Before we proceed, let us make some clarifications. This
writer is a Nigerian and knows very little about United States’ politics on
first hand basis. Like most of our people who take keen interests in the US elections
we have relied much on information from the media and from our knowledge of
theoretical politics. So we must admit our limited knowledge beforehand.
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Secondly, for those who know this writer very well know that
notwithstanding his progressive views, his views on US politics is surprisingly
pro-Republican except in 2008 where he joined the rest of the world in dropping
his toga of partisanship to support Barrack Obama in that historic election. My
Republican persuasion lies from the fact that blacks were originally supporters
of the Grand Old Party (GOP).
Though many blacks tend to have forgotten this
fact, the first set of blacks in the US Congress were Republicans. Abraham
Lincoln’s Republican government it was that freed black slaves during the American
Civil War (1861-65). I am no racist though!
Some weeks ago, former Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary
Clinton officially signified her intention to take a shot at the US Presidency.
No sooner had she done this than the Republican handlers started personal
attacks on her, including digging deeper into her past in their bid to
discredit her. My humble take on this rather jejune approach is that it is
counter-productive!
We say this because, first Mrs Clinton is not yet the Democratic
candidate, she is only an aspirant like every other. Second, the Republican
handlers are only revealing their cards rather too early. Thirdly, GOP leaders
are making the same approach that just recently failed in the Nigerian
presidential elections. Nothing good ever comes out of focusing your entire
campaign on your opponent, you end up campaigning freely for him or her. Sadly
this appears to be what GOP handlers are doing.
For those who know, the 2015 Nigerian presidential election,
like I wrote in my article, PDP’s Fatal
Underestimation of APC’s Strategy (http://olalekanadigun.com/pdps-fatal-underestimation-of-apcs-strategy-in-the-2015-elections/)
was won and lost thanks to the tactless(ful) use of propaganda.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party(PDP) rather than focus
on campaigning for votes and promoting its own candidate, President Goodluck
Jonathan shot itself in the foot when it took to lies, insults and personal
attacks on the All Progressives Congress(APC) candidate, General Muhammadu
Buhari.
The disinformation the PDP sponsored against the General
backfired in no small measures that the party will live with at least for the
next four or more years. It all started when the Party’s Presidential Campaign
spokesman, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, a below par public relations handler, told
everyone who cares to listen that the Jonathan’s campaign will focus entirely
on General Buhari, the party’s main rival!
My fear for the Republicans in this case is that they are
failing to see the obvious. Can it be that the GOP handlers are scared of Mrs.
Clinton’s candidacy? Are they finding it difficult to cope with her charisma?
Again what does Mrs Clinton’s personal lifestyle got to do with the election?
Will they personally attack her to the extent they will go for her pets? My
unrequested opinion is for the GOP leaders to focus on the issues rather than
quotidian issues like age, sex, race or family. I can only hope that Republican
leaders who have lived long enough will remember how the attack on Franklin D.
Roosevelt’s dog, Fala massively backfired in the 1940s!
Insults don’t win arguments just as propaganda doesn’t win
elections. Even if it appears to do so, it is at best temporal. Propaganda can
win battles in some areas but does not win the war. This was the lesson the
German Chief propagandist during the World War II, Joseph Gobbels will
perpetually remember in his grave. If propaganda ever wins election President
Goodluck Jonathan would have won the March 28 presidential election. If
propaganda ever wins a war the world would probably be under Nazi rule today!
It is true that the GOP is on course to win the 2016
election as a result of its recent success in the mid-term elections, though
this is not in any way mechanical. Failing to win the presidential election
will be their greatest undoing. The tactless use of propaganda by their
handlers to which Hillary Clinton, if her strategists are working can take
advantage of to become the first woman occupant of the White House!
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He said "handlers" like a lot.. 😑😟😣
ReplyDeleteI think the main problem for the GOP is the performance of the incumbent which is always the formidable platform that any fortunate candidate would easily ride on and thus coast to victory.
ReplyDeleteWhether the GOP likes it or not, it appears unlike GEJ, Barak Obama has fully utilised the unique historical opportunity given to him (a Minority African American) by Americans to steer the ship of the Nation not only for 1 term but for 2 full terms.
To the Glory of God, in the American history, Barak Obama has so far been an excellent blessing to both America, the Africa-American Heritage (even Africans in general) and the Democratic Party. This, I am afraid will scare any opposition even the GOP.