Backtalk
The Lessons of Election 2008
COMMENTARY
T
HE 2008 ELECTION IS NOT YET A DISTANT Also, many of the
memory, and there are important lessons backers of the
to be learned. A good accounting of what 527s have long
happened will help Republicans make a comeback. memories of the
Here’s my take: 2004 election and
Republicans need a candidate who’s unafraid of remember that
being a Republican. For a 72-year-old, John McCain McCain was one of
gave an impressive campaign performance, but he their biggest critics.
lost. Why? Because he failed to articulate exactly The Republicans
how his opponent was such a danger to our need a group like
economy, national security, and American values.
MoveOn.org. One
NEW GAME PLAN In the wake of the
The vice president counts. Sarah Palin gave that may fi t the bill
election, Republican strategists must
McCain a huge boost and helped propel him to is The National
rethink their plans for the future.
front-runner status by mid-September. Republican Trust
She soon became a media target, PAC, also known as
GOPtrust.com. Headed by
however. After a stream of negative former journalist Scott Wheeler, the group raised
articles that went unchallenged, over $10 million from 40,000 donors in just weeks.
her favorability ratings declined The group took heat for its Rev. Wright TV ad, but
among swing voters. Still, Palin did a it appears to have had an effect, as undecided voters
remarkable job of bringing charisma broke overwhelmingly for McCain.
to the ticket and raising money. Republicans need to be “open sourced.” The
The media bias was simply McCain campaign tightly controlled its own
CHRISTOPHER
unbelievable. With the exception of campaign, and the RNC and other Republican
RUDDY
Fox News, Newsmax, talk radio, and affi liates. The GOP needs to look at the success of
EDITOR IN CHIEF
a handful of outlets, the major media Ron Paul’s grass-roots campaign that raised more
worked overtime to elect Barack than $30 million — an astonishing feat. Paul let
Obama. Despite all the talk of a profusion of media his supporters do their thing. For a candidate on
with cable and the Internet, the media continue to the fringe, he made an impression.
be the same old media. Republicans must develop a strategy to win
Money can buy an election. Obama raised a over new Hispanic voters — and soon. Shifting
record-breaking $668 million to win the White demographics could spell disaster for the
House. McCain received $85 million from federal Republican Party. If Obama and a Democratic
fi nancing. With his primary take and help from Congress give citizenship to some of the 12 million
the Republican National Committee, McCain illegals here, Republicans could be locked out of
raised an estimated $360 million — about half of the White House and Congress for decades, as
Obama’s total. But Obama’s advantage became most of those illegals will vote Democratic.
apparent in the fi nal stretch where he reportedly Understanding what happened in 2008 will be
outspent McCain 4-to-1 in TV ads in key states. key in rebuilding the GOP in 2009 and after.
Truth still works. Money is important, but the The early months of the Obama administration
election proved that Republicans don’t have to go will be critical months for Republicans. My guess
dollar for dollar against Democrats to win. Despite is that Obama will aggressively move to stifl e talk
numerous disadvantages, McCain’s showing was radio with a new “Fairness Doctrine.”
respectable. Had his campaign been more hard The Democrats see talk radio as their main
hitting and raised a tad more money, he could opposition in the country. Reduce its infl uence and
have won. they will have an easier time putting through their
The Swift Boat-like groups (527s) were missing legislative agenda. If Republicans lose these two
/ISTOCKPHOTO
in action this year. The talk is that the Bush White battles, talk radio and citizenship for illegals, their
House told big Texas money not to back McCain. ability to make a comeback will be diminished.
S
T
AFF GRAPHIC
82 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE / DECEMBER 2008
0082_Back_Talk.indd 8282_Back_Talk.indd 82 111/10/08 2:35:53 PM1/10/08 2:35:53 PM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84