The Point
Memo Reveals GOP Plan to Exploit Fear of Obama

Steve Pendlebury

Steve Pendlebury Editor
AOL News
(March 4) -- In the blood sport of politics, you never want the other team to see your playbook -- especially if what's in it makes your fans look bad. A Republican National Committee fundraising presentation that hit the Internet Wednesday is just such a playbook.

The 72-page document obtained by Politico's Ben Smith (click here to view) lays out a strategy to fan fears that President Barack Obama is moving the country toward socialism. The PowerPoint presentation uses the words "reactionary" and "ego-driven" on a page describing potential GOP donors. Another page, labeled "The Evil Empire," includes the infamous "Obama Joker" poster and cartoon images likening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Cruella de Vil (misspelled as DeVille on the slide) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to Scooby-Doo.

RNC presentation on donor motivations
Politico
This slide from the RNC fundraising presentation cites "patriotic duty" as one motivation for donors, but also lists "fear," "reactionary," "access" and "ego."
The presentation, delivered on Feb. 18 by RNC Finance Director Rob Bickhart at a party retreat in Florida, "lifts the curtain on the often-cynical terms of political marketing, displaying an air of disdain for the party's donors that is usually confined to the barroom conversations of political operatives," Smith wrote. The document came from a Democrat, who said a copy had been left at the hotel in Boca Grande that hosted the retreat, according to Politico.

Democrats were quick to pounce on their opponent's fumble. Democratic National Committee spokesman Brad Woodhouse fired off a statement charging that the presentation erased all doubts that "the Republican Party has been taken over by the fear-mongering lunatic fringe" and has "sunk to new and unbelievable lows."

The GOP fundraising plan shows "the contempt that the party has for its donors," said The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder, who predicted Bickhart would be fired.

"Massaging egos and trigger points and using psychological techniques like peer-to-peer pressure -- that's Fundraising 101. But you're not supposed to tell the donors -- or anyone -- that they're being manipulated," Ambinder noted.

One of the few conservative commentators to touch the story so far questioned Ambinder's claim that donors are being manipulated. Citing the president's sinking approval ratings, Hot Air's Allahpundit said fear of Obama's agenda may well be "the key to big money" for the next election. However, the blogger acknowledged that "calling your donors 'reactionary' and 'ego-driven' isn't usually the quickest way to their wallets" and dismissed the Evil Empire pictures as "stupid and amateurish."

Americablog's John Aravosis singled out the image of Obama with his face painted white and the word "socialism" below. That alone, said Aravosis, deserves an apology directly to the president from RNC Chairman Michael Steele, an African-American.

Evil Empire slide in RNC fundraising presentation
Politico
The presentation targets President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with images even GOP supporters say are over the top.
Steele, who's already having trouble with large donors, is also under fire for sending fundraising letters that resemble U.S. Census forms.

Even before Politico's story hit the Web, the RNC sent an e-mail assuring supporters that Steele didn't know what was in the PowerPoint presentation and didn't attend the Florida meeting.

"Fundraising documents are often controversial. Obviously, the chairman disagrees with the language and finds the use of such imagery to be unacceptable. It will not be used by the Republican National Committee -- in any capacity -- in the future," Communications Director Doug Heye wrote.

"In many ways, the document is a parody of what liberals think conservatives are actually like," said The Daily Beast's Eric Alterman, who thought it went "far beyond any precedent for official party fundraising practices."

On the other hand, Wonkette's Jim Newell was one of many on the left who weren't surprised at all.

"Uh-oh! Somebody found the playbook, and it's full of secret, evil GOP strategies that have been obvious to any human being who's watched any half-second of any news coverage at any point in the last 30 to 200 million years," he said. "Although the Scooby-Doo imagery is new, hadn't considered that yet." (Newell wasn't the only one struck by the strategic use of the goofy cartoon dog. From Firedoglake's David Dayen: "Whoever thought of comparing Harry Reid to Scooby-Doo, unlike 10 million Americans, draws a paycheck. That's the most I can say about that.")

Salon's Alex Koppelman reported on one former RNC official who described the presentation as "ham-handed" and in "very poor taste" -- but not exactly unexpected, either.

"Maybe I'm coming across as cynical, and I don't mean to be, but I guess from long years of doing this I'm not particularly shocked to see this," the ex-official told Salon. "I think that this is probably unfortunately a reflection of the state of political affairs today."
Filed under: Nation, Politics, The Point

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Say it ain't so!!!!!

Oh. You mean like OBAMA exploited the gullible's fear of REPUBLICANS ... ? Or CONSERVATISM? Or AMERICANISM? THAT kind of 'exploitation' ... ?

Yep.

Would the other side do the same? Already have.

Politicians corrupt and self serving? Na, never....

Dragoness,

It would appear some folks welcome, and possibly enjoy being manipulated and played by their masters.

Go figure!!!

Yeah, both sides do and say things that diminish their perceived integrity. It would be nice if both sides stop.

In lieu of that happening though, voters just have to sort throught the adhominem bs and focus on facts which relate to the well being of our own lives.

In the opinion of most politicians, people are basically sheep to be led - nothing more, nothing less. They'll never admit it openly, but they all believe that the electorate is an annoyance. What they want is a fiefdom they can turn into a kingdom and finally a familial dynasty (e.g., Teddy Kennedy). They consider an educated electorate unnecessary (and adjust school curricula to bring that end about). The ONLY time a politician knows any of us is at that point in the election cycle when they need our vote to keep their personal 'gravy train' on the 'officeholder' track. Other than that, they'd appreciate it very much, thank you, if we'd just push the button next to their name and then disappear for the next 2, 4, or 6 years until they need our vote again. This is why I ignore 'party' label (like 'D', 'R', 'I') and vote based on the principles the particular candiate supposedly supports. I trust nothing, but I still have to vote for someone. To not vote is to throw away whatever 'influence' my single vote has. It's sad that we, supposedly the 'smartest' creatures on this planet, haven't thought of a better way to govern ourselves yet. Vote principle, not party.

I agree. IM registered Democrat but it doesnt mean that I always vote for a democratic candidate(although in the presidential races, since I have been of voting age so far, I have found the democratic candidate more representative of my own political priorities).

this seems good on paper..now tell me who has these principles? it certainly isn't followers of Glenn Beck or any GOP for that matter

I have principles,,,,,

oh wait, dont care for Beck and Im a democrat,,,so nevermind

But 'markumX',

Is it not common knowledge that all 'for life' GOP voters are 'free thinkers', and always vote with their conscience, and always KNOW who the 'best man' is?!?!?!

... and that it is just pure coincidence that the 'best man' always happens to be ... republican!?!?!?

Welcome it? Enjoy it? You must have failed in your attempt to read me. Now, if you are denying that the Democrat party does not use fear tactics, slander, and lies as needed about their opponents, I would say you have nicely summed up your own attitude. I recognize that both parties are corrupt, guilty, and full of self serving wind bags. That was my statement, and I hope this has clarified it for you. Maybe you will like this one better!
-- 99.95% of politics is saying something you know nothing about, the rest is yelling loudly and pocketing 'donations' and 'gifts'. --

i'd like to know what obama fear tactics you are referring to..i havent heard any sky is falling , go buy a bomb shelter speeches like bush gave on a daily basis about the big bad boogeyman muslim

Obviously you (1) aren't paying attention, (2) don't get out much, (3) aren't an avid reader of current events, or (4) in the tank for 'The ONE'. Alex, I think I'll take Nr 4 for $200 ...

ahh, king my friend, was this really an ANSWER to the post..? tsk, tsk, tsk

Obummer has to have something to do with all his spare time.

Dont we all? Thank goodness there are forums like these as an option,,,,(smile)

GOP is the party of hate and fear. They promote both with a vigor.

Political power plays are common, yes, but each party does it differently.

GOP plays to the less intellectual of the American population utilizing their ignorance to grow fear and hatred of something they can't even identify when asked.

And the Democrats are the party of calling the average american a 'nazi' and of calling anyone who disagrees 'racist'. Now, I don't support the GOP, they aren't what I'd call great. But there's no denying the words directly out of the mouths of Democrats either.

Please bash both sides of the big political parties equally... they deserve it. Or are you just watching the media on one outlet and considering yourself enlightened on the subject?

This.