America's Two Party System: The Marketing Party and The Product Party

[Mass]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-johnson-and-james-boyce/americas-two-party-syste_b_36770.html

We do have a two-party system in America: The Product Party and The Marketing Party. We have one party that spends its energy and its resources creating a product that will improve the lives of its supporters, and then we have a second party, one that invests its energy and its resources managing perception.

One party offers substance but without the sizzle, and one is so incredibly adept at selling that it can charm you into supporting an agenda that helps only those who don't need it, and actually hurts you and your family.

...
Do not underestimate the power of marketing. With enough money, a good campaign and some time, you really can make people think and do almost anything. Exactly why do you think Coke and Pepsi outsell all the other brands - because their sugar water is vastly superior to others? Exactly why do you think one brand of shampoo is "premium" and another is $5 a gallon - is it because they have different ingredients? No, it is because marketing works, especially on a public increasingly trained to respond.


...

This brings us to the other party in our two-party system - the well-meaning Product Party that doesn't understand marketing. The Product Party stands in bewilderment as time and time again, The Marketing Party works its perception management magic to win elections, control the debate and lead the media and public to diss its leaders and policies. As Dave wrote last week,



...

If Democratic leaders believe that all we have to do do is do a better job, and surely the American voters will reward us with the White House in 2008 and continued control of Congress, watch out.

Our moment in the sun, and moment in power, will be very short-lived indeed.

This is worth a read. The 4 paragraph rule only allows a brief view, so read all of it.

And sorry, this is not about one candidate or another. It is about a more crucial problem within the party.

[bryant69]

1. Worth considering, but problematic

For one thing I think that the Republicans ability to sell has been, well, over sold. Rove wins elections by dirty tricks and trashing his opponents, with a little help from electoral malfience.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[blm]

2. True - but the corporate media seems to promote the GOP marketing with very little

skepticism of what is being marketted and therein lies the heart of their success the last 10 years. It took a category 5 hurricane to tear away at that wall of RW talking point acceptance.

[Democrafty]

3. Yes, exactly.

Has the Marketing Party successfully marketed itself to the corporate media, or has it just gotten a lucky break for 10 years?

[KittyWampus]

4. Yes, but to steal elections without incurring the wrath of the people, the GOP has used Marketing

and a compliant Media to make the theft seem proper and GOP wins seem plausible.

[KittyWampus]

5. I like this notion very much. The Dems SUCK at marketing themselves and to be effective

you can't just have the truth and good intentions on your side. You have to be able to present them to people.

ALL people.

Not just NE liberals who already members of your choir.

This is a matter of psychology and using symbolism/language.

And theres a current of antipathy towards the understanding an? use of symbolism on DU and liberals in general.