Indiana’s unfolding drama with legalizing discrimination has spawned a nationwide media storm, boycotts of the state, and one compromise bill that just made everyone unhappy. This has caused damage to the political brands of the state of Indiana and nationwide Republicans. After decades of building electoral successes on “God, guns,…
Democratic Political Brand Crumbles, But for How Long?
The 2012 election showed us how badly troubled the Republican political brand is — but this month’s election showed Democrats are in a lot of trouble, too. From here on, each side has a clear challenge: while the Republican electoral coalition doesn’t have the raw numbers of its Democratic counterpart,…
Republicans Attack Government’s Brand, 2 of 2: Origins and Future of a Branding Problem
Conservative hero (and top government official of the United States) Ronald Reagan famously said, “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” That quote is perhaps the most iconic example of Republicans’ systematic efforts throughout recent decades to poison the brand of government — an irony…
Republicans Attack Government’s Brand, 1 of 2: The Anti-Brand
In a way, the closest branding parallel to today’s Republican Party is the punk movement. Punk emerged and grew as a sort of anti-statement, a counterpoint to popular culture, commercial marketing, and other forms of telling you what to think. Eventually, punk was coopted and commercialized. As the ironic California…
It’s Not a Party: Branding Eric Cantor’s Defeat
Last week, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his bid for reelection early, falling unexpectedly in the Republican primary to a “tea party” challenger — by an 11-point margin. At least, the press was close to unanimous that that was what happened. “Eric Cantor Defeated by David Brat, Tea Party…
How Politics Disproves “Death of Brands” Sensationalism
Having information isn’t the same thing as processing it. That means there will always be a place for brands, both in politics and in commerce — because the power of brands comes from helping people simplify their decision making. Even so, you can always grab a few eyeballs by making…
It’s the Poor GOP Branding Carpenter Who Blames His Tools
If Republicans are going to fix their brand, it’s going to take fundamental organizational changes. Yet Republican branding thinkers — even those who recognize the challenge of making those fundamental changes — continue to recommend tactical changes to the tools Republican candidates and officials use that are pernicious in their…
Is the Conservative Info Bubble Good for Progressives?
I think the information bubble that caused Mitt Romney to be sure of victory when he was about to be blown out is dangerous. But what if it’s actually a good thing for progressives? That’s what Frank Rich seems to think: Rather than waste time bemoaning Fox’s bogus journalism, liberals…
To Fight Poverty, Fight the Ultimate Attribution Error
Republicans in Congress forced the expiration of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans this weekend — an unprecedented move when long-term unemployment rates are this high. How could they be so cruel? Fighting poverty isn’t just a matter of making people care about the less fortunate — it’s about branding…
Pulling the Scooby Doo Mask off Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan is the foremost expert among elected Republicans when it comes to whitewashing unpopular positions, so if he is now attempting to brand himself as a social justice fighter, could that mean an incipient trend for the Republican Party? Paul Ryan is ready to move beyond last year’s failed…