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I was listening to Rush today &he made a comment that highlighted how he, like many political pros, still are unable to grasp how technology has changed politcs. He stated basically that no one remembers the primaries& candidates will move to the center come the general election.
This is the standard accepted wisdom of politics. I caught someone else saying it on foxnews this afternoon. This is 1990's/2000 thinking. It's thinking like this that helped Hillary lose. It's outdated thinking and doesn't account for social media nor the internet.
The truth is that nothing is forgotten now. One of the main reasons Trump won & continues to keep his supporters is he hasn't changed. He is saying the same things today that he said 2 yrs ago as he first took office, 3 yrs ago in the general election, & 4 yrs ago in the primary.
The political crowd told him he had to "moderate" once elected, they told him he had to go to the center once nominated, they told him he had to "be political correct" once down the escalator. He refused. He kept saying the same things regardless of what "advice" they said to him
Trump more than anyone currently in politics IMO understands this new paradigm. With social media/internet, nothing is ever forgotten. The more you flip flop/move to the center, the less people support/trust you and the less chance you have of winning. The days of being able ....
.....to say one thing in the primary and another in the general and yet another while in office are coming to a close if they havent already. The same is true for saying one thing to one group/state and another thing to a different group/state.
The media allowed these types of political calculations to occur for decades as they were the gatekeepers and decided "to forget" what this or that politician said before. It allowed them power to make or break a politician at will and set the Agenda.
Trump gets all of this. He and his campaign understand social media and the power of the long term memory of the internet. Does anyone think, if say Harris gets the nomination, what Gabbard said at the debate will not be replayed in the general? Or Harris's questions
....during the Kavanaugh hearings will not be replayed? Do you think her comments about her pushing free healthcare for illegal immigrants and a green new deal will not be mined, memed and placed in cheap well made internet videos to be shared from person to person?
This is the new normal and it's what Rush and other seasoned political pros fail to grasp because they are going on the old normal and how this "is how it's always been done".
I've stated this point before & I'll most likely state it again before Nov 2020 because this point is one main reason Hillary lost. It's why what the Dems are doing today in the debates will likely seal their fate in the general. It's why Congress critters will have to change.
If you didn't catch it the last time I made this point here is the thread...
