By Don White

I’ve been a Democrat, now I’m a Republican, and soon I’ll be an Independent. Why? Because Republicans don’t get it and, frankly, I don’t see too much difference.

I recently had this idea confirmed when I read a great book by David Horowitz, The Art of Political War.

Horoitz lists six principles of politics that the left understands and conservatives do not (assuming Republicans are all conservatives, which is a stretch):

1. Politics is war conducted by other means
2. Politics is war of position
3. In political warfare, the aggressor usually prevails
4. Position is defined by fear and hope
5. The weapons of politics are symbols evoking fear and hope
6. Victory lies on the side of the people

1. In a debate, you only have 30 seconds to make an argument.

Horowitz believes Republicans are naïve – they seem to regard political combat as they would a debate before the Oxford Political Union, “…as though winning depended on rational arguments and carefully articulated principles.”

The above is why the greatly articulate and politically naïve Mitt Romney, in my opinion, can’t win even the Republican presidential nomination.

Governor Romney looks good, he speaks well, and he makes logical arguments. But the people don’t fully relate to him because Democrats (and McCain) framed him as a rich man – and he isn’t even disgustingly rich. Actually when you consider the money their spouses have, Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and John Carey (D-MA) have far more money than Romney. So it’s an unfair depiction, but this is politics, isn’t it?

A war mentality

produces sanctimony and self-serious moralizing. And this is where the rank and file see Mitt Romney, despite owning a very attractively disarming surname. He really is not at ease with himself. If he was, and if people saw him as more of a regular guy they would flock to him. Maybe he needs Michelle Obama’s makeup artist, Desiree Rogers, or someone like her, to smooth out his sharp edges.

Horowitz offers a conundrum:

“To be effective, you need to get serious and lighten up at the same time.” What’s that again? You need to be balanced, like Ronnie Reagan or Jack Kennedy, balancing your serious moments with comic relief, or at least a sense of humor. If that were exactly true, TV talk show host Glen Beck might be the best political candidate ever. He’s so smooth and funny, but yet right on politically.

Sense of Humor?

Huckabee falls flat too often; Tim Palenty doesn’t have it. Bobby Jindal

doesn’t have it. Is there a likeable Sarah Palen in the house? People like her because she’s seen as both an underdog and a very competent person. Importantly, she is also a peacemaker not a warmonger. But if forced to fight, would she?

“Politics is war by ‘other means’ “? What does that mean? Horowitz says Republicans are good at prevailing at an argument, but – as they say in basketball when an almost great team refuses to run up the score – do they have the killer instinct? Can Republicans destroy the enemy’s fighting ability?

1. War of Position

Here’s the hard part. Let’s say you’re a conservative and you have principles. Many on the left have no problem with this because they lack principles. Look at what Barak Obama did. He lied to Americans time and time again during the political campaign. Then when in office he did the opposite. See if I’m not correct in this:

1. No new taxes for those under $250,000 income
2. Clean up Washington
3. No more lobbies
4. No more earmarks
5. End the war
6. Transparency
7. “I love America and our Democratic Republic”
8. A woman as his running mate
9. That he was a tough international negotiator
10. Not a friend of communists or their leaders

Republicans have a hard time defining themselves. People wonder if they are friend of the largest constituencies possible. Democrats do a better job being a friend. Here’s a list of groups they openly solicit successfully.

1. Unions
2. Banks
3. Wallstreet
4. The little dumb guy
5. Students
6. Middleclass America
7. Anyone who loves bailouts or government doing things for them
8. School teachers and professors
9. Farmers
10. Auto makers
11. “Cool people,” like Hollywood actors and millionaire athletes
12. Illegal aliens
13. Hispanics
14. Criminals, former felons, Marxists, communists, socialists, and atheists

I agree with Horowitz when he says the GOP hasn’t properly framed the issue and their arguments against health care for foreigners in America illegally.

“If you appear mean-spirited,” he says, “or too judgmental, your opponent will more easily define you as a threat, and therefore as the enemy.

One problem with Republicans is that often they pursue a conservative strategy of waiting for the other side to attack.

“In football this is known as ‘Prevent Defense.’ But in politics it is the strategy of losers.”

Quite often Democrats define Republicans as hostile to minorities, mean-spirited, against the middle class and the poor. This is their way of fighting the GOP by fear and hope, plus defining Republicans before they have a chance to convince people they are none of these things.

The smear campaign…

against Clarence Thomas was designed to taint all black Republcans. The Democrats have successfully associated the Religious Right with moralistic intolerance. Demos hop on names like “The Moral Majority” and the “Christian Coolition.” As a result, it is easy for Democrats to sell the argument that Republicans will impose their religious views on you or impose their morals on you. It doesn’t matter whether this is true or not. Once a negative image has taken hold, the target is wounded – often mortally – in the political battle.

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