Last night I watched the Glenn Beck show at the request of a friend. This was the catalyst for much thought on where we are; where we need to go; and how to get there.
First, I’ll provide a glimpse of perspective for the reader. I am a routine viewer of the Fox News channel and part time viewer of CNN and MSNBC so I get all sides of the story. My first career was invested as a military pilot. During that time I was fortunate to have traveled the world and worked at a very high level of our government in a support role. In my second career I turned entrepreneur and single parent.
As a point of clarification I do not use the terms republican and conservative interchangeably. The term Republican refers to the party and the term conservative refers to a political value base.
Monday evening I found Glenn Beck’s positions interesting. His show is a commentary and not news. However, I do believe that he identified some key issues. Unfortunately, his demeanor invalidates his message to some and his reputation prohibits others for ever tuning in. I am suspicious of his assessment that Americans have (are close to) hitting the wall on political correctness. However, this is a key issue which liberals capitalize on. Personally, I think the majority of our population is uninformed as to what is really taking place in America. Much like the talk shows that held pre-election interviews of liberal voters and revealed the vast majority did not even understand Obama’s political positions on key issues. My take is they were just trying to be part of the political process because someone showed interest in them and/or it was the popular thing to do. Just as voting for Obama’s without understanding his positions was kind of “cute, fun and kind of cool to have a black President.” Does this sound like a politically correct response? Despite the general lack of understanding that exists, probably more correctly labeled “apathy,” the net effect of what happened is a true testimony to the impact of great marketing. Therefore, the conservatives must adopt a marketing campaign that reaches the young, old, wealthy; poor and most importantly the liberal. Please tell me why the “movie stars” who in most cases have little to no formal education or experience in foreign affairs, economics, combat operations etc. and are so influential in the political arena. The answer is exposure and the way the message is conveyed. People relate to them and want to identify with them. It has nothing to do with substance. Just like Obama; no experience, anti America connections, professed socialist agenda, but a great marketing campaign and an exceptional delivery. If you do not think it is about marketing, take a look at business. Everyday the American consumer buys all kinds of “junk” they do not need. In a month or so it goes to the garage and awaits a garage sale or just gets tossed. Now, think about making an informed decision to purchase something you really do need and how that makes you feel down the road. To start a real recovery the conservatives need to accomplish four (4) basic things to start the turning the Titanic before it hits the iceberg:
1. Stop Obama’s heath care – Health care as proposed is the one issue that breaks America’s back and from which America can not recover. Health care is in desperate need of reform. It is not in need of the government’ bureaucracy. Like filling out forms? Like trying to get an answer from a bureaucrat or even from your elected representative? How is that the plan is good enough for the average citizen, but not good enough for our elected national representatives?
2. Stop illegal immigration – Illegal immigration in the simplest form is breaking into America and taking that which does not belong to them. How is it OK to overlook this as a crime? It’s not OK to break into someone’s house and take their property. This single paradigm change in itself will turn the corner on the financial drain to our economy. This is worth any monetary investment we make as we will get a substantial return on the dollar. However, to do this we must change the hearts and minds of Americans and they, the majority, must demand change. This takes education as to what the real cost is via the correct media(s). Start with schools and prisons. Why can’t we ask someone to prove citizenship to register for school? Why not stop all the social benefits for illegal residents and maybe most of them will go home? They are not stupid; they know where the free lunch is.
3. Find a real leader in the US political conservative movement that embodies the true conservative political values (basic Reagan values) but not try to ride Reagan’s coat tails. In other words make them our values This person must be middle age; look vibrant and energetic; be an exceptional communicator; have a track record of success and experience (not necessarily political); and have a team that knows how to market the leader and associated values. Marketing is the art form! There are many businesses who advocate that sales is about education and creating the need.
4. Get involved – Remind the politicians that they answer to the people. Send e-mails and fax letters. Most of them are career politicians; that is a separate issue for another day, and will follow what will get them re-elected. This means that in addition to communicating to them you must cast a well informed vote at every opportunity. Talk to others, especially those who do not share your political beliefs. Remember, we never grow and learn when we live in our comfort zone. Get out of your comfort zone!
As in integral part of the political marketing campaign I advocate a basic philosophical difference in the conservative approach to doing business. In recent history the Republican Party has been chasing the Democratic Party. In essence the Republicans react to the Democrats. That is why we are losing ground on our values to the uninformed voter. Take a look at the 2008 presidential election and a few current issues:
· Obama’s campaign message was change & after some time that became McCain’s message.
· McCain attempted to turn the table on Obama when he suspended his campaign to go back to Washington & Obama out thought him and said he could multi task. McCain looked like an amateur.
· On the issues of marriage, homosexuality, abortion, gun rights, etc the Republicans are always on the defensive and await the special interest groups (Christians, the NRA and others) to come on line to defend the issues for them. Find the data and educate the people. For example: how many Americans die every year due to medical mistakes as compared to those that die due to improper handling of guns? How many die every year on our highways due to alcohol? What is the real fight here, saving lives or an agenda? On issues like health care, mortgage loans, foreign policy the Republicans stay the course and do nothing to sell the conservative view to the public or expose the Democratic failures. How many of the states currently in financial distress are liberal led? In essence the democrats say “A” and the Republicans respond with “B”. Again reacting to the Democratic position.
· The Republicans used the Louisiana governor to respond to Obama’s State of the Union message because he was a minority. The Republican’s put the minority issue before a quality response. Again in the reaction mode.
· Who did the republicans put in charge of the party? The best person available who could articulate conservative values in a manner that sells it to the general public. Someone who can direct a team and effective marketing campaign or was he selected primarily on race as a reaction to a black president?
· Take health care, what is the Republican plan? Most conservatives would answer reform. What does this reform look like? We don’t know because we are too busy reacting to the Democratic agenda. This started long before Obama.
· Take a look at the major wars in our history. When we made the enemy react to us we won. As long as we reacted to them, Vietnam, we did not fair so well.
· As a final note, consider how Reagan handled foreign diplomacy, he made the world react to America! America won!!
In the air to air combat environment there is a term used called the “OODA Loop.” This term describes a process of collecting information, thinking and making decisions. This process can be applied to any competitive game, process, combat operation, competitive business deal or politics. The “OODA Loop” is a continuousprocess of gathering information, processing the information, making decisions and taking action. The more accurately the information is collected and processed the better the decisions will be. The most important factor in the process is speed. The speed, at which the information is collected, processed and the ensuing decisions are made and action is implemented the better the opportunity to defeat the adversary. Completing the process faster on a recurring basis than the adversary will eventually put the adversary on the defensive. Now we are driving the fight and the adversary is reacting to us. The opportunity for victory increases exponentially. The “OODA Loop” is defined as follows:
Observe – Watch the adversary and evaluate, collect information
Orient- Position yourself based on the observations
Decide - Make decisions about your course of action
Act - Take positive aggressive action
Loop - Repeat the process over and over as rapidly as possible to stay
on the offensive and keep the adversary reacting to us.
Leadership, marketing, personal action and an approach the makes the Democrats react to the conservatives are the keys to turning the Titanic in time. Please join me in the effort!
Jon Ray
Contributing Editor
Real Honest News
29 July 2009
