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Counterprogramming
There’s a ratings strategy in television called counterprogramming. The idea is to offer the viewing public a stark alternative to what’s offered by your competition. Is there a popular drama on another network? Then move your popular comedies to the same time slot. Is the opposition appealing to men with sports programming? Then find a show that appeals to women.
There’s a version of this that’s played in politics and it’s used by both sides. If Bill Clinton is seen as a draft dodger, then the temptation is to counter with a genuine war hero in Bob Dole. If George W. Bush has a questionable record as a reservist in the Texas Air National Guard, then you offer up a Vietnam veteran in John Kerry, even if his own service is questionable (both during and after the war.)
As in the examples above, counterprogramming is not always successful in politics. Still the temptation is always there. The amateur programmers on the Republican side, those who cannot abide the fact that Donald Trump is their standard bearer, are desperately seeking to offer up something else.
The pitch usually begins with “(Baker/Hogan/Weld) are very popular in blue states!” Ok, why are they popular in blue states? It’s usually because they don’t push conservative ideas or issues, instead choosing to present themselves as efficient managers of the modern welfare state. Oh, they’re personally opposed to a lot of progressive ideas mind you, but not opposed enough to actually do anything about them.
In many cases they actively pursue policies at odds with conservatism. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is very good at that. He can say he wants to “get the government off our backs” and then turn around and push mandatory paid leave. He “evolved” on same-sex marriage and refuses to deal with abortion. He and his backers say he’s only being “pragmatic.” Same for John Kasich. As Ohio’s governor his stance toward Obamacare was to embrace it and expand it.
In 2012 the GOP offered up the grandfather of Obamacare as the alternative to the father of Obamacare. That makes a lot of people shrug their shoulders and ask, “Why bother voting for Democrat Lite when you can have the real thing?”
The problem for this anti-Trump counterprogramming strategy is simple: Trump is the counterprogramming. He represents the rejection of the business-as-usual run as a conservative but govern as a progressive lite that has dominated party thinking since the ascension of Bush I in 1989, and fully embraced under Bush II as “compassionate conservatism.”
The Democrats are undergoing their own counterprogramming binge. While they applaud the Pelosis and the Bidens for what they’ve done in the past, they want something different, too. But what they’re embracing is more radical than anything they’ve done in the past. Intersectional, redistributionist and more authoritarian than ever, if brought to fruition their plans may even make Bill Kristol long for Orange Man. But once that show is canceled, it’s canceled. Be careful what you wish for.
Published in Politics
Goldwaterwoman
Perhaps both?
I’m a former fan of Will’s, but he lost me completely with his attack on Billy Graham following that good man’s death.
Speaking of bad counter-programming, until Trump came along too many elections reminded me of the night three networks aired competing Amy Fisher movies.
Who?
The Long Island Lolita.
And long before Buttigieg, there was Buttafuoco.
See, if someone mentioned Buttafuoco, I would have remembered.
What do you suppose people will remember in the future about Buttigieg?
My guess is, nothing.
I hope there’s nothing memorable about him.
Well, he looks like a creepy ventriloquist doll, so there’s that.
He’s not the only one…
Bonus question: Which Democrat candidate most resembles Achmed, The Dead Terrorist?
I’m gonna go with Swalwell, he’s the one threatening to nuke people.
Hmm maybe so. But for the old skeletal look – and especially the empty-skull part – I’d have to go with Bernie Sanders. Although Pelosi is close.
Oh, Pelosi! Definitely Pelosi. We just need her to declare her candidacy.