Just the Slogan the GOP Needs
- Print print this page
- Discuss 36 comments, Blog about
Advertisement
I’ve become quite worried about the Romney campaign — the whole Republican image, actually.
There just doesn’t seem to be much zip in the Grand Old Party. I’ve concluded that the party needs something new to set the tone, something to capture the attention of the public, something inspirational.
It needs a thematic slogan that will identify a path to the future — just a few well-chosen words to boost the party forward during these last few weeks of campaigning. I think I have it.
Now, keep an open mind; I’m not totally committed to this, but I think it’s got a real chance to lead Republicans to victory. Are you ready? Here goes: “Hope and Change.”
What do you think? Pretty good, huh? Oh, it lacks the poetic brilliance of “Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too,” or “I Like Ike,” but it’s simple, and sufficiently vague that voters can attach any meaning they want to it.
Hope is, after all, pretty much a universal good. Everyone has hope, whether it’s for a new car, a green card or an extra 20 yards. How can you go wrong offering hope?
And change? Now there’s a catch-all word if there ever was one. You can change your hairstyle, your underwear or your spouse, sometimes even your mind. If Republicans can help with those kinds of things, don’t you want them in office?
It may even be enough just to hope for some change in your pocket.
It’s really important in politics to make promises that you can appear to keep, even when you don’t. That’s why you don’t want to say things like, “I will reduce the unemployment rate,” or “I’ll balance the budget in my first week.” Any half-intelligent voter, and that includes many of them, will see right through those things.
You want to say things that, when the you-know-what hits the fan, will still give you room to maneuver — still give you the opportunity to say, “Forget all that bad stuff. Just be inspired by my rhetoric.”
Some pundits are criticizing the Romney campaign for its lack of specifics. Ignore them. They are all liberals. They want the candidate to say things that can actually be checked and measured against his performance in office, should he be elected.
This is very dangerous ground for a politician. He must never, never commit to a specific outcome for any action he may take. That is how to win office. It is also very useful for him to blame his predecessor for anything that has gone wrong on his watch.
That is why “Hope and Change” works so well. It very clearly implies that things are bad, but that the candidate will make them better, without offering any idea whatever of how he will do it.
I know, parties hire consultants and pay many thousands of dollars for campaign themes and advertisements. For that, they get awful negative commercials about killing innocent people or ending health care for the elderly. Who wants to think about things like that?
I’m prepared to donate my slogan to the Republicans for nothing. Well, if I were offered a nice ambassadorship to, say, England, I might consider it.
Wouldn’t you rather become enraptured with glowing promises of a wonderful, if undefined, future? Of course you would. That’s why “Hope and Change” works so well.
The only problem I see, and that’s a long way off, is that if things don’t go well, it might be tough to run a re-election campaign. Oh well, as Scarlett said to just about everyone, “Tomorrow is another day.”
Fred Wolferman lives in Southern Pines. Contact him by email at fwolferman@sbcglobal.net.
More like this story
Advertisement
Comments
JimRussell44 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Pretty funny, Mr. Wolferman. But you know what, the Republicans already have what I think is the perfect catch phrase: WE CAN DO BETTER!! It works on so many levels.
Courseaire 8 months, 2 weeks ago
I like "Couldn't Do Any Worse" or "Give Us a Chance" or "Who Do You Trust With Your Money, The Rich or the Poor?"
packwilleat 8 months, 2 weeks ago
How about "No Hope For Change"
Courseaire 8 months, 2 weeks ago
I once had a lap dance by a stripper named Hope & she gave me change.
justpassingby2 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Funny stuff Fred. Not sure JER but WE CAN DO BETTER sounds like what obama was saying last night as in ' yes we democrats have really sucked but we can do better, honest'.
JimRussell44 8 months, 2 weeks ago
justpassingby2, I was just saying that in Tampa, the Republicans had banners hanging all over the hall saying "We Can Do Better" and I thought it was a good slogan that covered everything. What you say is also true, the Democrats could have done a lot better over the past 3 1/2 years had they received any help and cooperation from the other party. But the word "compromise" has been placed up against a wall and shot, so we won't be seeing it anymore. Neither Romney nor Obama will be able to make a difference as a result. (Note: I know I have no idea what I'm talking about (according to you), but these words just keep flowing out of my head.) PS: I ain't him!!
MikeNC 8 months, 2 weeks ago
What's REALLY funny, Fred, is Obama begging America for ANOTHER CHANCE. His slogan for 2012, should be BEND over, rather than FORWARD. Diane
Courseaire 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Obama's slogan can be "If I Screw Up With 4 More, Than It Is My Fault"
justpassingby2 8 months, 2 weeks ago
There is no reason for compromise. They both represent the same main positions such as tax breaks for the rich, public education (doesn't effect their kids), Wall St. including insurance companies who LOVE obamacare, wars, big business and big government.
Then they pit 'republicans' against 'democrats' pretending to care about issues that they know will play to their respective bases. Didn't you ever wonder just a little why the abortion issue still comes up yet both sides drag their feet when in comes to fixing the problem? You can't find a coherent person in this country that thinks our public education system isn't in dire need of reform. The teacher's unions are too strong for either side to seriously address a problem that doesn't effect them, their children go to good schools. Look at the bill Congress passed to payback obama's campaign donors. As an example Solyndra was in bed with both sides. Same way with the guns obama supplied to the thugs south of the border that killed one of our border guards. Goes by the name of Fast and Furious, maybe you heard of it. Even NBC heard about it a year later. obama and holder have been stonewalling (lying) and refusing to release any information (transparency) and the right barely puts up a fight. Turns out this same or similar stupidity began under the bush administration.
So JER, what we now have is the dim-wits on the left trying to tell the half-wits on the right how screwed up their party is while their own party should make them sick to their stomach and vice versa. From my point of view, if the democrats weren't smart enough to see how screwed up the party is that the freakin tea party was elected, this country is in real trouble!
JimRussell44 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Diane, hate to point out things to you for fear of having Mike rush to your defense and injuring himself but we were talking about the REPUBLICAN slogan!!! Speaking of which, another good slogan for Republicans this election might be "You People" Should Vote For Us. Or maybe: A Cadillac In Every Elevator (that has a nice old time ring to it). Or one that addresses the unemployment situation: The White House Needs Updating If We're Going To Live There...Create A Job....Vote Romney.
JimRussell44 8 months, 2 weeks ago
justpassingby2, I'm me. In a very strange and odd twist, I am beginning to see that we somewhat agree on certain points. I'm saying what you're saying, just in different ways. There is no "if" about it, this country is totally screwed either way it goes.
MikeNC 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Jim, in case you're having a blonde moment, YOU were the first one to point out to Fred how funny his column was ! And perhaps Romney's slogan should be: Bend Over America and Give Obama Another 4 More Years ! Right now there's an Elevator Man somewhere, hoping Romney does put one in the WH, after the dismal labor report today, Jim. Over 600,000 have now been added to the rest of Americans, who have GIVEN up Hope and Changecoming from your guy. Diane
MikeNC 8 months, 2 weeks ago
MikeNC 4 hours, 28 minutes ago ... His slogan for 2012, should be BEND over, rather than FORWARD...Diane
Oh yea Diane and Obama has had plenty of experience bending over....Mike
by MikeNC
clarabelle 8 months, 2 weeks ago
I''ll bet if it were mitt above he would have slapped all the arabs silly and told them he had a few tanks waiting if they didn't like it. stupid comment - as usual.
JimRussell44 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Diane, the article was about having the Republicans come up with a catchy slogan. I thought the way the article was written was amusing (that's a word that means it made me smile). I then gave my opinion about using a slogan the Republicans already have used at there convention. You then made a suggestion for what slogan the Democrats should be using, thus going completly off track with the discussion that was taking place. I then pointed that fact out to you. You then asked me if I was having a blonde moment. If you are unable to follow this explanation of why YOU must be blonde, please ask Thatcher to explain it to you. He is a lot better at being patient with idiots than I am.
PS: When refering to the male, the word is spelled "blond". When the female is being addressed, it's spelled "blonde".Who says you can't learn things here.
JimRussell44 8 months, 2 weeks ago
And Diane and Mike, your "bend over" comments do show the tremendous class that the two of you bring to these discussions. Could you possibly work in some "passing gas" (that's a fart to you) references in future "bend over" comments?
JimRussell44 8 months, 2 weeks ago
One last thing Mike and Diane, you better check with Geoff Cutler about bashing the "Hope and Change" idea. He tells me that your side is now on board with that idea. Just wanted to keep you in the loop on the direction your party is heading.
Yukonjohn 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Holy Cow JimRussel44.....we are seeing things the same anymore. I don't know who has changed their mind, but l see us disagreeing on less and less!! Our country is in huge trouble. I watched the Dem Convention....holy cow, I thought the Repubs were a messed up group.....they can not hold a candle to the Dems!! We are in a mess, Please, God Bless America, we need it worse than ever.
MikeNC 8 months, 2 weeks ago
*JimRussell44 7 hours, 15 minutes ago... thus going completly off track with the discussion that was taking place.
That coming from you is priceless! Thanks for the early morning snicker!!
MikeNC 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Jim: Lots of ways to interpret "bend over". PS when refering to a man or woman, blondE has been used to address both. Diane
Toda 8 months, 2 weeks ago
"Or maybe: A Cadillac In Every Elevator (that has a nice old time ring to it). Or one that addresses the unemployment situation: The White House Needs Updating If We're Going To Live There...Create A Job....Vote Romney. What an outstanding statement Kudos
JimRussell44 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Thanks Toda.
JimRussell44 8 months, 2 weeks ago
"Lots of ways to interpret 'bend over' ". I agree, Diane. How about bending over.
The_AnonymusProfit 8 months, 1 week ago
Im confused...are you now supporting Romney Jim?
SH59 8 months, 1 week ago
The Republicans already have a slogan: Anyone but Obama!
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
Jim, if hope and change now means "Anyone but Obama," that's a train I'll ride. You seem to have just as much trouble interpreting what people say as you do history.
SH59 8 months, 1 week ago
How about: Instead of doing our jobs, let's not do anything that might look like we care about the people of this country.
SH59 8 months, 1 week ago
"Larson accused the House GOP of deliberately following a path of sacrificing the economy in order to doom President Obama's reelection campaign.
“They would rather see Obama fail than the country succeed,” Larson alleged."
Thatcher 8 months, 1 week ago
"Larson alleged." Well, that settles that. Cheers!
justpassingby2 8 months, 1 week ago
SH59 is just another in the long line of democrats who openly admit that obama was unable to lead but will continue to support him anyway. The three stooges had complete control from 2009 through 2010 and what did they do? No tax reform. No education reform. No jobs package. No end of wars. They bailed out the people who ripped off the people instead of the people who were ripped off. They bailed out companies that had spent their money building factories outside the US to move American jobs there.
SH59 8 months, 1 week ago
How was he supposed to lead when the Republicans made a pack not to do anything that Obama puts forth to try to make him fail. Nice going with the people who are supposed to be representing us. This isn't some stupid football game, it's running this country by working together. The Tea Party has them so afraid to do anything that may look like working together that they can't do anything. They are holding our government hostage with their threats of unseating anyone who goes against them even if they are fantastic senators.
justpassingby2 8 months, 1 week ago
Again you fail to discuss 2009-2010 when the democrats had complete control. The PEOPLE VOTED for the tea party candidates because of the job obama and the other 2 stooges (reid,pelosi) did. These were the same PEOPLE who VOTED for obama. You act like this is some stupid football game where the 1st half (2009,2010) was never played.
SH59 8 months, 1 week ago
They were plotting the day he got elected.
justpassingby2 8 months, 1 week ago
You appear to be a younger person. My advice to you is to decide what it is YOU believe but never set it in stone because your views may change. Be careful of being a follower or you may end up in a place where you can only post a single column a week and nothing else. In other words trying to defend policies of your leader after spending 24/7 demonizing those exact same policies under a different leader, may send you to a dark place where you surely don't want to go.
OldPilot 8 months, 1 week ago
OK, how about a few slogans for the Democratic party: 1) Democrats: cleaning up Republican messes since 1993. 2) My president killed Osama Bin Laden. How about yours? 3) You want to take the country back. We want to take the country forward. 4) He won. Get over it! 5) Bipartisanship? I'll hug your elephant if you kiss my a. 6) Teabaggers gave America a Boehner. 7) Voting is like driving a car. "R" to move backward, "D" to move forward. 8) Proud to be everything the right wing hates. 9) Tea Party? White whine party is more like it. 10) Honk if my taxes support tour whining teabagging a. 11) Palin 2012-2014 & 1/2: traditional values, less traditional dedication. 12) Romney 2012? The Mayans tried to warn us. 13) Want less government? Move to Somalia! 14) 8 years of insanity and now you're mad? 15) Republicans 2012: keeping millions out of work to put one man out of a job! 16) Am I liberal or just well educated? 17) TEA: it's the new Kool Aid. 18) I love sanity. 19) I'd vote Republican but I'm allergic to nuts. 20) The Republican Party: our bridge to the 11th century.
Thatcher 8 months, 1 week ago
Thanks, Oldpilot! It is posts like this that help folks understand the facts. Cheers!
JimRussell44 8 months, 1 week ago
Old Pilot, I am in total awe!!!