Lakoff: Palin Appeals to Voter Emotions -- Dems Beware
I just recieved an e-mail froma friend re: the nomination of Sarah Palin as the GOP candidate for Veep and why Democrats should take heed and quickly take bold counter actions. It's authored by George Lakoff, on Alternet, 2 days ago.
Ben Senturia, in his message circulating the article says, "For those who have not seen this article, George Lakoff warns us not to miss the real appeal of the Palin nomination. He does so within the context of how the "political brain" functions, which Democrats have failed to use effectively in the past. Very interesting"
I urge you all to read it. http://www.alternet.org/story/97193/
Sen, Obama seems to be learning the symbolism of the campaign is more the key than the issues, it's more about emotion than reason. Very good analysis.
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Right On Lakoff
As usual, Lakoff is right on. I love the guy. I hope Democrats are listening. Evidence that people don't vote with their reasoning power and on the issues is certainly evidenced by working class voters voting Republican in the last several election cycles. Even as their lives and the middle class, in general have deteriorated that have clung to this voting pattern, with facts and reality totally disregarded. This is because the Republicans tell the stories they like to hear.
Lakoff said this in the Alternet article:
"They have not learned the nature of conservative populism. (He is speaking about the Democrats) A great many working-class folks are what I call "bi-conceptual," that is, they are split between conservative and progressive modes of thought. Conservative on patriotism and certain social and family issues, which they have been led to see as "moral", progressive in loving the land, living in communities of care, and practical kitchen table issues like mortgages, health care, wages, retirement, and so on."
"Conservative theorists won them over in two ways: Inventing and promulgating the idea of "liberal elite" and focusing campaigns on social and family issues. They have been doing this for many years and have changed a lot of brains through repetition. Palin will appeal strongly to conservative populists, attacking Obama and Biden as pointy-headed, tax-and-spend, latte liberals. The tactic is to divert attention from difficult realities to powerful symbolism."
Another dynamic that Lakoff mentioned is that "Palin is running for the sweetheart of the West". Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and even Montana are very much in play this election. Rural folks like their guns and independence out West. Palin from Alaska, who supported shooting wolves from airplanes for sport, is going to appeal to those voters. I live in rural Michigan and the attitude is not all that dissimilar. As neighbor once told me the government doesn’t have the right to tell him he can’t have an automatic machine gun and he should be able to kill any animal, anytime he wants. That pretty well sums up the attitude. Even though it is 2008 and they have beer bellies and spend a lot more time with the TV remote control than they do outdoors, they still fancy themselves rugged outdoorsmen.
It would definitely be a mistake to blow Palin off as an inexperienced, empty head. We did the same thing with George w. Bush and couldn't believe people actually voted for him. Hyper-vigilance is warranted.