So much for choices. But ideas, feelings and powerful emotions are more often conveyed in the simplest terms possible. In fact, advertising teaches us that the three most powerful words in the English language are new, you, and free. And these are words that Kamala Harris and the Democrats have quickly mastered. Let's take a look at them;
New. Though she's spent her whole life at the public trough and has been Vice President for three-and-a-half disastrous years, Kamala Harris is presenting herself as a new face and she's getting away with it. Such it the power of the new. People are immediately attracted to anything or anybody that seems new. Even a familiar product that sports a "new" label can turn this trick because people want to find out what's new about it.
This presents a disadvantage for Donald Trump because this is his third time running for the presidency, he's been a celebrity forever and he's such a character and so authentic that, at this point, trying to present him as new strains credulity. He simply is who he is. Presenting him as new would be like trying to market New Coke, and we all know how that turned out. The challenge here is for Trump to incorporate the new by presenting us with new ideas and new approaches to things -- and that's a reasonable goal that can be achieved.
You. Kamala's campaign says it is directed at you -- your life, your aspirations, your choices, your future. And this is the relentless vibe she's conveying. Forget that she's actually committed to building a massive, oppressive bureaucracy that prizes collectivism over rugged individualism and submission over free will. She would have you believe she's here for you -- to spread joy and happiness. And sadly, millions of low information voters are buying it.
Though he's unquestionably leading an astounding mass movement, can anyone doubt that Donald Trump is essentially a me-directed person? For example, the riffs in his speeches are spontaneous, vivid, funny and often delightful but they are invariably about him and his world. The challenge here is for Trump to pivot to a more other-directed campaign by showcasing the testimonials of ordinary people and the real-life impact of his policies and programs on everyday lives. This shouldn't be a reach for the Trump campaign.
Free. The power of free has long been the Democrats' domain. It is the potent catnip they offer to the masses: free student loans; free health care; free child care; even the preverbal free lunch. They are the party of free stuff, so much so that Kamala's campaign rallies are actually free concerts. That's how she attracts a crowd. And the natural attraction of free cannot be underestimated.
Still, it would be folly for Trump and the Republicans to try to compete with the free-for-one-and-all that is the modern Democrat (aka Socialist) party. Better to expose this as the sham that it is and instead offer the original free, which is freedom itself -- the freedom to live your own life unencumbered by ever-growing, gluttonous big government whose tentacles threaten every aspect of your existence. And let's remind folks of Reagan's admonition that "the size of the Federal budget is not an appropriate barometer of social conscience or charitable concern."
New, you and free? Trump and the GOP can use these to their advantage, if they have their wits about them!
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