What The White House Wants To Say, But Can't (Taking on Sarah Palin directly)

The Atlantic ^ | September 17, 2010 | Marc Ambinder

[2ndDivisionVet]

So here's the scenario. The Democrats who craft political strategy for the party have tried to figure out how to somehow use the Tea Party moment to provide an advantage to their base. When the Tea Partiers, collectively, are in economic libertarian mode, Democrats can't make much noise.

But when Tea Partiers are in "elect someone like Christine O'Donnell mode," Democrats sense an opportunity. Simply put, the crazier the Tea Party seems, the more Democrats can link the Republican agenda to its source of energy, which in turn fires up rank-and-file Democrats.

At this point, you're probably saying... "Thank you, Captain Obvious," or something less charitable. But the background is necessary because there IS a way, a sure-fire way, to energize the Democratic base, to even pull the "professional left's" attention away from disappointment and criticism for a moment.

This tactic has been debated inside the White House, and senior advisers just aren't there yet. Trying to make John Boehner a foil for the election, or even Jim DeMint, or even Glenn Beck, is like spending half of the amount you've budgeted for a nice wool suit. Instead of Dolce and Gabbana, you wear Kenneth Cole.

There is, in fact, a much better avatar of the Tea Party movement, someone whose very name provokes disgust among Democrats, someone whose name identification is 100 percent and whose ubiquity is extremely useful.

That person is Sarah Palin.

[wideawake]

I find it more intriguing they consider not blowing your whole budget is a failure somehow.

Bingo.

[shotdog]

* is like spending half of the amount you’ve budgeted for a nice wool suit. Instead of Dolce and Gabbana, you wear Kenneth Cole.* What an elitist comment to make. I am unabashed enough to say that I have not heard of any of these “wearhouses.”

Let’s address the issues, not ad hominem attacks on what someone wears or not. sheesh. sd

[ICCtheWay]

The more contrived the Democrat counter punch becomes the more desperate they seem... I read these kinds of things and wonder why the Dems cannot just see the Tea Parties for what they are... Fanciful interpretations only please those who make them up... Tea Parties are just grassroots opposition to the Obama/Democrat policies... To counter it - then work on your own grassroots uprising... problem is they can’t - the passion is not there for the Dems... so they just make crap up...

[hinckley buzzard]

What these saps don't realize is that many tea partiers are the 'rat base. Hard to win an election by demonizing the mainstream!

[Ole Okie]

So, all they can do is demonize the opposition in personal ways.

Zero's personal Little Red Book seems to be written by Saul Alinsky.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

"I think we're supposed to chuckle because we're supposed to immediately "get" that Dolce and Gabbana is somehow much better than Kenneth Cole.

Do any of those fellers make coverhauls?

I'm due for a new pair. ;)