Republican Party Prepares to Patronize Trump Voters With Improved Propaganda
The Republican establishment’s progression through the stages of grief over Donald Trump’s enduring popularity is getting perilously close to “acceptance.” Fortunately, the party has some fresh new ideas about how it will proceed in the now-thinkable case of a Trump nomination.
The Washington Post today got ahold of a memo written by Ward Baker, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has been circulating among influential Republicans for a couple of months now. The topic of the memo is, in essence, what all the other Republicans in America should do if Donald Trump—a crazy man—becomes the party’s presidential nominee.
The advice in the memo could be summed up as “Be more like Donald Trump,” (“To get on the reformist wave, advance clear-cut reforms that change the way Washington works”) as well as “Don’t be too much like Donald Trump” (“Trump Is a Misguided Missile”). But one thing is for sure: the Republican establishment hears you, the gullible Trump voters, loud and clear. They are ready and willing to enact several totally superficial forms of propaganda in order to appeal to your sense of dissolute anger:
Change the Look. It’s time to change the way you and your campaign are presented. Lose the suit and visit people in their homes and places of work. Hold sessions where you listen to people and capture audio and video of them discussing their real world problems. People talk about problems, not issues. So, focus on the problems and offer your solutions. Avoid Washingtonspeak (legislation, bills, insider talk) in favor of Main Street common sense. And, tell your communications and media teams to up the vibe and change the look. Voters are on to you when you do the standard walk and talk through a business, school, or factory. Try a new look and have business owners, constituents, family members, and workers talk about you. Have them talk about a problem you solved, a solution you came up with, or the life-changing moment you delivered on. Feature them in your issue phase whileyou assume the role of a citizen-servant. This also protectsyou from opposition attacks since real world people aretalking about real world things you did for them. How can someone challenge that? [...]
Special Note: Consider visuals that communicate change and reform. Feature candidates working on an old engine and note how sometimes you have to do a complete overhaul to get things working. Consider featuring a candidate in a field ripping up a rotten tree stump so the field can be cleared and planting can be done. Have a constituent or citizen talking about the candidate cleaning up the mess in Washington as the candidate participates in a street cleaning & beautification campaign.
Working on an old engine—take that, Washington.
The Republican Party has heard your cry, America: it will change both look and visuals to pander to you more effectively.