Beyond his scapling of Obama’s record, I thought he made some points that likely to resonate with specific target groups: young voters, women and small businesses.
“College graduates should not have to live out their twenties in their childhood bedrooms, staring at fading Obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life.”
“I said, I hope it’s not a deal-breaker Mitt, but my playlist starts with AC/DC, and ends with Zeppelin.”
“My Mom started a small business, and I’ve seen what it takes … She earned a new degree and learned new skills to start her small business. It wasn’t just a new livelihood. It was a new life. And it transformed my Mom … Her work gave her hope. It made our family proud. And to this day, my Mom is my role model.”
“Behind every small business, there’s a story worth knowing.
They didn’t come out of nowhere …
And if small businesspeople say they made it on their own, all they are saying is that nobody else worked seven days a week in their place.
Nobody showed up in their place to open the door at five in the morning.
Nobody did their thinking, and worrying, and sweating for them.
After all that work, and in a bad economy, it sure doesn’t help to hear from their president that government gets the credit.”
Game on !
Tags: AC-DC, faded Obama posters, Paul Ryan, small business
The Homa Files 
August 31, 2012 at 9:36 am |
Ryan’s speech was terrific political theater. Agreed
Which is why Romney was disappointing last night. I’ve been a sentient polictical observer since 1988- and the only other convention capstone this mediocre was Kerry in ’96. Sure, I realize that his road to victory is thru “low info women voters”- but mercy, the naked pandering (I love mom! Ryan loves his too!) and paballum grew thin. Talking about your wife and children for 25 minutes… it just isn’t “leader of the free world material”.
Governor Romney is ultimately a “small ball” political figure- unlike Ryan. On that big stage… the governor just seemed to remind me how really uninteresting he is as an idea guy. For a base voter like myself, Ryan’s speech made me want to go out and evangelize. Romney sounded like he just wanted a shot to win 51-49 in eight weeks.
The single biggest problem with Romney is that the GOP is likely going to lose a tactical, status quo, base election- and again, he is a tactical, small ball candidate (worse, the base doesn’t love him). Why is an independent going to be motivated to go out and vote for this guy? Cause he is a good dad. President Obama is too.
After their 2008 schellacking, the GOP has had two successful themes that moved non-base voters to their column: a sort of straight-talking happy warrior competence (Walker, Christie) and referendum on President Obama (the successful nationalization of the 2010 campaign). By nominating Romney, the GOP forfeited the first advantage entirely; it just isn’t Romney. And in the bio and boring agenda (“five point jobs plan”- please), they drew no distinctions. He needed to throw a little acid.
It was like he was campaigning to get on your condo association board: a nice guy who knows a little business. A good dig at the President is that he would be more at home running a law grad school seminar. Conversely, a similar dig at Romney is that he ought to be teaching business at Villanova (no offense implied!)
Frankly, the selection of Ryan is the only thing this campaign has done that has touched on the two success points above- which is why he is still the only source or genuine enthusiasm and interest in this entire GOP campaign. And which is why this post on his speech of yours is enthused as well.
August 31, 2012 at 2:55 pm |
This is wrong from two perspectives:
1) The assumption that the base isn’t fired up (They don’t like their guy). Republicans are leading in engagement by >10% across the board. That number has been pretty consistent over time, and directly maps to money -> $60 million lead
2) That this is a base election versus being a swing election. Eight percent of voters are currently undecided, and 24% are currently willing to change their minds. Turnout (see point 1) and undecideds in VA, OH, PA, and FL will make the difference
People center-right (and right-right) want fire and brimstone because they are mad about the direction of the country. Truthfully, the people who will decide the election don’t love Obama, but are scared to death of the Republicans. They see fire and brimstone as crazy and dangerous. You say “reform Medicare” and grandma reads it as, “eat cat food”.
As the example, Christie talks tough now, but he didn’t campaign that way. He talked pragmatism and has gotten much more outspoken over time.
Talk about jobs. Underscore Obama’s failure/leftward swing. DON’T SCARE PEOPLE.
August 31, 2012 at 11:44 am |
I think young voters are getting a big kiss on the mouth from Obamacare since it transfers their healthcare costs to mom and dad who are in a better position to pay the premium. It is an excellent policy that encourages entrepreneurship for college grads who would otherwise need to take a corporate job to get healthcare. It is also good for taxpayers, since we take in premium from a largely healthy class of people to protect against the high costs of the few that get sick. You want to take that away and sell it as a feature?
I’ll let women speak for themselves, but the issues are extremely emotional. He will not move women voters until he speaks directly to those important issues.
August 31, 2012 at 3:02 pm |
Don’t worry, the young voters are going to pay it back in terms of higher unemployment, lower wages, and a lifetime of support for their parents who neglected to save for retirement.
Fortunately, they can use the Interwebs better than most and have a fair amount of time on their hands (since their employment rate is so low). They are getting the picture, which is why voter participation and engagement is down in this demo and Obama’s lead is not at great as in 2008.
As for women, see above.
September 4, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Do you believe young voters link unemployment and lower wages to The Affordable Care Act? I think they (correctly) link their personal economic problems to the broader economy. I think young voters will be receptive to raising taxes on the wealthy, since young voters have no investments and are unemployed at a high rate.
Young, educated, unemployed voters are unlikely to become more conservative. Let’s hope they decide to vote rather than expressing their anger in a different manner.
September 4, 2012 at 4:09 pm |
Do you think that young voters are in touch with healthcare, healthcare as a cost, healthcare as a benefit, or the transfer of those unknown costs to the people who are already paying for everything else right now?
I agree that younger voters link their personal economic problems to the broader economy. I doubt that any rational and honest person on the planet can draw a direct line between raising taxes on the wealthy and more and better jobs for young people.
Young, educated, unemployed voters are unlikely to become more conservative. They are likely to become less supportive of Obama. In fact, Obama’s lead in the under 30 demo has declined 9 percent since 2008, and above 30 Obama trails.
As for a “different manner,” I keep seeing these allusions to violence in the leftier talking points. Aside from the comical “Gen Y Riot,” (which I imagine would be a large crowd sitting around tweeting snarky comments and drinking soy lattes) that sort of speech is out of place.