- #1
phoenixy
Lately I had been fascinated by the Obama election campaign. I am not talking about the fact that they had built up a sizable lead, but rather how they made it happened. The Obama campaign strategists are extremely good at setting the tone for the media and manipulate public perception, where they routinely target the uncommitted independents. These are the people who turned on their TV to get the latest news, and digest the information through expert opinion.
Exhibit 1. Palin: Obama terrorist connection. (Oct 04 -)
Obama team's response: McCain is erratic and has a new gimmick.
If we analyze this response from the POV of someone who has not been up-to-date with the past news-cycle, the effects on these people are:
1. The Obama team did not take the bait and jump right into disproving the smear. It is equally difficult to prove or disprove something that doesn't exist. By dismissing the news as another crazy trick from their opponent, the Obama team return the burden of proof back to McCain.
2. The Obama team did not take the bait on Palin. Instead, they attributed McCain as the perpetrator and the aggressor. McCain is forced to come off the sideline to take a stand for his team. He will not able to walk away from this for free, the way Bush did in the Swift-boat fiasco.
3. The message draws connection to the past gimmicks and gambits McCain attempted. If one is still unsure of McCain's previous intention, now they get another chance to examine his true motives. It also subtly raises the question on McCain's judgment and leadership.
4. The active tone from the message forces a respond from the McCain campaign in the immediate future. Clock is now ticking on the other side.
So in other word, it appears to me that the Obama team had once again found the best course of action and is now one step ahead in this battle. This post is getting too long so I'm going to save other exhibits later. This stuff is very fun to analyze from a bird's eye POV.
Exhibit 1. Palin: Obama terrorist connection. (Oct 04 -)
Obama team's response: McCain is erratic and has a new gimmick.
If we analyze this response from the POV of someone who has not been up-to-date with the past news-cycle, the effects on these people are:
1. The Obama team did not take the bait and jump right into disproving the smear. It is equally difficult to prove or disprove something that doesn't exist. By dismissing the news as another crazy trick from their opponent, the Obama team return the burden of proof back to McCain.
2. The Obama team did not take the bait on Palin. Instead, they attributed McCain as the perpetrator and the aggressor. McCain is forced to come off the sideline to take a stand for his team. He will not able to walk away from this for free, the way Bush did in the Swift-boat fiasco.
3. The message draws connection to the past gimmicks and gambits McCain attempted. If one is still unsure of McCain's previous intention, now they get another chance to examine his true motives. It also subtly raises the question on McCain's judgment and leadership.
4. The active tone from the message forces a respond from the McCain campaign in the immediate future. Clock is now ticking on the other side.
So in other word, it appears to me that the Obama team had once again found the best course of action and is now one step ahead in this battle. This post is getting too long so I'm going to save other exhibits later. This stuff is very fun to analyze from a bird's eye POV.