These themes trigger potent psychological, emotional and tribal responses and, if left unrefuted, will virtually always overwhelm rational consideration of "issues." Illustrating what "strength," "patriotism," and moral probity really are -- and who and what exudes them -- is imperative, and it is equally imperative to do so aggressively and unapologetically, not defensively or meekly.
Obama doesn't wait very long to push back and that's one of the reasons I like him. Glenn links to an encouraging article on CNN that explicitly mentions this part of the GOP's game:
Branding a rival elitist is not new in politics. Republicans for years have successfully labeled Democratic presidential candidates as the liberal elite. Portraying their rivals as latte-sipping, sushi-eating insiders, Republicans have connected with some voters by arguing that they understand the values important to the everyday person.
Republicans painted George W. Bush's Democratic opponents Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004 as elitists who were detached from average Americans, and the strategy worked.
How damaging the blow is, Westen said, depends on the target's response.
"The mistake that Kerry and Gore both made was to let that brand stick to them," he said.
"The only question is whether Obama fights it back and offers a different brand for himself than the brand that is starting to be given to him."
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