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TheArtofPoliticalWarforTeaPartiesbyDavidHorowitz|FrontpageMag

THE ART OF POLITICAL WAR FOR TEA

PARTIES - BY DAVID HOROWITZ
How to stop the Obama machine's socialist assault on America.
November30,2009
4

DavidHorowitz(/author/davidhorowitz)

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AspecterishauntingAmericathespecterofapeoplerising.AllacrossthenationAmericansarewakinguptothe
threatofaleftistelitedeterminedtofundamentallychangeAmerica,pushthroughasocialistagenda,andmake
everycitizendependentonthestate.TheObamamachineisspendingtrillionsoftaxpayerdollarstofinancetheir
takeoveroftheAmericanworkplaceandstifletheindependenceoftheAmericanpeople.ButAmericaisresilient
nation,builtontheprinciplesofprivatepropertyandindividualfreedom,andtheresistancetotheirsocialistplans
hasalreadybegun.

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InMay2009,justfivemonthsintotheObamaadministration,thepeopleofCalifornialaunchedataxrevoltinthe
biggestspendingstateinthenation.SorecklessweretheleftistDemocratswhorunCalifornia(andhavedoneso
foraslongasanyonecanremember)thatitsdeficitalonewaslargerthanthebudgetsofmostotherstatesinthe
Unionandofmanyofthenationsoftheworld.Leftwingpoliticiansdontcutbudgetstheyproposenewtaxes.And
Californiasleftwinglegislaturedidjustthat.ButthankstoaconstitutionalamendmentputinplacebytheCalifornia
electoratethroughthestateInitiativeprocess,Californialegislatorscantraisetaxeswithoutatwothirdsreferendum
ofthepeople.SotheywereforcedtoholdaspecialelectioninMaytoappealtotheelectoratetopassfivenew
ballotInitiativestoraisetaxes.
Butwhenthevoteswerecounted,allfivetaxraisingInitiativeshadbeendefeatedby60%margins.EveninSan
Francisco.AsixthInitiativedesignedbytaxopponentstopunishlegislatorswhodonotbalancethebudgetpassed
byamorethan70%margin.EveninSanFrancisco.IfoneofthemostliberalstatesintheUnionissayingnotothe
soakthepublicphilosophyofleftwinglegislators,Obamasocialismisinbigtrouble.
TherevoltinCaliforniaquicklyspreadtotheentirenationthroughtheeffortsoftheTeaPartiesmovement,themost
innovative,excitingandpowerfulgrassrootsforceinthehistoryofAmericanconservatism.Itisvitaltothehealthof
thiscountrythattheTeaPartiesmovementgrow.Moretothepoint:itisessentialtoAmericansurvivalthattheTea
Partiesmovementsucceed.Ontheeveofthe2008presidentialelection,BarackObamasaidWearefivedays
awayfromfundamentallytransformingAmerica.TheTeaPartiesmovementistheAmericanpeoplesayingnoto
Obamasplansforrevolution.
***
Amovementwithoutaneffectivestrategyfordefeatingitsopponentscannotsucceed.Thereforeitisimportantto
reacquaintourselveswiththeartofpoliticalwar.
WhileDemocratsaremorallybankruptandcluelessaboutpolicyaboutwhatmakesthingsworktheystillwin
electionsbecausetheyunderstandasimplefact:Americanpoliticsisdrivenbytheromanceoftheunderdog,the
storyofthelittleguywhogoesupagainstthesystemandtriumphsintheend.Itisastoryaboutopportunityand
fairness.TowintheheartsandmindsoftheAmericanvoter,youhavetotaptheemotionstheromanceofthe
underdogevokes.Whoeverdoessohasawinningedge.
Americasheroesareallcuttothiscommonmold.WhetheritisGeorgeWashington,AbrahamLincoln,Davy
Crockett,ThomasEdison,HenryFord,AmeliaEarhart,JackieRobinson,RonaldReaganorColinPowell,thetheme
isalwaysthesame:Thecommonmanwhorisesagainsttheodds.AmericaspoliticalromanceisMr.SmithGoes
ToWashingtontomakethingsright.ItisMeetJohnDoewhospeaksforthevoiceless.ItisLukeSkywalkerwho
savestheplanetbyusingthegoodsideoftheForcetodefeattheEmpire.Itistheodysseyofindividualswho
challengepower,overcomeadversityandrisetothetop.EveryoneinAmericathinksofthemselvesasanunderdog
andaspirestobeahero.
ThecauseoftheunderdogwinsAmericanheartsbecauseitresonateswithourdeepestreligiousandmoral
convictionsofdoinggoodandhelpingothers.AndbecauseitisAmericasownstory.Webeganasasmallnation,
standinguptotheworldsmostpowerfulempire.Wededicatedourselvestotheideathatallmenarecreatedequal.
Weareanationofimmigrantsandagenerouspeoplewhoarrivedwithnothingandmadefortunesinanewworld.
ThisistheAmericanDream.
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Itsastorythatwillgetyoueverytime.Butatelectiontime,itsthepoliticalleftandtheDemocraticPartywhoknow
howtowielditasapoliticalweapon,andRepublicansandconservativesgenerallywhodont.OfcoursetheTea
Partieshavechangedallthat.Andthatisanothersignthatweareinanextraordinarypoliticalmoment.TheTea
PartiesdrawontheheritageofAmericasownrevolutionasanunderdognationandarethevoiceofthepeople,
oppressednowbytheirowngovernmentwhichisoutofcontrolanddeterminedtocrushthem.
*
Inpositioningthemselvesaschampionsoftheunderrepresented,neglectedandoppressed,leftistsemploya
versionofAmericasstorythattheyhavemanufacturedthroughtheirgriponthemediaandtheacademicculture.
TheyhavetransformedAmericasstoryfromanepicoffreedomintoataleofracism,exploitationanddomination.
Intheirtelling,Americanhistoryisnolongeranarrativeofexpandingopportunity,ofmenandwomensucceeding
againsttheodds.Instead,itisaMarxistMoralityPlayaboutthepowerfulandtheirvictims.
Instagingtheirpoliticaldramas,progressivesinvariablyclaimtospeakinthenameofAmericasallegedvictims.
EverypolicyoftheDemocraticPartyispresentedasaprogramtohelpthesevictimswomen,children,minorities
andthepoor.Simultaneously,DemocratsdescribeRepublicanpoliciesasprogramsthatwillinjuretheweak,ignore
thevulnerable,andkeepthepowerlessdown.
RepublicansplayrightintotheDemocratstrapbecausetheyapproachpoliticsasaproblemofmanagement.To
Republicans,everyissueisamanagementissuetheutilityofataxcut,theefficiencyofaprogram,theoptimal
methodforrunninganenterprise.Republicanstalklikebusinessmenwhowantachancetomanagethecountryso
thatitwillturnaprofit.
Thereisnothingwrongwithinstitutinggoodpoliciesandrunningthingsefficientlyorturningaprofit.Butwhile
RepublicansareperformingtheseGoldStaractivities,Democratsareengagedinadifferentkindofdrama.Theyare
busyattackingRepublicansasservantsoftherich,oppressorsoftheweakanddefendersofthestrong.And
enemiesofthepeople.
ListentoMarioCuomodescribingRepublicanstotheDemocrats1996NationalConvention:

WeneedtoworkaswehaveneverdonebeforebetweennowandNovember5thtotaketheCongress
backfromNewtGingrichandtheRepublicans,becauseladiesandgentlemen,brothersandsisters,
theRepublicansaretherealthreat.Theyaretherealthreattoourwomen.Theyaretherealthreatto
ourchildren.Theyaretherealthreattocleanwater,cleanairandtherichlandscapeofAmerica.

MarioCuomoknowsthelanguageofpoliticalwar.
Democratsconnectemotionallywithpeoplesfearsandconcerns.Theappealtohelptheunderdoganddefendthe
victimresonateswithallAmericans.ThisisbecauseAmericansareafairmindedpeople.Mostsuccessful
Americanscamefromhumbleoriginsthemselves.Theywanttohelpothers.Theywanteveryonetohavethe
chancetosucceed.
SodoRepublicansandconservatives.Buttheyrarelyconnecttheirpoliciesandprinciplestothispoliticalromance.
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Theresagoodreasonforthis.ConservativesarebusydefendingtherealAmericaagainsttheleftsattacksandthe
antiAmericancaricaturetheyhaveconstructed.ConservativesknowthatAmericaisstillalandofopportunityand
freedom,andthatnobodyinAmericaisreallyoppressed.(Otherwise,whywouldpoor,black,HispanicandAsian
minoritiesbedesperatelyseekingtocomehere?Whywouldnttheybeleavinginstead?)
Butpoliticsisntjustaboutreality.Ifitwere,goodprinciplesandgoodpolicieswouldwineverytime.Itsabout
imagesandsymbols,andtheemotionstheyevoke.Thisisabattlethatconservativesgenerallylose.
Intheromanceofthevictim,asprogressivesstageit,Republicansandconservativesarealwaysonthesideofthe
badguysthepowerful,themale,thewhiteandthewealthy.Itseasytoseehowpatriotismplaysintothistrap.
DefendingAmericaisreadilymisrepresentedasanattitudethatsays:ImallrightJack,soyoushouldbetoo.
Theleftrelishestheopportunitytosmearpatriotsasmembersoftheselfishpartyinsteadofasdefendersof
individualfreedom.
AnnCoulterhasdescribedthemottooftheleftasthis:Speakloudlyandcarryasmallvictim.FortheDemocrats,
theromanceofthevictimstirsthesoulsoftheirsupportersandenergizestheirbase.Equallyimportant,itprovides
thenuclearwarheadoftheirpoliticalattack.Conservativesaretargetedvictimizers,andleftistsasthechampionsof
theoppressed.Learninghowtoturnthisaroundwillturnaroundthepoliticalwaraswell.
GoingOnTheAttack
Fortunately,conservativescanusetheleftwingattackagainstthem.Contrarytotheleftsview,Americaisnota
landofvictims.Itisahighlymobilesociety,withacitizenrythataspiresupwardsthroughthesystem,notagainst
it.
Conservativescanalsoturntheleftsoppressionmytharound,andaimitsgunsatthem.Infact,usingtheromance
oftheunderdogagainsttheleftisthebestwaytoneutralizetheirattack.
Thewaytodoitistorecognizethatthemostpowerfulforcesobstructingopportunityforpoorandminority
Americans,themostpowerfulforcesoppressingthem,areprogressives,theDemocraticParty,andtheirpolitical
creationthewelfarestate.
Thereisreallynothingnewinthisidea.Conservativesalreadyopposetheprogramsoftheleftasobstaclestothe
productionofwealthandbarrierstoopportunityforallAmericans.Whatisnewistheideaofconnectingthis
analysistoapoliticalstrategythatwillgiveconservativesadecisiveedgeinbattlethatwillneutralizetheclass,
raceandgenderwarfareattacksofthepoliticalleft.
ThePrinciples
Herearetheprinciplesofpoliticalwarthattheleftunderstandsbutconservativesdonot:
1.Politicsiswarconductedbyothermeans
2.Politicsisawarofposition

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Importao de China
Fornecedor Chins Certificado. Oportunidade de Negcio Agora

3.Inpoliticalwarstheaggressorusuallyprevails
4.Positionisdefinedbyfearandhope
5.Theweaponsofpoliticsaresymbolsevokingfearandhope
6.Victoryliesonthesideofthepeople
Herearetheprinciplesexplained:
Politicsiswarconductedbyothermeans.
Inpoliticalwarfareyoudonotfightjusttoprevailinanargument,buttodestroytheenemysfightingability.
ConservativesoftenseemtoregardpoliticalcombatsastheywouldadebatebeforetheOxfordPoliticalUnion,as
thoughwinningdependsonrationalargumentsandcarefullyarticulatedprinciples.Buttheaudienceofpoliticsisnot
madeupofOxforddons,andtherulesareentirelydifferent.
Forstarters,youhaveonly30secondstomakeyourpoint.Evenifyouhadtimetodevelopanargument,the
audienceyouneedtoreach(theundecidedandthoseinthemiddlewhoarenotpayingmuchattention)wouldntget
it.Yourwordswouldgooversomeoftheirheadsandtherestwouldnotevenhearthem(orbequicklyforgotten)
amidstthebustleandpressureofdailylife.Worse,whileyouvebeenmakingyourargumenttheothersidehas
alreadypaintedyouasameanspirited,borderlineracistcontrolledbyreligiouszealots,securelyinthepocketsof
therich.Nobodywhoseesyouthiswayisgoingtolistentoyouinanycase.Yourepoliticallydead.
Politicsiswar.Dontforgetit.
Politicsisawarofposition.
Inwartherearetwosides:friendsandenemies.Yourtaskistodefineyourselfasthefriendofaslargea
constituencycompatiblewithyourprinciplesaspossible,whiledefiningyouropponentastheirenemywhereverand
wheneveryoucan.Theactofdefiningcombatantsisanalogoustothemilitaryconceptofchoosingtheterrainof
battle.
Choosetheterrainthatmakesthefightasloadedinyourfavoraspossible.Butbecareful.Americanpoliticstakes
placeinapluralisticframework,whereconstituenciesarediverseandofteninconflict.Fairnessandtoleranceare
theformalrulesofdemocraticengagement.Ifyouappearmeanspirited,nasty,ortoojudgmental,itwillmakethe
taskeasierforyouropponenttodefineyouasathreat,andthereforeastheenemy.(Seeprinciple4)
Inpoliticalwarfare,theaggressorusuallyprevails.
Conservativesoftenpursueastrategyofwaitingfortheothersidetoattack.Infootballthisisknownasaprevent
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defense.Inpoliticsitisthestrategyoflosers.
Aggressionisadvantageousbecausepoliticsisawarofposition.Positionisdefinedbyimagesthatstick.By
strikingfirstyoucandefinetheissuesandyouradversary.Definingtheoppositionisthedecisivemoveinall
politicalwar.Otherthingsbeingequal,whoeverisputonthedefensivegenerallywindsuponthelosingside.
Inattackingyouropponent,takecaretodoitright.Goingnegativeincreasestheriskofbeingdefinedasanenemy.
Therefore,itcanbecounterproductive.Rulingoutthenegative,however,canincuranevengreaterrisk.
Positionisdefinedbyfearandhope.
Thetwinemotionsofpoliticsarefearandhope.Thosewhoprovidepeoplewithhopebecometheirfriendsthose
whoinspirefearbecomeenemies.Ofthetwo,hopeisthebetterchoice.Byofferingpeoplehopeandyourselfasits
provider,youshowyourbettersideandmaximizeyourpotentialsupport.
Butfearisapowerfulandindispensableweapon.Ifyouropponentdefinesyounegativelyenough,hewilldiminish
yourabilitytoofferhope.ThisiswhyDemocratsaresodeterminedtoportrayconservativesasmeanspirited,and
hostiletominorities,themiddleclassandthepoor.
Itisimportanttoworkawayfromthenegativeimagesyouropponentwantstopinonyou.Ifyouknowyouaregoing
tobeattackedasintolerantandbigoteditsagoodideatoleadwithapositionthatisinclusiveandfairminded.If
youaregoingtobeframedasmeanspiritedandungenerous,itsagoodideatoputonasmileandleadwith
symbolsthatprojectgenerosityandcharity.
Theweaponsofpoliticsaresymbolsevokingfearandhope.
Conservativeslosealotofpoliticalbattlesbecausetheycomeacrossashardedged,scolding,scowlingand
sanctimonious.Agoodruleofthumbsaysbejusttheopposite.Youhavetoconvincepeopleyoucareaboutthem
beforetheyllcareaboutwhatyouhavetosay.
Whenyoudogettospeak,dontforgetthatasoundbiteisallyouhave.Whateveryouhavetosay,makesureto
sayitloudandclear.Keepitsimpleandkeepitshort.(Asloganisalwaysbetter).Repeatitoften.Getiton
television.Radioisgood,butwithfewexceptions,onlytelevisionreachesapublicthatiselectorallysignificant.In
politics,televisionisreality.
Ofcourse,youhaveabaseofsupporterswhowilllistenforhourstowhatyouhavetosayifthatswhatyouwant.
Inthebattlesfacingyou,theywillplayanimportantrole.Therefore,whatyousaytothemisalsoimportant.Butitis
notgoingtodecideelections.Theaudiencesthatwilldetermineyourfateareaudiencesthatyouwillfirsthaveto
persuade.Youwillhavetofindawaytoreachthemandgetthemtolisten.Andgetthemtosupportyou.Withthese
audiences,youwillneverhavetimeforrealargumentsorproperanalyses.Imagessymbolsandsoundbiteswill
alwaysprevail.
Thereforeitisabsolutelyessentialtofocusyourmessageandrepeatitoverandoveragain.Lackoffocuswill
derailyourmessage.Ifyoumaketoomanypoints,yourmessagewillbediffusedandnothingwillgetthrough.The
resultwillbethesameasifyouhadmadenopointatall.
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Leftistshaveapartyline.Whentheyarefightinganissuetheyfocustheiragenda.Duringlegislativebattles,every
timeaDemocratstepsinfrontofthecamerasthereisatleastonelineinhisspeechthatissharedwithhis
colleagues.Taxbreaksforthewealthyattheexpenseofthepoor,isoneexample.Repetitioninsuresthatthe
messagewillgetthrough.
WhenRepublicansspeakduringlegislativebattles,theyallmarchtoadifferentdrummer.Therearemany
messagesinsteadofone.Onemessageisasoundbite.Manymessagesareanindecipherablenoise.Theresultof
manymessagesisthatthereisnomessage.
Symbolsandsoundbitesdeterminethevote.Thesearewhathitpeopleinthegutbeforetheyhavetimetothink.
Andthesearewhatpeopleremember.Symbolsaretheimpressionsthatlast,andwhatultimatelydefinesyou.
Carefullychosenwordsandphrasesaremoreimportantthanparagraphs,speeches,partyplatformsand
manifestos.Whatyouprojectthroughimagesiswhatyouare.
Victoryliesonthesideofthepeople.
Thisisthebottomlineforeachoftheprinciplesandforalloftheprinciples.Youmustdefineyourselfinwaysthat
peopleunderstand.Youmustgivepeoplehopeinyourvictory,andmakethemfearthevictoryofyouropponent.
Youcanaccomplishbothbyidentifyingyourselfandyourissueswiththeunderdogandthevictim,withminorities
andthedisadvantaged,withtheordinaryJanesandJoes.
Thisiswhatleftistsdobest,andconservativesoftenneglecttodoatall.Everypoliticalstatementbyaleftistisan
efforttosay:Wecareaboutwomen,children,minorities,workingAmericansandthepoor.And:Conservatives
aremeanspirited,servetherichanddontcareaboutyou.Thisistheleftsstrategyofpoliticalwar.If
conservativesaretowinthepoliticalwarwehavetoturntheseimagesaround.
Wealsohavetomakeourcampaignsacause.DuringtheColdWar,conservativeshadacause.Theyweresaving
thecountryfromCommunism.ItwasacausethatresonatedateverylevelwiththeAmericanpeople.Thepoorest
citizenunderstoodthattheirfreedomwasatstakeinmakingsurethatconservativeswereelectedtoconductthe
nationsdefense.
Inademocracy,thecausethatfiresuppassionsisthecauseofthepeople.Thatiswhypoliticiansliketorun
againstWashingtonandagainstanythingthatrepresentsthepowersthatbe.Asthelefthasshown,theideaof
justiceisapowerfulmotivator.Itwillenergizethetroopsandfuelthecampaignsthatarenecessarytowinthe
politicalwar.Conservativesbelieveineconomicopportunityandindividualfreedom.Thecoreofourideasis
freedomandjusticeforall.IfwecanmakethisintelligibletotheAmericanelectorate,wewillbecomethemajority
againandstopthesocialistjuggernautthatthreatensourAmericanfuture.
Tags:America(/tag/america),AnnCoulter(/tag/anncoulter),Freedom(/tag/freedom),Socialism

(/tag/socialism),War(/tag/war),Left(/tag/left),TIME(/tag/time),Battle(/tag/battle),Party
(/tag/party),way (/tag/way),side(/tag/side),threat(/tag/threat),victim(/tag/victim),Attack
(/tag/attack),land(/tag/land),fear(/tag/fear),warfare(/tag/warfare),opportunity (/tag/opportunity),
Audience(/tag/audience),Argument(/tag/argument),enemy (/tag/enemy),romance(/tag/romance),
idea(/tag/idea),position(/tag/position),Don(/tag/don),Jack (/tag/jack),Oxford(/tag/oxford)
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ABOUT DAVID HOROWITZ

(/AUTHOR/DAVID-HOROWITZ)

DavidHorowitzwasoneofthefoundersoftheNew
Leftinthe1960sandaneditorofitslargest
magazine,Ramparts.Heistheauthor,withPeter
Collier,ofthreebestsellingdynastic

(/author/davidhorowitz)

biographies:TheRockefellers:AnAmerican
Dynasty(1976)TheKennedys:AnAmerican

Dream(1984)andTheFords:AnAmericanEpic(1987).LookingbackinangerattheirdaysintheNewLeft,heand
CollierwroteDestructiveGeneration(1989),achronicleoftheirsecondthoughtsaboutthe60sthathasbeen
comparedtoWhittakerChambersWitnessandotherclassicworksdocumentingabreakfromtotalitarianism.
HorowitzexaminedthissubjectmorecloselyinRadicalSon(1996),amemoirtracinghisodysseyfromreddiaper
babytoconservativeactivistthatGeorgeGilderdescribedasthefirstgreatautobiographyofhisgeneration.
READ MORE (/AUTHOR/DAVID-HOROWITZ)

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