Upload
didimo-matos
View
3
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
David Horowitz
Citation preview
04/07/2015 TheArtofPoliticalWarforTeaPartiesbyDavidHorowitz|FrontpageMag
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/38986/artpoliticalwarteapartiesdavidhorowitzdavidhorowitz 1/9
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)
4 (http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/38986/art-political-war-tea-parties-david-horowitz-david-horowitz#disqus_thread)
AspecterishauntingAmericathespecterofapeoplerising.AllacrossthenationAmericansarewakinguptothethreatofaleftistelitedeterminedtofundamentallychangeAmerica,pushthroughasocialistagenda,andmakeeverycitizendependentonthestate.TheObamamachineisspendingtrillionsoftaxpayerdollarstofinancetheirtakeoveroftheAmericanworkplaceandstifletheindependenceoftheAmericanpeople.ButAmericaisresilientnation,builtontheprinciplesofprivatepropertyandindividualfreedom,andtheresistancetotheirsocialistplanshasalreadybegun.
04/07/2015 TheArtofPoliticalWarforTeaPartiesbyDavidHorowitz|FrontpageMag
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/38986/artpoliticalwarteapartiesdavidhorowitzdavidhorowitz 2/9
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.
***
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.
04/07/2015 TheArtofPoliticalWarforTeaPartiesbyDavidHorowitz|FrontpageMag
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/38986/artpoliticalwarteapartiesdavidhorowitzdavidhorowitz 3/9
Itsastorythatwillgetyoueverytime.Butatelectiontime,itsthepoliticalleftandtheDemocraticPartywhoknowhowtowielditasapoliticalweapon,andRepublicansandconservativesgenerallywhodont.OfcoursetheTeaPartieshavechangedallthat.Andthatisanothersignthatweareinanextraordinarypoliticalmoment.TheTeaPartiesdrawontheheritageofAmericasownrevolutionasanunderdognationandarethevoiceofthepeople,oppressednowbytheirowngovernmentwhichisoutofcontrolanddeterminedtocrushthem.
*
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.
04/07/2015 TheArtofPoliticalWarforTeaPartiesbyDavidHorowitz|FrontpageMag
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/38986/artpoliticalwarteapartiesdavidhorowitzdavidhorowitz 4/9
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
04/07/2015 TheArtofPoliticalWarforTeaPartiesbyDavidHorowitz|FrontpageMag
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/38986/artpoliticalwarteapartiesdavidhorowitzdavidhorowitz 5/9
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
04/07/2015 TheArtofPoliticalWarforTeaPartiesbyDavidHorowitz|FrontpageMag
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/38986/artpoliticalwarteapartiesdavidhorowitzdavidhorowitz 6/9
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.
04/07/2015 TheArtofPoliticalWarforTeaPartiesbyDavidHorowitz|FrontpageMag
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/38986/artpoliticalwarteapartiesdavidhorowitzdavidhorowitz 7/9
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.
Tags:America(/tag/america),AnnCoulter(/tag/anncoulter),Freedom(/tag/freedom),Socialism(/tag/socialism),War(/tag/war),Left(/tag/left),TIME(/tag/time),Battle(/tag/battle),Party(/tag/party),way(/tag/way),side(/tag/side),threat(/tag/threat),victim(/tag/victim),Attack(/tag/attack),land(/tag/land),fear(/tag/fear),warfare(/tag/warfare),opportunity(/tag/opportunity),Audience(/tag/audience),Argument(/tag/argument),enemy(/tag/enemy),romance(/tag/romance),idea(/tag/idea),position(/tag/position),Don(/tag/don),Jack(/tag/jack),Oxford(/tag/oxford)
04/07/2015 TheArtofPoliticalWarforTeaPartiesbyDavidHorowitz|FrontpageMag
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/38986/artpoliticalwarteapartiesdavidhorowitzdavidhorowitz 8/9
(/author/davidhorowitz)
Share
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.
READ MORE (/AUTHOR/DAVID-HOROWITZ)