Fear Factor

Watch Fear FactorIn 2004, Karl Rove and his cronies perfected the use of fear to move voters.  They successfully shifted the campaign debate from the failures of the Bush Administration and the Iraq War to fear of another terror attack.  Teed up by the Swift Boat ads, they declared that electing John Kerry would leave Americans in the hands of a man who was indecisive and weak.  What Republicans understood-and understand-is that emotions motivate people more than ideas.

This year, Democrats have the opportunity to capitalize on fear--not fear of a terrorist attack, but fear of financial ruin.   That fear is much more realistic.  The collapse in the markets, both in housing and on Wall Street, is the result of Republican policies--begun under Reagan and completed under Bush--that stripped away regulations and oversight that were put into place to protect average citizens from rampant speculation.

Democrats do not need to get bogged down in specific policies or programs.  They merely need to assure the American people that they will act.  In contrast, they need to let the people know that George Bush, John McCain and the Republicans have stood by silently while savings and pensions have disappeared.  And they need to tap into people's fear of the uncertain future.

Our remake of the Bush wolves ad of 2004 is below. But instead of talking about terrorists, the narrator talks about creditors.

Visual:  Wolves stalking through the forest.

Background: Ominous music

Narrator: In an increasingly dangerous economy, when creditors are stalking families and foreclosures are on the rise, George Bush and John McCain say the economy is fundamentally sound.  Tell that to the families that are already hurt--or who now have the wolves at their doors.   Don’t let the Bush-McCain economic policies prey on us anymore.