Allen's Cynical Game Plan on Race for 2006 & 2008

By: Howard Park
Published On: 5/1/2006 8:09:03 AM

The headline pretty much says it all:
Sen. Allen's Journey Of Racial Conciliation, by Rosalind Helderman

This is a puff piece. I suppose it can be argued that Allen has matured on racial issues and history since he was 17.  His bill to express "remorse" for slavery is, at best, only symbolic.

With Allen we are seeing a very sophisticated piece of political positioning and strategy.  South Carolina is very important to Allen's Presidential bid.  South Carolina Republicans overwhelmingly revere the confederate flag.  Some sincerely see it as a symbol of heritage & history.  Others are motivated by racism of the most base and guttural sort.  In the southern primaries, under the radar, George Allen will run for President as a confederate flag loving good 'ol boy son of the south.  His youthful embrace of the flag will be trumpeted by the Allen campaign.
After Allen sews up support in states like South Carolina expect to hear a lot about Allen the uniter.  The symbols of racial reconcilation will flow like a mighty river.  The Post article is full of it.

Virginia is the test case for the Allen's White House strategy.  In southside Virginia it will be George Allen, one of us, a rebel yelling dude who loves football & the old south.  The OLD south.  Up around Fredericksburg or so, near the emotional dividing line between the DC suburbs and the rest of the state, we will see a very different George Allen.  In Northern Virginia George Allen will be pictured with African-Americans talking about "healing".  Allen will run as a uniter, not a divider.  His message will be aimed at churchgoing African-Americans who are conservative on social issues and the white establishment which frowns on overt racism.

The game plan is very, very clear for George Allen.

Comments



I doubt that even Allen can get away (summercat - 5/1/2006 10:50:18 AM)
with confederate flag waving, unless there is  lot of national media collusion.  I hope the NAACP and prominent members of the African-American community call him on this early and often.


I doubt that even Allen can get away (summercat - 5/1/2006 10:50:43 AM)
with confederate flag waving, unless there is  lot of national media collusion.  I hope the NAACP and prominent members of the African-American community call him on this early and often.


Covert vs. Overt Confederate Flag-Waving (Howard Park - 5/1/2006 2:50:12 PM)
Of course, Allen won't wave the Confederate flag in full view of the national media.  Instead, it will be like the Bush 2000 campaign in SC -- under the radar.  There are subtle ways to get the message out.  Old fashoned flyers work well.


A difference though... (Rob - 5/1/2006 11:00:47 AM)
In South Carolina, he can run a campaign sealed off in time given the primary's place in the '08 season.  He can't run such a staggered race this year in Virginia, so it may be hard for him to do so in '06.  Thoughts on that point? 


Media General Will Help (Teddy - 5/1/2006 8:56:50 PM)
Frankly, Mr. Park, George Allen has himself a sophisticated game plan, much of which has already worked for Bush. The Richmond T-D has already started pouring on the vitriol, by and large boosting Allen and attacking Webb (pretty much ignoring poor Harris Miller--- they have identified their enemy)

And, to be honest, I think Harris Miller's video ads, seen here on RaisingKaine, are very effective. Mr. Webb needs to provide more specifics on his own policies or proposed solutions, and his supporters need to answer the nasty attacks with a full throated roar: phone calls, letters to editor, talking with neighbors.

Moreover, Webb's campaign can let no insult, misstatement, or attack pass by without a stern, instant response. Does someone at headquarters have a Google search going to pick up such attacks and craft an instant response? Are Webb supporters scanning local media and local politician's speeches and statements, as if they were Google-in-action themselves?