Just an old fashioned Republican
by digby
If there’s one thing conservatives truly revere and respect, it’s tradition. And nobody is more traditional than Sam Brownback:
The two mad-dog Willie Horton-style killers are still in jail, by the way, they didn’t get “off the hook.” They got life without parole.
This is as bad as it gets. But when a Republican is in trouble, this is their go-to theme. It works with their base. beautifully.
Also note the use of the word “liberal” which is another perennial. Recall this little historical factoid from 1996:
Republican strategist Arthur Finkelstein’s style has been compared to Hollywood’s villainous character, Sose, who was so secretive that some doubted whether he really existed. There has only been one photo of Finkelstein to surface during 20 years of consulting Republican candidates. Even his Westchester County, N.Y., office doesn’t bear his name.
Says Stephen Rodrick of Philadelphia Magazine, “It’s almost to the point of whether or not he really exists. He has all this impact, but no one has ever seen him.”
Sen. Al D’Amato (R-N.Y.) is one who has seen Finkelstein. D’Amato has tapped the mystery man for what may be Finklestein’s biggest challenge yet: helping direct Republican strategy in the 33 Senate races this year.
“Arthur Finkelstein is probably one of the brightest, cutting-edge political scientists I’ve ever met,” said D’Amato.
Scientist, strategist or mystery man, Finkelstein has orchestrated stunning upset victories for many of his clients including Sens. D’Amato and Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), and New York’s Republican Gov. George Pataki. His unseen hand also helped Benjamin Netanyahu oust Shimon Perez in the Israeli elections earlier this year.
Finkelstein’s signature style emerges through the ads he creates. Two recent adds brand Democrats as liberals: “Call liberal Paul Wellstone. Tell him it’s wrong to spend billions more on welfare,” one ad states.
“That’s liberal,” says another. “That’s Jack Reed. That’s wrong. Call liberal Jack Reed and tell him his record on welfare is just too liberal for you.”
“That’s the Finkelstein formula: just brand somebody a liberal, use the word over and over again, engage in that kind of name-calling,” said Democratic consultant Mark Mellman.
Sam Brownback is just an old fashioned Republican. The kind of Republican every gasbag on TV over the past few weeks has been extolling as the kind of Republican we’d like to see in government again.
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