealAmericaagainsttheleftsattacksandtheantiAmericancaricaturetheyhaveconstructed.ConservativesknowthatAmericaisstillalandofopportunityandfreedom,andthatnobodyinAmericaisreallyoppressed.(Otherwise,whywouldpoor,black,HispanicandAsianminoritiesbedesperatelyseekingtocomehere?Whywouldnttheybeleavinginstead?)

Butpoliticsisntjustaboutreality.Ifitwere,goodprinciplesandgoodpolicieswouldwineverytime.Itsaboutimagesandsymbols,andtheemotionstheyevoke.Thisisabattlethatconservativesgenerallylose.

Intheromanceofthevictim,asprogressivesstageit,Republicansandconservativesarealwaysonthesideofthebadguysthepowerful,themale,thewhiteandthewealthy.Itseasytoseehowpatriotismplaysintothistrap.DefendingAmericaisreadilymisrepresentedasanattitudethatsays:ImallrightJack,soyoushouldbetoo.Theleftrelishestheopportunitytosmearpatriotsasmembersoftheselfishpartyinsteadofasdefendersofindividualfreedom.

AnnCoulterhasdescribedthemottooftheleftasthis:Speakloudlyandcarryasmallvictim.FortheDemocrats,theromanceofthevictimstirsthesoulsoftheirsupportersandenergizestheirbase.Equallyimportant,itprovidesthenuclearwarheadoftheirpoliticalattack.Conservativesaretargetedvictimizers,andleftistsasthechampionsoftheoppressed.Learninghowtoturnthisaroundwillturnaroundthepoliticalwaraswell.

GoingOnTheAttack

Fortunately,conservativescanusetheleftwingattackagainstthem.Contrarytotheleftsview,Americaisnotalandofvictims.Itisahighlymobilesociety,withacitizenrythataspiresupwardsthroughthesystem,notagainstit.

Conservativescanalsoturntheleftsoppressionmytharound,andaimitsgunsatthem.Infact,usingtheromanceoftheunderdogagainsttheleftisthebestwaytoneutralizetheirattack.

ThewaytodoitistorecognizethatthemostpowerfulforcesobstructingopportunityforpoorandminorityAmericans,themostpowerfulforcesoppressingthem,areprogressives,theDemocraticParty,andtheirpoliticalcreationthewelfarestate.

Thereisreallynothingnewinthisidea.ConservativesalreadyopposetheprogramsoftheleftasobstaclestotheproductionofwealthandbarrierstoopportunityforallAmericans.Whatisnewistheideaofconnectingthisanalysistoapoliticalstrategythatwillgiveconservativesadecisiveedgeinbattlethatwillneutralizetheclass,raceandgenderwarfareattacksofthepoliticalleft.

ThePrinciples

Herearetheprinciplesofpoliticalwarthattheleftunderstandsbutconservativesdonot:

1.Politicsiswarconductedbyothermeans

2.Politicsisawarofposition

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3.Inpoliticalwarstheaggressorusuallyprevails

4.Positionisdefinedbyfearandhope

5.Theweaponsofpoliticsaresymbolsevokingfearandhope

6.Victoryliesonthesideofthepeople

Herearetheprinciplesexplained:

Politicsiswarconductedbyothermeans.

Inpoliticalwarfareyoudonotfightjusttoprevailinanargument,buttodestroytheenemysfightingability.ConservativesoftenseemtoregardpoliticalcombatsastheywouldadebatebeforetheOxfordPoliticalUnion,asthoughwinningdependsonrationalargumentsandcarefullyarticulatedprinciples.ButtheaudienceofpoliticsisnotmadeupofOxforddons,andtherulesareentirelydifferent.

Forstarters,youhaveonly30secondstomakeyourpoint.Evenifyouhadtimetodevelopanargument,theaudienceyouneedtoreach(theundecidedandthoseinthemiddlewhoarenotpayingmuchattention)wouldntgetit.Yourwordswouldgooversomeoftheirheadsandtherestwouldnotevenhearthem(orbequicklyforgotten)amidstthebustleandpressureofdailylife.Worse,whileyouvebeenmakingyourargumenttheothersidehasalreadypaintedyouasameanspirited,borderlineracistcontrolledbyreligiouszealots,securelyinthepocketsoftherich.Nobodywhoseesyouthiswayisgoingtolistentoyouinanycase.Yourepoliticallydead.

Politicsiswar.Dontforgetit.

Politicsisawarofposition.

Inwartherearetwosides:friendsandenemies.Yourtaskistodefineyourselfasthefriendofaslargeaconstituencycompatiblewithyourprinciplesaspossible,whiledefiningyouropponentastheirenemywhereverandwheneveryoucan.Theactofdefiningcombatantsisanalogoustothemilitaryconceptofchoosingtheterrainofbattle.

Choosetheterrainthatmakesthefightasloadedinyourfavoraspossible.Butbecareful.Americanpoliticstakesplaceinapluralisticframework,whereconstituenciesarediverseandofteninconflict.Fairnessandtolerancearetheformalrulesofdemocraticengagement.Ifyouappearmeanspirited,nasty,ortoojudgmental,itwillmakethetaskeasierforyouropponenttodefineyouasathreat,andthereforeastheenemy.(Seeprinciple4)

Inpoliticalwarfare,theaggressorusuallyprevails.

Conservativesoftenpursueastrategyofwaitingfortheothersidetoattack.Infootballthisisknownasaprevent

Importao de ChinaFornecedor Chins Certificado. Oportunidade de Negcio Agora

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defense.Inpoliticsitisthestrategyoflosers.

Aggressionisadvantageousbecausepoliticsisawarofposition.Positionisdefinedbyimagesthatstick.Bystrikingfirstyoucandefinetheissuesandyouradversary.Definingtheoppositionisthedecisivemoveinallpoliticalwar.Otherthingsbeingequal,whoeverisputonthedefensivegenerallywindsuponthelosingside.

Inattackingyouropponent,takecaretodoitright.Goingnegativeincreasestheriskofbeingdefinedasanenemy.Therefore,itcanbecounterproductive.Rulingoutthenegative,however,canincuranevengreaterrisk.

Positionisdefinedbyfearandhope.

Thetwinemotionsofpoliticsarefearandhope.Thosewhoprovidepeoplewithhopebecometheirfriendsthosewhoinspirefearbecomeenemies.Ofthetwo,hopeisthebetterchoice.Byofferingpeoplehopeandyourselfasitsprovider,youshowyourbettersideandmaximizeyourpotentialsupport.

Butfearisapowerfulandindispensableweapon.Ifyouropponentdefinesyounegativelyenough,hewilldiminishyourabilitytoofferhope.ThisiswhyDemocratsaresodeterminedtoportrayconservativesasmeanspirited,andhostiletominorities,themiddleclassandthepoor.

Itisimportanttoworkawayfromthenegativeimagesyouropponentwantstopinonyou.Ifyouknowyouaregoingtobeattackedasintolerantandbigoteditsagoodideatoleadwithapositionthatisinclusiveandfairminded.Ifyouaregoingtobeframedasmeanspiritedandungenerous,itsagoodideatoputonasmileandleadwithsymbolsthatprojectgenerosityandcharity.

Theweaponsofpoliticsaresymbolsevokingfearandhope.

Conservativeslosealotofpoliticalbattlesbecausetheycomeacrossashardedged,scolding,scowlingandsanctimonious.Agoodruleofthumbsaysbejusttheopposite.Youhavetoconvincepeopleyoucareaboutthembeforetheyllcareaboutwhatyouhavetosay.

Whenyoudogettospeak,dontforgetthatasoundbiteisallyouhave.Whateveryouhavetosay,makesuretosayitloudandclear.Keepitsimpleandkeepitshort.(Asloganisalwaysbetter).Repeatitoften.Getitontelevision.Radioisgood,butwithfewexceptions,onlytelevisionreachesapublicthatiselectorallysignificant.Inpolitics,televisionisreality.

Ofcourse,youhaveabaseofsupporterswhowilllistenforhourstowhatyouhavetosayifthatswhatyouwant.Inthebattlesfacingyou,theywillplayanimportantrole.Therefore,whatyousaytothemisalsoimportant.Butitisnotgoingtodecideelections.Theaudiencesthatwilldetermineyourfateareaudiencesthatyouwillfirsthavetopersuade.Youwillhavetofindawaytoreachthemandgetthemtolisten.Andgetthemtosupportyou.Withtheseaudiences,youwillneverhavetimeforrealargumentsorproperanalyses.Imagessymbolsandsoundbiteswillalwaysprevail.

Thereforeitisabsolutelyessentialtofocusyourmessageandrepeatitoverandoveragain.Lackoffocuswillderailyourmessage.Ifyoumaketoomanypoints,yourmessagewillbediffusedandnothingwillgetthrough.Theresultwillbethesameasifyouhadmadenopointatall.

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Leftistshaveapartyline.Whentheyarefightinganissuetheyfocustheiragenda.Duringlegislativebattles,everytimeaDemocratstepsinfrontofthecamerasthereisatleastonelineinhisspeechthatissharedwithhiscolleagues.Taxbreaksforthewealthyattheexpenseofthepoor,isoneexample.Repetitioninsuresthatthemessagewillgetthrough.

WhenRepublicansspeakduringlegislativebattles,theyallmarchtoadifferentdrummer.Therearemanymessagesinsteadofone.Onemessageisasoundbite.Manymessagesareanindecipherablenoise.Theresultofmanymessagesisthatthereisnomessage.

Symbolsandsoundbitesdeterminethevote.Thesearewhathitpeopleinthegutbeforetheyhavetimetothink.Andthesearewhatpeopleremember.Symbolsaretheimpressionsthatlast,andwhatultimatelydefinesyou.

Carefullychosenwordsandphrasesaremoreimportantthanparagraphs,speeches,partyplatformsandmanifestos.Whatyouprojectthroughimagesiswhatyouare.

Victoryliesonthesideofthepeople.

Thisisthebottomlineforeachoftheprinciplesandforalloftheprinciples.Youmustdefineyourselfinwaysthatpeopleunderstand.Youmustgivepeoplehopeinyourvictory,andmakethemfearthevictoryofyouropponent.Youcanaccomplishbothbyidentifyingyourselfandyourissueswiththeunderdogandthevictim,withminoritiesandthedisadvantaged,withtheordinaryJanesandJoes.

Thisiswhatleftistsdobest,andconservativesoftenneglecttodoatall.Everypoliticalstatementbyaleftistisanefforttosay:Wecareaboutwomen,children,minorities,workingAmericansandthepoor.And:Conservativesaremeanspirited,servetherichanddontcareaboutyou.Thisistheleftsstrategyofpoliticalwar.Ifconservativesaretowinthepoliticalwarwehavetoturntheseimagesaround.

Wealsohavetomakeourcampaignsacause.DuringtheColdWar,conservativeshadacause.TheyweresavingthecountryfromCommunism.ItwasacausethatresonatedateverylevelwiththeAmericanpeople.Thepoorestcitizenunderstoodthattheirfreedomwasatstakeinmakingsurethatconservativeswereelectedtoconductthenationsdefense.

Inademocracy,thecausethatfiresuppassionsisthecauseofthepeople.ThatiswhypoliticiansliketorunagainstWashingtonandagainstanythingthatrepresentsthepowersthatbe.Asthelefthasshown,theideaofjusticeisapowerfulmotivator.Itwillenergizethetroopsandfuelthecampaignsthatarenecessarytowinthepoliticalwar.Conservativesbelieveineconomicopportunityandindividualfreedom.Thecoreofourideasisfreedomandjusticeforall.IfwecanmakethisintelligibletotheAmericanelectorate,wewillbecomethemajorityagainandstopthesocialistjuggernautthatthreatensourAmericanfuture.

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ABOUT DAVID HOROWITZ(/AUTHOR/DAVID-HOROWITZ)DavidHorowitzwasoneofthefoundersoftheNewLeftinthe1960sandaneditorofitslargestmagazine,Ramparts.Heistheauthor,withPeterCollier,ofthreebestsellingdynasticbiographies:TheRockefellers:AnAmericanDynasty(1976)TheKennedys:AnAmerican

Dream(1984)andTheFords:AnAmericanEpic(1987).LookingbackinangerattheirdaysintheNewLeft,heandCollierwroteDestructiveGeneration(1989),achronicleoftheirsecondthoughtsaboutthe60sthathasbeencomparedtoWhittakerChambersWitnessandotherclassicworksdocumentingabreakfromtotalitarianism.HorowitzexaminedthissubjectmorecloselyinRadicalSon(1996),amemoirtracinghisodysseyfromreddiaperbabytoconservativeactivistthatGeorgeGilderdescribedasthefirstgreatautobiographyofhisgeneration.

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