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Leverage: Hit Them Where it Hurts in 2010
Written by on September 01, 2009, 03:18 PM
The TEA party and town hall firestorm that swept through the grassroots community should serve as a valuable lesson for conservative activists looking to make a tangible difference. By all accounts, these protests have been wildly successful. Democrats are on the run, and Republicans are now acutely aware just how fine of a line they walk with the conservative base.
The lessons and strategy of these protests can be recycled in the upcoming 2010 elections. More specifically, conservatives can (and should) use these protest tactics in primary contests where a conservative Republican is challenging a moderate/liberal Republican. In these races, the moderate/liberal Republicans typically have the upper hand because they are either incumbents or have previously served in office. The U.S. Senate primary contest in Florida between conservative Marco Rubio and moderate/liberal Charlie Crist is a great example. Crist has the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and has the added advantage of being Florida's governor. Rubio, meanwhile, has the backing of the conservative Club for Growth and a bastion of grassroots enthusiasm. The race will boil down to money versus grassroots action. Unfortunately, venues like town halls will not be always be available during the 2010 campaign. However, a little creativity and spunk can go a long way. Conservative activists should hit these unprincipled politicians where it hurts, and that is by dogging them along the campaign trail. Protesting outside of scheduled speaking events, where local media is sure to be, is a great way to call attention to your message. Another great place to plan these protests is outside of fundraising events. You can accomplish these things easily. Visit the Web site of the person you oppose and sign-up to receive their email alerts. Campaigns will often announce campaign stops and events to their email lists, and you can use this to stay on top of where that candidate will be and what he will be doing. Spread the word about the event and gather a group of people to go protest. You can also easily alert the media with a simple email message or phone call. Find your local media outlets and visit their Web sites. For newspapers, try to find the email address or phone number to the newsroom; and, for news radio stations, find its telephone number and ask to speak with a news producer or editor. These are the people who will decide what stories to cover. In addition to this, take pictures and write a short summary of what happened at your event and send them to local or state bloggers. They may use your content and do a story about your protest. For conservatives looking to throw out unprincipled Republicans, the 2010 primaries are key. It's never too early to begin working against unprincipled, Big Government Republicans, and replacing them with principled, limited government conservatives. For another 2010 battle plan, please read ConservativeHQ.com Editor Richard Viguerie's message to conservatives. New Comment |



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