Comments Posted By Brett Rogers
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I was just writing this and will post it later today on my web site, but here, fwiw:
America has moved a long way from its independent roots, and its health is planted in self-reliant individualism, not mutually dependent collectivism. Neither McCain nor Obama will move far from a collectivist government. The only difference is that McCain wants to spend less on it.
Institutions, such as TV, newspapers, colleges and universities, and government, all lean pretty substantially toward collectivism and these institutions promote any material or person that supports their point of view.
Late night TV criticizes Republicans more than Democrats by a 7-1 ratio. The Daily Show? Colbert? Lampooning the right as much as possible. The ratio there is likely even more lopsided.
Libertarians, conservatives, and any other non-liberal/non-progressive types won't get hired into those domains to make any dent in this institutional thrust to the left. The one area where libertarians and conservatives do have a dominance is radio, and the Democrats want to revive the Fairness Doctrine, a mandate that would require radio stations to give equal time to the right and the left on the air. Except that the left won't apply this same standard to TV, newspapers, colleges and universities, or the hiring of government employees.
It's a narrow space these days to have a freedom-loving voice.
In the election cycle, Republicans employed brute-force marketing. Robocalls, door-to-door visits, mail, email, TV commercials, radio spots, and sound bite debates that don't inform at all. Is that the way to do this? Does it help? I'd say no, that a smooth-talking, inexperienced, anti-American-friendly candidate stands a good chance of beating a guy who is uber-qualified to be president. Republicans suck really bad at marketing and communication.
So how to do it better?
Let me ask it a different way... would you want any of the following done to you:Robocalls?Someone coming to your door to talk about the election?Incessant mailers?Email?Non-stop TV commercials with menacing tones?Radio spots with menacing tones?Watching sound bite debates that don't inform anyone?Isn't the goal of an election to attract people to the candidate? So what's attractive in the list above? Who would sign up to receive any of that?
That right there ought to be the standard for any communication. That's Marketing 101.
So what is attractive?HumorEntertainmentAmazing featsForget trying to get the news networks to grant an interview like they would give the other guy. Ain't gonna happen.
Instead create things that attract people to them, that can be enjoyed at a time convenient to them, that they want to show their friends and family. It's why I've started doing cartoons. I'm not saying I'm good at it, but I am applying myself to it. A cartoon can be absorbed in 10 seconds, and if it's funny or entertaining or amazing, it can be forwarded instantly via email to others. Remember the popularity of JibJab in the 2004 election? How about YouTube in this election? The MyObama blog network was good for Obama.
I don't think Americans are stupid. I do think Republicans are stupid at marketing. When you think of a marketer, is he or she a Democrat or a Republican? You guessed correctly - thanks for playing.
Let's be attractive and educate an attracted audience.
Comment Posted By Brett Rogers On 30.10.2008 @ 13:34
