Posted on 04/02/2007 1:21:34 PM PDT by Bob J
We are losing the media battle for the hearts and minds of Americans over the war on terrorism in Iraq. The left controls the MSM...networks, much of cable, the major newspapers, magazines, hollywood, academia, etc. Rallies get scant coverage, positive developments in Iraq get spiked and the news is ALL BAD. They are never going to report fairly until they have elected a dem as President, and then it will be too late.
Now we're never going to convince the hardcore lefties or committed dems who will support anything, no matter how much it hurts the country, as long as it helps elect dems to office. We don't need to convince those of us on the right, that is just preaching to the choir and a waste of resources.
If we want to change the course of public opinion we need to reach those middle swing voters, independents and leaning pubbies who supported the war at the beginning but are now "going wobbly" as Margaret Thatcher might say.
The only way we can reach the public is by going around the MSM. This doesn't leave many avenues but there is one...outdoor advertising. While we don't have the money to rent thousands of billboards (yet) there is one thing we can do in the next 18 months that could be very effective...bumper stickers.
BS are traveling billboards and each one can create hundreds of impressions a day. Getting 100k or 500k or even 1 million BS's out on cars before the next election might help turn the tide.
1. The goal - Reshape majority opinion on the need to stay the course in Iraq.
2. Target - Independents, right leaning dems, swing voters and wobbly pubs and conservatives.
3. Method - Create millions of impressions each day that impact people on the need to defeat terror in Iraq and to support the Iraqi people in their efforts to create a funtioning democracy.
We need to create BS "slogans" that our targets will go "hmmm" at. They can't be in your face, they can't be overtly political and they absolutely cannot make them feel like they are traitors or are being accused of not supporting the military. If that is the impression created we'll lose them before we even get a shot at them. Many if not most of these "targets" DID support the war at one time and DO feel they support the military, but the left has been effective in co-opting that theme with "Yes, support the military by bringing them home", so it's impact has been diminished. This isn't saying supporting the troops isn't a noble cause and those efforts should be terminated, as it's important for our soldiers to know they have our support. But this media effort is not targeted at the military.
So, put yourself in the shoes of someone who at one time supported the effort in Iraq and maybe now has changed their mind. What could we put in a bumper sticker that might have them saying to themselves "Hmmm, I didn't think of that", or "I think that's right".
Please keep in mind brevity is critical to success in people seeing and understanding the message. The rule of thumb in marketing is you have 3 seconds, at best, to get your point across.
NOTE - We haven't come up with a plan yet on distributing the BS. The idea is still in it's conceptual stage, but all suggestions are welcome.
Thanks.
Support victory for the Troops!
While I don’t wish to wade into bureaucracy and do not expect FR to fit a bill for such an item, could there be some space for FReeRepublic.com on such a bumper sticker?
The Republic could benefit from having more FReeps!
What have you done today to stop hate and beheadings?
I, and my grandchildren, look forward to a world without beheadings
STOP IT (picture of a severed head)
Your “Elected Representatives” don’t give a crap about you or our military
United States of America=Hope for the World
True Story.
My son is simply fascinated with all things military and while I don’t necessarily like for my 8 year old to wade into the all the gorey details of the war I think it is important for him to begin understanding the sacrifices that our soldiers make on our behalf. I’ve begun to let him thumb through my Washington Times and call out some headlines while I make the 5 minute drive home from grabbing my coffee along with the paper. We then chat about the story.
Last week I was talking with him about the upcoming primaries and presidential elections and felt that it was important to preface my conversation with a simple; There are 2 political parties in our country. Do you know what they are called?
“Yes,...I think? One group is the Republicans and the other group is called the Terrorists.”
The Rosenbergs
9/11 should still hurt
Nukes+Jihadis=Stupid Idea
A vote for the Democrats is a vote against victory (Hught Hewitt)
Real religious fanatics want free thinkers dead...oops too late
Break the back of Radical Islam
Support the War on Terror
Draft a liberal-they just need a little structure
9/11 taught of we can be wounded
There is still time to save America
The jihadis want your surrender
Don’t make it easy
Your forefathers didn’t die on bloody battlegrouds so their daughters would have to hide their faces
Religion or the lack thereof should be chosen not forced by beheading or suicide bombing
Wanna be a martyr? I’m here to help!
When the going gets tough——fill in the blank
I have not read all the replies, but I think a bumper sticker with a web address would be the answer. The bumper sticker could have a little thought-provoking saying on it, or various sayings, but if they all pointed to one web site then after while people would get curious and want to check it out.
The website could immediately and clearly present a more accurate picture of the war in Iraq so that people are interested enough to spend a little time on the site and hopefully become educated in the process, at least a little.
I'd drop this one. The role of Hitler should be reserved to the enemy only.
The Democrats are the enemy, th domestic enemy
Yes. I don’t question this.
But saying “Hitler redeployed during a war... and therefore he lost” suggests that he was in a comparable position as the USA is today. I don’t think that’s effective and desired.
Also many people with the widespread lack of historical knowledfe likely won’t get the message.
Imagine Two Iran’s
But, I'd change it to say "Terrorists are the problem. Not George Bush.
"Retreat is NOT an option"
“Keep Your Head: Stay in Iraq”
I snagged this one from your profile page and thought, hey, this would be a good sticker:
"Never, Never, Never Quit." -Winston Churchill
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.