A Brilliant Strategy

The easiest thing in the world to do is find something to criticize. It makes for good, well…easy, fodder for columns like this to poke holes. But my aspirations are a little higher than “whatever comes easiest.” I plan to applaud and not criticize the most recent display of campaigning by the Republican party.

At the New Hampshire debate, the most remarkable thing happened. None of the candidates attacked one another. Even when host John King teed one up for Tim Pawlenty and practically begged him to take a shot at his opponent Mitt Romney, they refused to turn on each other. It was a remarkably unified front.

Something like this doesn’t happen accidentally. I suspect that all the Republican candidates decided before the debate began that their fellow party members are not the enemy. Whether this came from the Party leadership or one of the candidates, I can’t tell yet but I think it’s brilliant!

Bear in mind that I have never heard a conspiracy that I didn’t like. I’m a complete sucker for them so maybe I’m off base, but I think the Republican Party executed a brilliant opening move. The Grand Ole Party comported itself in a dignified, Presidential fashion. Drawing a real contrast to the shrill and obnoxious grappling for the spotlight we’ve seen before, they also classically understated with poise that the GOP is very confident going into this election. The Republican Party appeared to be a society of serious statesmen robustly prepared to meet the challenge.

Instead of providing a blueprint on how to defeat our candidates, they all kept to the script. “Obama is the one we are trying to beat, not each other.” How long this goes on, I don’t know. Eventually they have to start looking out for number one right!? Right? Watch it again, whenever they referred to their rivals, it was always complimentary. “Senator Ryan is right when he says….”, “the Speaker makes a good point.” It happened multiple times. Because of their restraint, the media does not have a stockpile of footage of Republicans making President Obama’s case for him. The media is not going to be able to show and reshow and then reshow again in dramatic black and white, clips of Republicans giving the country reasons not to vote for a Republican. The message is clear, the enemy is President Obama.

This was unexpected bad news for CNN. The commentators were obviously hoping for some kind of fireworks to bulk up their reviews but alas they had to keep it centered on the issues. The Jerry Springer drama wasn’t there and it felt like the commentators were missing one of their clubs. Apparently, they didn’t know how to handle a civil debate that didn’t spiral into cat-fight.

I don’t know what kind of deals and threats had to be wielded to pull this off but I want that guy selling cars for me. He could sell bricks to drowning people. Brilliant!