State the facts. State them simply. State them over and over again.
There is nothing unusual about a Republican attacking working people. The wild card was the response of union leaders, who reacted uncharacteristically for liberals by launching a withering counterattack (against Schwarzenegger). The unions understood that corporate news programs would never broadcast facts, so they did it themselves. For months, California television was blanketed with commercials in which gentle nurses and wholesome teachers and earnest firefighters and clean-cut cops politely explained that Arnold is a serial liar who has broken his promise to represent the common citizen.
There was no attempt to travel the high road – just a merciless lowering of public discourse via truthful personal attacks. Keeping in mind that many swing voters find it entirely plausible that the Professor crafted an intercontinental radio transmitter out of discarded coconut shells, the message was kept simple: Arnold lies. As a result of the relentless flogging, Schwarzenegger’s once-lofty approval ratings fell by half.
The California experience provides an invaluable lesson for Democrats nationwide that relates to the contemptible cowardice of “keeping our powder dry”. There is but one surefire way to vanquish conservatives, and that is to beat the shit out of them.
Full editorial at:
http://www.makethemaccountable.com/podvin/more/051109_FeelTheBurn.htmAnd a Major tip o' the hat to DUer Zidzi, for posting this in another thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1915717&mesg_id=1915741