Politics as Marketing

Today, there's been a lot of discussion recently as to what the Republicans need to do to get back on track. Politics isn't terrible much different than marketing. The reasons why someone buys a product is similar to why someone will vote for you.

Why would someone want to vote for a Republican? What is their message? What's their value proposition? What do they stand for?

If you look at the years when they had control, 2002-2006, it would be pretty hard to spot. High spending, pork projects, high deficits, a war without proper leadership, odd judicial appointments, amnesty for illegals, and the inability to fix social security or taxes.

Now the Republican Party needs to restructure.

Kill Karl Rove's "Big Tent" Republicanism

The big tent, is the idea that if the Republican party moves to the left a bit, they will keep the conservatives and pick up moderates. Wrong. In marketing, this is called brand dillution. It's like saying that Porsche would get more in sales if they made minivans as well. Porsche stands for something: frickin' fast cars. That image is lost if they made minivans. The same principle applies to the Republican Party.

Increase Party Discipline

Stop coddling the liberal Republicans. Liberal Republicans, such as Olympia Snowe, Lincoln Chaffee, and Arlen Spector, were often a thorn in any effort to pass any substantive conservative legislation. Instead of cultivating party discipline, the party waffled. These liberal Republicans constantly took Democratic positions, but then the RNC supported their reelection. Bush memorably campaigned for Arlen Spector in 2004 in the Republican primary, fearing that Toomey couldn't win the general election. The party might have lost a fight, but they would have been willing to show that they were the party of principle and new energy, not politics as usual. They won that battle and Spector was reelected, but four years later, the Republicans who then had 56 seats, now have 43 at most. Republicans seem to be a party that is intent on winning the battle but losing the war.

Businesses close unprofitable stores or product lines all the time. The Republicans need to do the same.