All we do is lose, lose, lose…
…no matter what, what, what.
I have been an active participant in the political process for a very long time. I have watched great candidates and not-so great candidates win and lose. And I have watched folks who have the potential to be a good candidate lose because they cannot keep their mouths shut or their fingers off their keyboard.
The latter happens to be the case in the Georgia CD-6.
In full disclosure, like most in this little corner of the world, I happen to know several candidates on the Republican ticket. Also, I don’t live in the 6th Congressional District. I live in the 3rd. However, no matter where you live, if you are a voter and invested in the future of our state and country, you should be disappointed and embarrassed by the behavior of some of the candidates and campaign staff on the trail right now.
The continued trend in local, state, and national GOP politics is to kill the other candidates. And the methods rarely have anything to do with policy. We use personal jabs, snarky social media posts and tweets, and “alternative facts” to destroy people WHO ARE ON OUR TEAM. We are in PRIMARY season in the middle of a special election. Right now, the only people actually competing for the same job are those who basically share the same values. And yet, we see candidates going after each other on a personal level rather than campaigning for support based on qualifications for the office.
And if we want to talk about real qualifications, let’s be clear, honesty and ethics is at the top. At this point, there are few who care who you supported in the presidential election leading up to the General Election (unless you are a Republican and it was Hilary). What people do care about is whether you flip-flop based on what is the most convenient position to hold in the moment. And if “all” you’ve done **insert eye roll here** is serve on city council, which is IMPORTANT and HARD WORK, but “only a step above the PTA”, then there are others who not only have held higher office and know much more about the issues at hand, but also value the jobs needed to keep our communities running.
Negative campaigning doesn’t get you very far. Engaging in personal attacks with a candidate’s spouse gets you even less. People don’t vote for someone who comes across as thinking that they are better than everyone else. They vote for likable candidates. They vote for people they can relate to on a personal level. They vote for people who appear calm in battle. They vote for those who focus on the issues and rise above the pettiness of politics as usual.
But this is not really how the GOP plays ball. It’s how the Democrats play. And our strategy is the losing strategy. They unite. And when someone beats them, they unite and work hard to get their team member elected. Granted, it doesn’t always work. But where they win EVERY SINGLE TIME is in the expansion of their base. In their ability rally their troops. They win in a united front.
We’re better than this. Candidates, you are better than this. We have highly qualified men and women running to represent their districts. But low blows and “politics as usual” doesn’t represent me or the voters I know in the 6th. The type of campaigning happening right now isn’t growing our base. It isn’t improving our game. It isn’t inviting others to join us. It’s ugly, dirty, and embarrassing.
Your constituents deserve better. Do better.
About Author
Theresa Garcia Robertson
Wife. Mama. Foodie. Political Junkie. Southern Enthusiast. Taco Lover.
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“It’s how the Democrats play. And our strategy is the losing strategy. They unite. And when someone beats them, they unite and work hard to get their team member elected.”
This is perhaps the first time I’ve heard that about the Democrats, but I suppose the grass is always greener…
Yeah…thats a new one for me too, but there is definitely intense energy almost everywhere in the 6th among those that favor Ossoff. Perhaps those friends on the right might need to fine tune their own message. Smaller government (if thats what you want) shouldnt be small government until its not so convenient, but I would say when people see what small government means (ala Paul Ryan) they dont think so much of it.
It amazes me seeing all the people who are dumbfounded at how badly Paul Ryan’s healthcare bill was. Its the same stuff he has been proposing for the last 5 years. People now, however, seem to be paying attention.
Please don’t refer to political parties as “teams”. We are all in this together. Both political parties should be working for the benefit of all of their constituents, not just the ones who happen to vote the same way during a particular election.
We can’t get away from the Sports analogy as long as the media continues focusing political reporting with which “team” won or lost points that day. Until the media stopps scorekeeping and actually reporting relevant info on legislation , such whats in a bill, or whether that clever soundbite is true, false or even relevant, we won’t get people involved in really caring about what matters.
Ditto for constantly reporting of trash talk during campaigns instead of forcing candidates to talk about issues. Stop telling us which team (R) or (D) a legislator is on and just report what they do or say. That would change a lot about the perception of someone’s statements.
“Both political parties should be working for the benefit of all of their constituents.” Agreed, but they don’t. The parties are too entrenched in cloak and dagger tactics that they can’t function together. Forget legislating to benefit constituents. It all about the win for their party and the obstruction of the other party/team to score any credit for accomplishing anything.
During the six years I’ve served as a (Snellville) city councilman, I’ve focused on activities that impact the lives of the 20,000 +/- residents of our city. Along with my fellow council members, we have worked with city staff and devoted our efforts to keeping taxes low, optimizing services, spurring economic development and supporting public safety efforts.
Now I find out, that a city council is “only a step above the PTA”. Had I known that previously, I would have spent my time organizing field trips and improving my baking skills so I could participate in bake sales.
Your points are well taken. Unfortunately, the messages of too many candidates are built around the lowest common denominator; everyone understands dirt, and many people find it easier to digest than policy positions, vision and dedication. And just as unfortunately, negative campaigning does work, to a degree. Educated voters see through the barrage of slings and arrows cast by one candidate against others. Others don’t. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” And as we all know, little minds vote.
The “step above the PTA…” comment is not mine but a candidates. Just wanted to clarify.
I know. And I’m glad you included it in your post so city council members far and wide will gain a better understanding of their positions. Perhaps we’ll be able to organize a state-wide bake sale prior to the 2018 elections.
Just to clarify, there’s a wee bit of sarcasm in the above comment.
??
Hi Dave! You may have missed my post on this topic yesterday:
https://www.georgiapol.com/2017/04/04/bob-gray-the-mdj-and-the-pta/
I did miss your post. Thanks for the heads-up.
I haven’t met Mr. Gray, although we are Facebook friends. Having been a city council member, I thought his experience would provide a valuable perspective should he be elected to represent CD6. His unfortunate comment indicates otherwise. Although there’s a vast difference between serving as a representative in Congress, and as a city council member, the two positions have much in common. One commonality is that campaigning is entirely different than governing. The cachet that would come from being elected to represent a Congressional district has apparently blinded Mr. Gray to that fact.
I know this isnt a locally sourced ad but the clip saying Ossoff is some sort of ISIS supporter because Al Jazera paid him for use of one of his documentaries(about the mistreatment of women no less) sort of smacks of the Saxby Chambliss/ Max Cleland ad that I believe everyone here would say was one of the lowest points in GA politics. Fortunately, the 6th is one of the most highly educated districts in the country, and I think someone needs to tell the nationals thanks but no thanks because I can already see this backfiring…bigly
My low point was the bitter character assassination of Karen Handel by Nathan Deal and her subsequent sucking up for the ‘good of the party.’ She lost all credibility for me after that. It also added to my disillusion with the Party system.
I’m so glad to see candidates finally saying ‘Hell no’ to supporting the victor of a smear campaign.
“But this is not really how the GOP plays ball. It’s how the Democrats play.”
Now there’s an alternative fact for you.
Bob Gray, whose primary credential is that he served on a glorified PTA and had never heard of Americans for Prosperity until they donated to his campaign, ought to get out more.