Posted on 10/12/2004 7:20:19 AM PDT by jmstein7
Free Advice for Karl Rove: Kerry's Inherent Debating Limitation
By Jonathan Stein
As I understand it, Karl Rove and other GOP operatives scour the conservative websites for useful information -- information they can employ in the campaign. So, I'm writing this with the hope that Mr. Rove, or one of his ilk, will read it and take it to heart. As an advance warning to editors who read this, I plan to submit this "editorial" to multiple sources, but I believe, in this case, it is worth suspending the usual "exclusive material" rule. If this gets into the right hands, it could make all the difference in the world. And, it doesn't matter if Democrat operatives see it because, like the "Crane Kick" in the Karate Kid, there is no defense against what I am suggesting.
Why should you take my advice, you might ask? Who the heck am I? I am an Ivy League grad with an expertise in debate, at least as good as any advisors on your payroll. I am a top ranked law student who plans to go into litigation, and my school's top student in Appellate Advocacy -- an advanced, lawyerly sort of debate. I am also a top student in Trial Advocacy, another form of debate. So, you have nothing to lose by listening to what I have to say. I am also a columnist who knows how to use words effectively. And, to boot, my SAT scores and IQ are higher than both candidates currently running for president (for what that's worth). Not to toot my own horn, but the point is that I'm someone worth listening to, by the rather snobby and condescending credentials recognized by the so-called professionals. Of course, I believe that everyone is worth listening to -- but I know that that platitude doesn't cut muster with the pros and their rather sneering view of the wisdom of ordinary Americans in general, who are far more intelligent than people give them credit for. Now, to the substance of what I have to say. . .
The surest way to defeat an opponent, either verbally or in combat, is not to go point-for-point or blow-for-blow -- that merely prolongs the battle. The surest way to win is to disable your opponent early on. If you take away his weapons, if you make his words meaningless, he cannot fight back. After watching and analyzing Senator Kerry's debate performances -- both on the Presidential and Senatorial levels -- I believe that Senator Kerry can be effectively disabled early on in the upcoming debate.
The simple fact is that despite his prowess with words, his facility with facts, and his studied (though wholly artificial) style, Kerry faces a severe and fatal limitation: criticism. Senator Kerry is wholly limited, in his debate performance, to criticizing the President -- there is nothing more he can do; he has no other weapons in his arsenal. This simple fact, if explicitly and effectively pointed out early and often, can disable Kerry.
Ronald Reagan, in his debates with Walter Mondale, understood this. President Reagan boiled this concept down into a simple message: "there you go again." It didn't matter how Mondale responded, as his points were lost on an audience that had been consciously reminded that anything Mondale was saying was merely recycled criticism. President Bush needs to find a way to do the same exact thing -- and he has to do it first.
If this tactic is used by Kerry against the President, the President can parry because he has a record of leadership and a concrete plan in place to face the challenges of the future. Kerry cannot. He cannot because Kerry is in the uncomfortable position of having a 20 year record of indecisive liberalism. There is nothing he can point to to overcome his limitation of criticism. The words "I have a plan" won't cut it, and they have become such a joke that they can't save him.
As the subject of Debate Number Three will be domestic issues, Homeland Security (a domestic issue) is on the table. The fact that Kerry considers terrorism (a homeland security issue) a mere "nuisance" will hurt Kerry and can be used against him. In fact, polls (for what they're worth) show that safety and security (e.g. security moms) are top issues that resonate with the public. Helen Thomas was quite right in her assertion that the President can scare Americans with the "T-word" (e.g. terrorism). And, they should be scared. The difference between this scare tactic and the scare tactics used by the Democrats (Mediscare, social security, Jim Crow, etc.) is that there is a firm, discrete, factual basis for this fear -- a legitimate basis. Americans fear terrorism because terrorism is a real, legitimate threat. It should not be avoided; it should be hammered home. It is legitimate. In fact, downplaying the threat, which Kerry has done, is in fact dishonest and dangerous.
Combating the threat of terror and violence requires leadership -- a quality that President Bush has and John Kerry does not. The polls bear this out as well. President Bush must drive home the point that, at this point in time, we need a Commander-in-Chief, and not a Critic-in-Chief. Anything less will put lives in danger. Anything less will threaten economic growth. Anything less with threaten the very foundation of our country. Hiring a critic to lead the free world would be a critical mistake. If Kerry wants to be a critic, he can join the editorial board of the New York Times. If he wants to become President, he must demonstrate that he can lead. He can't.
Also, if the subject of the military ever comes up, President Bush would be well-advised to point out that over 75% of the armed forces support his re-election. This is a significant point, and a point that Kerry cannot counter. Shouldn't we give our troops in the field the leader whom they overwhelmingly feel should lead them? Kerry cannot counter that point, and the President should drive it home early and often.
Another interesting observation about Senator Kerry's debate style is that once he is put on the defensive, he becomes, well, defensive, petulant, and more unlikable. When the President responds with a defensive answer, Kerry's rebuttal is an attack, and he scores points. When the President responds to a question with an affirmative attack on Kerry's record (which he did often in the second debate), Kerry did not attack, but rebutted with ineffective, petulant defenses. This is another key to victory -- keep Kerry on the defensive for as long as possible. When Kerry plays defensive, he is ineffective and unlikable. I cannot underscore this point enough.
So, in sum, the President can score an easy victory in the next debate by doing the following:
1) Attack and effectively point out Kerry's limitation -- criticism -- early and often. This will disable and defang him, rendering his future critical attacks moot. Seriously... Kerry cannot go a single question without Bush-bashing and saying "this President" or "George W. Bush", etc. What will you do Senator, and don't insult us by saying "I have a plan"? Come up with a good one- or two-liner to drive this point home early and effectively and the debate will be over.
2) Answer and end every single question with an attack on Senator Kerry's record. When Kerry is put on defense, he is ineffective, petulant, and unlikable. And, when defending himself, he gets bogged down and mired in minutiae that is lost on the audience, mooting his points.
It is really just that simple.
Excellent.
i did read an article in nro or somewhere after kerry's 'global test' fiasco that made the case of kerry using 'but' in all of his answers
Me too. Plus, Rush reaches more people than FR on any given day. Hannity and others too. But, like you, I enjoy reading things on FR that end up on Rush's program. It gives me a small smile of satisfaction that Rush isn't the only conservative in the world who is thinking these things through.
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
After the President says this, he follows up with, "Which is it Senator --- are you part of the solution or part of the problem? Mr. Kerry, show us your plan (reminescent of the Berlin Wall)!!!
Gwjack
we should get on the footballfansfortruth website and recommend they put kerry in the hall of fame as the greatest monday morning quarterback ever
Here's some more ammunition for the debate:
Kind of reminds me of the opening line of Fantasy Island....The Plane, The Plane.....
So9
I agree with this editorial and I hope the Prez takes note of each point. I would also add to this that Bush can score big points and deflate a large Kerry balloon by sincerely admitting that he has made some mistakes, but has never lied. Bush should think ahead how he will answer the question "What mistakes have you made?", as the question has already been asked at both previous debates, and Bush sidestepped a direct response. He should NOT give Kerry red meat such as saying maybe we shouldn't have gone to Iraq or any other point the Dems would love to beat on, but rather some innocuous, forgivable mistakes or misjudgments that put Bush in the light of honesty and sincerity. Bush would get a huge bump out of a successful and well-considered answer to that question. And the question will come up again.
A legend in your own mind, are ya?
Thanks for the link. I missed that. (Great minds must think the same way, whick is to say I knew I wasn't the first. It happens often on FR.) (Is this where I can use the word "but"?)
Of course...and Kerry wants us to buy into his Fantasy.
I agree, it is frustrating. I just wish there was a place where the campaign allowed some of us 'amateurs' to share with them. They don't always see things the way we people on the outside of the inner circle do and I think they lose some fresh perspective of things since they see it only from the inside. Anyway, this is a great place to be and I am enjoying this discussion very much and it is helping me as I prepare my emails to send out. Again, whether anyone reads them or not--well I can only hope.
I like the one saying The plan! The plan! ala Fantasy Island. It really brings funny images to mind.
I DO believe Bush will point out the Kerry lack of a plan for his years in the senate, and the horrible Kerry voting record on other plans Kerry supported.
yes it was the carter debate. bush neeeds to have zingers that self-correct to put kerry on the defensive throughout the debate
WRT #2, nearly every response President Bush makes to a Kerry criticism should include some form of, "If you really believe that, why haven't you introduced any legislation during the 20 years you've been in the Senate to do that?"
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