Posted on 02/22/2016 5:51:48 PM PST by conservativejoy
A little while back, I argued that Marco Rubio's tactics in attacking Ted Cruz's Senate record on immigration and national defense, among other things, were Alinskyite. They were and still are simply and demonstrably dishonest. Yet he persists, knowing full well that by the time the truth catches up with him, if ever, the damage will have been done. More recently, Rubio and his campaign team have intensified and broadened their Alinskyite tactics, now focusing on the ultimate personal smear - that Ted Cruz is a serial liar. Even in this, Rubio is not original. Of course, Donald Trump has been calling his opponents liars as an almost Tourette's-like response against anyone who reminds him of his past but recent support for leftists and leftist causes, some of whom and which he still embraces.
But Rubio's smears are part of a more deliberative and unrelenting propaganda campaign. They are now at the core of his campaign effort to dislodge Cruz and clear the field against Trump.
Saul Alinksy explained it this way: "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it." Rubio fancies himself the next Ronald Reagan. But such self-aggrandizement is unmerited. He's more Alinsky. Indeed, it was Reagan who, in his 1966 race for Governor of California, declared: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." I doubt Reagan would approve of Rubio's campaign of character assassination against Cruz. In all the years I campaigned for Reagan and worked for his administration, I cannot recall Reagan ever talking about another Republican this way. Certainly not as a relentless propaganda campaign.
...when the candidate himself (Rubio) is the source of the Alinskyite tactics, not a staffer acting on his own, that's an entirely different matter.
Rubio, like Trump, has difficulty explaining his past positions. For Trump, it doesn't seem to matter. Moreover, Trump's resort to personal attacks can be followed up with evidence of his business accomplishments. But Rubio has no significant accomplishments other than his election to various public offices. He has few if any accomplishments outside of politics and virtually no accomplishments in public office as a U.S. senator. In fact, Rubio's most notorious public act was as a senator, i.e., his leading role in crafting one of the most disastrous immigration bills in modern times, in knowing violation of his pledge to the voters of Florida in his last election. Not only has Rubio's immigration record gone from anti-amnesty to pro-amnesty to utter incoherence, but the issue of his own integrity is at stake. Thus, he employs Alinsky's rule and accuses Cruz of what he has actually become. He now focuses the media on his own accusations rather than his own thin record.
Campaigns are usually tough. No question about that. As I write this, Cruz just dropped his communications director for re-tweeting a false tweet. Perhaps there's more to it. Trump fired some of his staff early on. Carson did the same more recently. But when the candidate himself (Rubio) is the source of the Alinskyite tactics, not a staffer acting on his own, that's an entirely different matter. I had high hopes for Rubio when I was among his earliest supporters against Charlie Crist in Florida. But I'm deeply disappointed in him, as are many who voted for him. The growing endorsements for Rubio's presidential candidacy from establishment Republicans, most of whom cannot better articulate his accomplishments than he can, emphasize the point.
It is not too late for Rubio to reverse course. But I doubt he will. Polling in South Carolina shows that he (along with Trump) was successful with this tactic.
All of Talk Radio hates Marco Rubio to some degree.
Limbaugh & Hannity give him a few segments. I think Limbaugh in the last month has actually hurt Rubio by praising Rubio then going on to topics that totally hurt Rubio like immigration or establishment issues.
Levin hitched his wagon to the wrong candidate
Your man is done, Levin. Make your decision now and choose Trump over Rubio. Or see your ratings dwindle to nothing.
Poor Mark Levin, when Trump wins he’ll have program material for the next 4 or 8 years.
“A little while back, I argued that Marco Rubio’s tactics in attacking Ted Cruz’s Senate record on immigration and national defense, among other things, were Alinskyite”
No you didn’t Mark. A little while back you loved Rubio like a fat girl loves candy. I can still here you saying Rubio is a true conservative.
Oh BS. You tRumpsters think you have some kind of power. You are as delusional as the Donald. Mark will do just find without all of you losers.
Maybe Marco will stop the lies when Ted does. It’s a draw as to who can out lie the other. (not sure that is a proper sentence, but, it is rather catchy). So, Levin is laying off Trump for a while and going after Rubio? Priceless!
That was Rush saying Rubio was a full throated conservative. Not Levin, he has always been in for Cruz.
Levin manages to hit at Trump when he supposedly was after Rubio. Such a lovely person.
His lady friend’s son works for Cruz. Levin must be whupped.
Uh No Levin was pumping Rubio bigtime for weeks earlier in the race. Where have you been? LOL!
Used to respect Mark Levin but he lost me. Gone the way Beck has.
Trump for President.
You won’t back Rubio with Levin?
Well then, Levin will have everyone know that you are antisemitic.
I listen to Levin almost every night/
That sounds like Mark. :-)
Well then you should remember the bromance. That was before Mark’s girlfriends son went to work for Teddy.
Levin always sounds like Groucho Marx to me. Guess he always will.
Nice analogy...Cruz is McCarthy. Right but vilified by lies
Levin is exactly right, again.
I just signed up for LevinTV. I’m excited about it. Good deal.
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