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Texas Gov. Rick Perry: An Opposition Campaign Primer

Ah! Fresh meat!

That’s what’s on the mind of political pundits this week as they come down off the high of the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames. With nothing to report until–well–something unpredictable happens, or until the Iowa caucuses in January, the media and blogosphere will gush with pedantics about this outsider to the GOP fratricide-fest that has been the 2012 presidential nominating process thus far.

Unless something extraordinary happens, Texas Governor Rick Perry will be the GOP and Tea Party presidential nominee in 2012. He’s the darling of the extreme right and can be stomached by party moderates who know Mitt Romney has no chance of winning the top spot on the ticket without flip-flopping on nearly all of his social positions. So, no big deal, we’re looking at Rick Perry.

Here is some friendly advice that an opposing campaign should follow–Republican, Democrat or Independent:

1) Texas Governor Rick Perry shall not be referred to as the “Wal-Mart Candidate,” or “[Insert Fast-Food Chain Here] Candidate.”

Though bulk international realtors like Wal-Mart and unhealthy fast-food companies have crumbled the professional occupational base of this country, they remain wildly popular with folks struggling to get by on an unemployment check or–surprise, surprise–a minimum-wage job from one of the aforementioned. By undermining American business, Wal-Mart and McDonald’s can afford to churn out cheap (both quantitative and qualitative) goods; in tough economic times, folks are almost forced to shop here in order to feed and clothe their families. Many feel they don’t have an option.

Scoffing at Wal-Mart or fast food will almost certainly alienate the working families needed to win this election. The Texas Governor’s opposition will thus have popularly branded him without any effort on his part.

2) Don’t call him “Ricky Perry,” either.

Haven’t you seen Talledega Nights? This moniker will only draw comparisons with Will Ferrell’s character, Ricky Bobby. Yet another popular brand not to bestow on the Tea Party Candidate for President.

3) Refer to him as Texas Governor Rick Perry as much as possible.

Voters remember the last Governor from Texas in the White House–they sent a very resounding message that he messed things up for the country pretty bad with their vote in 2008.

(Disclaimer: Don’t push this point too hard or mention George W. Bush too often. You’ll look petty and juvenile.)

4) Refer to him as the Tea Party Candidate for President whenever possible.

The Tea Party has a very high unfavorability rating among Independents and voters who have not yet made up their mind in this election. And make no mistake: Texas Gov. Rick Perry got into this race because he knows he will have Tea Party support the whole way.

5) Do NOT mock Texas Governor Rick Perry’s faith.

Democrats and Independents who mock the faith of Texas Gov. Perry will absolutely be labeled as anti-Christian, anti-moral, typical liberals. This couldn’t be more untimely, as voters are finally seeing that being a good Christian in America means the Republican Party isn’t the only political congregation available. Progressive Christians put their faith into action every day through actual works of good both within government and without–highlight that heavily instead.

6) Do NOT mention his work for Al Gore…

…Unless you’re using it to highlight his flip-flopping on the issues or you live in a district where Gore is rabidly unpopular. Campaign on his work for the former Democratic Vice President and you’re just asking for voters to infer that he is bipartisan–big mistake. This guy is no Reagan.

7) Talk a lot about secession.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry advocated that policy for Texas for a time–do you really think a man who preached absolute disunion deserves the highest office in the land? Frame the choice as between a candidate of Lincoln and government “of the people, by the people, for the people” versus a candidate of discord and yesterday.

8) Show you have gall and grit when it comes to standing up for your faith; don’t allow it to be used as Texas Governor Perry did.

If he is bringing showmanship-faith into the public debate, good Christians of any political persuasion are entitled to remind the Texas Governor: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:5) Don’t cede an inch of ground to the Tea Party Candidate for President on this issue. His brand of Christianity is a sensationalist, boastful brand; highlight the alternative, which is true, humble, oats-and-barley faith.

9) Texas Governor Rick Perry is responsible for the death of 234 Americans.

For what it’s worth. Emphasize that one can be tough on crime without condoning more murder, which is what Texas’ death penalty allows–the most extreme of all fifty states.

10) If all else fails, give him the “$500 Hair Cut” treatment.

Hey, it worked against John Edwards. Sorry men, if you’ve got good hair, expect to have it used against you by the majority of the country bereft of such a privileged feature.

This is by no means an all-inclusive instruction manual on how to defeat Texas Governor Rick Perry, but it should be a starting point. There is no need to campaign negative or maliciously, but an informative opposition drive is necessary to lay bare the Tea Party Candidate.

In politics, like in football, there are no pre-ordained candidates. On any given election day, the campaign that has worked the hardest–and the smartest–with enough heart and drive will win the day. Let that be your mantra for a better American campaign in 2012.

(Cross-posted from The Journeying Progressive)


45 comments

  1. http://politicalticker.blogs.c

    Although the reporting about the pork tenderloin are a bit much. Really, CNN?

    Also, what a blatant disrespect to this nation’s military. Tea Party Candidate Rick Perry thinks that soldiers, sailors & airmen allow politics to dictate their loyalty and duty to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution?

    Somebody should lambaste him for that one. He talks a big talk, but he doesn’t walk the walk when it comes to honor in this instance.

  2. Shaun Appleby

    That these nomination battles are demolition derbies, it doesn’t matter how much damage you take so long as you do more to your opponent.  The question in my mind is…  Do Perry and Bachmann take out Romney first?  Or fight to the death for the right to do so?  Or is it just a free-for-all?

  3. jsfox

    This newest addition to the clown car that is the Republican field is probably the scariest of the bunch. He is a tireless campaigner and has the luck of the Irish when it comes to elections. This said, he has a record that should give any sane person pause.

    Fiscally responsible he is not, under his watch the state of Texas surpassed CA in it’s debt problem. And far as a job creator. Easy to do when you have the energy sector making money hand over fist and the largest job growth sector was minimum wage and lower jobs.

    And while his hate of the Federal government maybe a red meat talking point for the right it is no one you would want running it. This would be like making a vegan the CEO of Hormel.

  4. jsfox

    Perry has received a total of $37 million over the last decade from just 150 individuals and couples, who are likely to form the backbone of his new effort to win the Republican presidential nomination. The tally represented more than a third of the $102 million he had raised as governor through December, according to data compiled by the watchdog group Texans for Public Justice. Nearly half of those mega-donors received hefty business contracts, tax breaks or appointments under Perry, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis.

    http://www.latimes.com/news/na

  5. Kysen

    on Perry as my ‘horse in the race’…am I supposed to cheer him on?

    I am kinda unclear as to what the wager is.

    He scares me though.

    I can’t help but think about Reagan ‘The actor with the good hair’…who ‘loooked’ Presidential and that was enough to woo the nation.

    Honestly, most of the GOP folks don’t really scare me for 2012…it is 2016 that makes me shiver. I am pretty confident in Obama for ’12….however, I am not convinced that sanity (or anything close to it) will have been restored to the Republican Party by ’16 and it scares me to think of us having a Dem not as strong as Obama to put up against whatever loon they choose in ’16 (if Perry survives the Primaries this round….I totally see him running again in ’16).

    I have so very little faith in the voting public, though, that any election that rolls up I begin to sweat (no matter how confident I am).

  6. HappyinVT

    A number of Bush folks have slammed Perry on his comments re: Bernanke.  Rove’s Crossroads group is more interested in Romney.  Erik Erikson thinks Rove is trying to stay relevant.  All in all we may see some serious mudslinging for the next few weeks/months.

  7. jsfox

    Well this is certainly interesting in a perverse sort of way. This ad appeared in the Austin Chronicle and was placed by one Robert Marrow a Paul supporter.

    morrowadsmall2

    The fine prinat at the bottom:

    Offer not valid for enabling wives wearing Hillary Clinton boots

    Note to gay people: if you know the truth about Rick Perry, please QUIT covering for him

    You can find out a bit more over at:

    http://www.salon.com/news/poli

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