Conservatives Delenda Est
The by-now familiar template goes like this. A solid conservative begins gaining traction with the public. Liberals first deride the conservative's intelligence and characterize his or her mainstream right-of-center views as kooky and extreme. Then allegations of defective character begin to circulate in the press, drowning out all other news. No matter how thinly sourced or implausible, the story rapidly moves from the facts to the target’s inadequate response. What did he know and when did he know it? Why isn’t she being more forthcoming? And so on.
The left first deployed the tactic to stunning effect in 1987 following Judge Robert Bork’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Recall that the paragon of personal virtue Ted Kennedy manufactured the perception that one of the great legal minds of our time was actually a petty tyrant with a penchant for back-alley abortions and rogue police squads.
Borking was notably attempted again during Clarence Thomas’s 1991 nomination to the high court. This time, the target fought back successfully with the result being constitutionally faithful legal reasoning from Justice Thomas for twenty years and counting—a disaster for the left.
More recently, the politics of personal destruction have become preemptive. In 2006 the Washington Post smeared conservative George Allen by inventing and promoting a racist meaning for the word “macaca.” Salon then helpfully piled on with hearsay reports alleging collegiate racism. Sarah Palin was famously hounded out of the Alaska governor’s office on the basis of serial gauzy ethics charges—an Alaska governor must pay her own legal expenses, making this a can’t-lose tactic. Most recently, the Washington Post targeted Marco Rubio over his web-site biography, the implication being that this rising conservative star is a liar and an opportunist. While all conservatives are worthy of personal destruction, those who hail from groups tending to vote Democratic are top priorities for the left.
If you can’t beat the message, destroy the messenger.
Particularly relevant as we head into 2012: President Obama has a history of clearing the field of serious competition ahead of the popular vote. In his 1995 run for the Illinois state senate all other candidates, including the incumbent, were removed from the Democratic primary ballot after Obama challenged the signatures used to qualify for the election. In something of a rerun, during the 2004 U.S. Senate campaign Chicago media won the release of Republican nominee Jack Ryan’s sealed divorce papers, against the wishes of both parties. Titillating sexual allegations reprinted from the contentious proceedings forced Ryan to drop out of the race, handing a U.S. Senate seat to Obama without serious opposition.
Which brings us to the upcoming presidential contest.
For some unfathomable reason, the more conservative candidates are lately being targeted for character assassination in single file. In May, Politico revealed that six years ago Newt Gingrich and his wife owed more than a quarter-million dollars to Tiffany & Co. The message: spending personal money on high-end products is objectionable, unlike, say, Michele Obama spending public money on personal luxuries like lavish vacations. When Michele Bachmann’s star began to rise in national polls, the Daily Caller revealed an incapacitating “stress-related condition” necessitating “heavy pill use.” The national frenzy over Bachmann’s run-of-the-mill migraine headaches subsided in lockstep with her poll numbers. One could almost hear opponents in both parties breathing a collective a sigh of relief.
Rick Perry caused an initial stir with the voters. After all, his successful record as an executive stands in stark contrast to our president’s. For some reason, the Washington Post used the presence of a word on a rock in the early 1980s at a leased family hunting lodge to brand Perry a racist. A thin reed to be sure, but whatever comes to hand, apparently. Fortunately for the left, Perry’s lackluster debate performances have lately reduced his standing in the polls, so no further character demolition appears necessary at this time.
Now Herman Cain faces his turn in the washing machine. The same media that could not care to inquire seriously, for example, after candidate Obama’s political friends of terroristic inclination are all in a lather about, well, about whatever it is that is being alleged about Mr. Cain. Don’t worry, the scandalous details are sure to sort themselves out over the next few days.
When Juanita Broaddrick alleged, on-the-record and with specific detail, that Bill Clinton raped her, the charge was hardly even covered. Clinton’s perjury, impeachment, monetary settlement with Paula Jones, fine and law license suspension—all were just about sex, which as we all know is entirely personal. But whatever it is that led to a 5-figure (i.e., nuisance value) settlement with Mr. Cain's employer a decade or so back is today of vital national importance. This scandal will remain worthy of front-page coverage unless and until Mr. Cain’s standing in the polls falls back to earth. Then the media can drop the matter and get on with the business of mounting a winning campaign against the GOP candidate of its choice.
- Comment (31)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
Whoever the nominee is, the assault this time will make what happened to Sarah Palin look tame.
Mar '11
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
I'm hoping the woman in question will come out of the woodwork and explain why a man giving a hand gesture to his chin is, to her, an invitation for oral sex.
We were told about this at sexual harassment class (compulsory) - if someone takes offence at what you thought was an innocent remark you are in big trouble.
I'm hoping this will all backfire on the Democrats and lamestream media (but I repeat myself) - I have a feeling it will, and Mr Cain's numbers will go up, rather than down (oh, dear, was that a suggestive remark?).
Aug '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
Conor had a pretty thorough takedown of this kind of thinking earlier today.
Aug '11
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
I'm getting very discouraged, and am thisclose to just sitting out this election.
Jan '11
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
Delenda est, indeed, but it is no surprise, and it appears to be all but an accomplished fact. That's the way liberals fight their battles, whether political or union. They bring nothing constructive to the table, only self interest pursued with slash and burn tactics. We on the right argue amongst ourselves about the relative weaknesses of our political champions, and so does the left. The left settles on their champions quickly, and then collude to help the right argue the about their weaknesses.
I'm afraid we haven't learned a damn thing about selecting a nominee without doing the left's job for them. Inevitably, the presidential contest is between the left's and right's bases. The independents, who will decide the outcome, have been influenced by them both.
Whether or not the Cain controversy is linked directly to Romney, the Romney campaign, having the most to gain at this point, will be suspected of the dirty deed, and his character, fair or not, will be further diminished.
The left wins, again, with the help of the right.
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
In his piece, Conor thoroughly demolishes a straw man.
Anon, the bias I am describing is institutional not individual.
Dec '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
Come again? "This kind of thinking" being that the Left targets conservatives for smears that they happily forgive, even when factual, when similar charges are brought against progressives?
I'm not an academic or a journalist -- just a simple conservative housewife, so you'll have to use small words and lots of examples to explain the mistakes in George's thinking. I don't get it.
Aug '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
Dr. Savage,
Far from attacking a straw man, Conor's criticism syncs up with your post point for point.
Western Chauvinist,
I don't see how it's a "smear" to accurately report that a man settled a lawsuit. I also think it's inherently newsworthy to report this when that man is the front runner in a presidential primary. However even if there is an asymmetry in treatment I find it unseemly to cultivate self pity about how unfair the media is to us poor trod-upon conservatives. Victimology is supposed to be a left-wing thing.
Also, neither of you are addressing Conor's point that this is probably oppo research from the opposing GOP candidates. (The Democratic strategy would be to hold oppo for the general).
Edited on Nov 2, 2011 at 1:12pmAug '11
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
anon_academic:
However even if there is an asymmetry in treatment I find it unseemly to cultivate self pity about how unfair the media is to us poor trod-upon conservatives. Victimology is supposed to be a left-wing thing.
Which doesn't mean that conservatives are never victims -- nor does it mean we shouldn't speak out about it. Should we allow ourselves to be silenced? It is virtuous to be a doormat?
Aug '11
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
anon_academic:
Also, neither of you are addressing Conor's point that this is probably oppo research from the opposing GOP candidates. (The Democratic strategy would be to hold oppo for the general).
Conor did make that suggestion, though didn't go much further than to raise it. And Mike Huckabee suggested the same thing on Monday, and pointed in the general direction of the Perry or Romney camps (theirs being the only campaigns with enough extra cash to be able to spend on oppo research).
I sure would like to know if that's the case.
Dec '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
You may have missed one, amongst the oh so many. The fillibuster against Miguel Estrada, when he had the support of the majority of the Senate is too quickly forgotten and shouldn't be.
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
anon_academic: Dr. Savage,
Far from attacking a straw man, Conor's criticism syncs up with your post point for point.
Edited on Nov 02 at 01:12 pm
In his column, Conor slyly observes that Matt Drudge is the only journalist he can see covering Cain who also covered Clinton. And, of course, a fair reading of Drudge's headline selection reveals that he generally opposed Clinton then but generally supports Cain now. Conor's thesis: since the individual reporters are different, comparing Clinton coverage to Cain reporting is illegitimate.
Incidentally, Conor ignores the very different scandal treatment given candidate Obama last time. I wonder if any 2008 political reporters overlap with those covering today's conservative offender-of-the-week.
My point is that there is an institutional bias in the mainstream media against conservatives. Yes, of course intramural sniping and opposition research will be fed to the media in every campaign. But allegations against conservatives are the ones that gain disproportionate traction in the broader world. This is in part the result of ingrained, self-perpetuating institutional bias (c.f., Tim Groseclose's Left Turn).
Edited on Nov 2, 2011 at 1:34pmOct '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
Where is the logic in saying that because Cain's foreign policy wasn't impressive that the coverage of these allegations is therefore irrelevant? I'm scratching my head on that one.
Aug '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
DrewInWisconsin
anon_academic:
Also, neither of you are addressing Conor's point that this is probably oppo research from the opposing GOP candidates. (The Democratic strategy would be to hold oppo for the general).
Conor did make that suggestion, though didn't go much further than to raise it. And Mike Huckabee suggested the same thing on Monday, and pointed in the general direction of the Perry or Romney camps (theirs being the only campaigns with enough extra cash to be able to spend on oppo research).
I sure would like to know if that's the case. · Nov 2 at 1:24pm
Yes, and I'd also like to know who leaked the Washington Post story about the Daniels marriage that led Mrs Daniels to talk Governor Daniels into pulling out of the race. Actually, scratch that, I don't want to know who leaked this as I suspect the person who did will win the primary and I don't want to make it any more difficult to vote for him than it already is.
Mar '11
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
"When Juanita Broaddrick alleged, on-the-record and with specific detail, that Bill Clinton raped her, the charge was hardly even covered. Clinton’s perjury, impeachment, monetary settlement with Paula Jones, fine and law license suspension—all were just about sex, which as we all know is entirely personal."
George- if my memory is correct, that ain't the half of it. I remember the media attacking the women, known as bimbos by the Clinton war room, instead of Bill. Even Gloria Steinham stood up for ol' Bill. Let us also not forget how the media ignores the vile sexual peccadilloes of any one with the last name of Kennedy.
Dec '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
Democrats and the MSM started the politics of personal destruction shortly after Reagan's landslide in 1980. They relentlessly pursued witch hunts in an effort to criminalize policy differences. Their purpose was to change the election results by stopping, hindering, or crippling the implementation of the conservative mandate that Reagan won at the ballot box.
Edwin Meese took bribes because South Korea gave him a pair of cuff links valued at $300.00. Ray Donovan, "Which office do I go to get my reputation back". And the disgusting Iran-Contra witch hunt.
It's way past time that conservatives pursue a relentless brass knuckles response to the politics of personal destruction practiced by Democrats and the Democratic Party's Public Relations Media aka the MSM.
I just clicked the button on another donation to the Cain Cause of returning America to it's conservative heritage.
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
George, superb reporting here. Excellent chronology, and compelling case. Your article needs to be sent far and wide.
Jun '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
jetstream: ...
Edwin Meese took bribes because South Korea gave him a pair of cuff links valued at $300.00. Ray Donovan, "Which office do I go to get my reputation back". And the disgusting Iran-Contra witch hunt.
You forgot the witch hunt for the "October Surprise" that Reagan and Bush (41) were accused of. It just had to be investigated even though there was no evidence of merit.
This particular style of takedown may have started in 1980 but there is a whole story about what the Commies orchestrated through their friends in the MSM and the Democratic Party against Joe McCarthy, Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Whitaker Chambers. This un-American activity has been going on since the war years when the Soviets got their biggest snout-full of espionage capers in history.
May '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
The problem with Cain is not so much the smear, the problem is the doofy way his campaign is handling it (what earthly good is attempting to lay it off on the Perry campaign going to do anybody?) and the fact that he evidently wasn't prepared to handle this inevitable development (that from somewhere something was going to be ginned up by someone, true or not, substantive or not he had to know there was going to be a smear and he's showing he has not a clue about how to handle it).
Nov '10
Re: Conservatives Delenda Est
I can't help but wonder whether this kind of thing is why we have so few decent candidates--if not just Mitch Daniels but several other great men wouldn't run because they didn't want to subject their families to the inevitable smear campaign. If, indeed, some of this originates among the other Republican candidates, then maybe the extremists are right and we do need to throw the whole mess out and start a third party. I'm disgusted.