RNC Memo Warns GOPers Not To Distance Themselves From Bush

[Demeter]

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/03/post_6.html


March 28, 2006
RNC Memo Warns GOPers Not To Distance Themselves From Bush
Republican pollster Jan van Lohuizen, in a memo written for RNC chairman Ken Mehlman, warns that if members of Congress try to drive a wedge between themselves and Pres. Bush, it'd be akin to adding weight to an anchor. GOpers are "W Brand Republicans" whether they like it or not. And van Louhizen, who has polled (often secretly) for the Bush White House under the RNC aegis for years, is worried about low turnout.

Time Magazine first reported on the memo this weekend, but the full text is below.

---------------
Memorandum

To: Ken Mehlman
From: Jan van Lohuizen
Date: March 3, 2006
Re: Bush -- Congressional Republicans

Per our conversation, we took another look at the way voters, Republicans specifically, link President Bush and Republicans in the House and the Senate. There are several points worth making:

1. President Bush continues to have the strong loyal support of Republican voters. Despite slippage in approval ratings among all voters, the President's job approval among Republicans continues to be very high. Most members will be elected with between 80% and 100% of their support coming from Republicans. I don't see that Republicans driving a wedge between themselves and the President is a good election strategy.

2. My read of the current environment is that our problem will be turnout. '06 could become an election like '82 or '84. In '82 Republicans showed up at relatively normal turnout rates, while Democrats, because they were angry, showed up at abnormally high turnout rates. In '94, Republican turnout was elevated, while Democratic turnout was depressed. We have every reason to believe '06 could become the inverse of '82. We don't see signs of a depressed Republican turnout yet, but we have every reason to believe Democrats will turn out in high numbers. Anything we do to depress turnout, by not running as a unified party for instance, could very well lead to serious consequences in November.

3. The President is seen universally as the face of the Republican Party. We are now brand W. Republicans. The following chart shows the extremely close correlation between the President’s image and overall ratings of the party.

President Bush drives our image and will do so until we have real national front-runners for the '08 nomination. Attacking the President is counter productive for all Republicans, not just the candidates launching the attacks. If he drops, we all drop.

[ck4829]

1. The Republican Choice

Go with Bush - Lose support from Voters

Go against Bush - Lose support from RNC

:nopity:

[C_U_L8R]

2. Or else ??

I gather they are threatening to withhold campaign funds and sweet commitee assignments.
I'm curious what REALLY goes on behind the scenes. I wish someone would tap KKKarl.
He's probably like Elmer Fudd threatening to bweak your kneecaps.

[thecrow]

3. If he drops, we all drop

Let them all drop then.

Funny how they are resorting to tactics like this when ALL repubs are not on their side, and many have left the building already.

Why should they come back? THEY CLEARLY DO NO WANT TO BE "W" BRAND REPUBS.

:rofl:

[bemildred]

4. More bullshit from Mehlman.

This is like the "advice" he is always giving the Democrats.
:rofl::rofl:

[UpInArms]

5. I find this fairly amusing

job approval among Republicans continues to be very high

Last weekend, some die-hard republican acquaintances of mine approached me - gave me huge hugs and said that they had "had it with *Co" - told me that they would join me in my next protest (I did a local on 3/20 and it made the papers around here in BFE). The wife went on and on and on for at least 30 minutes about how *Co has absolutely "lost it" and doesn't care about our country - the last nail in his coffin was the ports deal. The lies about the OIL, Halliburton, dead soldiers, China - and on and on.

So I do hope that the GOPpiggies don't "distance themselves" - tie that boat anchor around their necks and they will all go down with the feckless leader.

[liberal N proud]

6. If I were a GOPer, I would be scared

:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

:rofl:

It must be getting bad if they have to WARN their rats "members" not to flee the sinking ship

[tanyev]

26. Sounds like he wants to chain them to the sinking ship.

Go right ahead, Ken.

[niallmac]

7. C'mon! Shake hands with the Tar Baby! n/t

[Lochloosa]

8. My new Motto...."Brand W Republicans"

That one will hurt a lot of people when they hear it spoken out loud.

[rocktivity]

15. I've been using the term "Tar them with the Bush brush"

(see post #14). But a campaign commercial in which the GOP candidate is branded with a big W works for me, too!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Thor_MN]

33. W Brand? Is this like the mark of the beast?

I'd like to see a video with Rove and Mehlman look-a-likes roping and branding Neocons. Then again, if I looked like either Rove or Mehlman, I'd be hiding under a rock out of shame.

[rodeodance]

9. ~If he drops, we all drop.~ lets hope your prediction is Right Ken.

President Bush drives our image and will do so until we have real national front-runners for the '08 nomination. Attacking the President is counter productive for all Republicans, not just the candidates launching the attacks. If he drops, we all drop.

[salin]

10. Their hero in 02 is now their albatross

many are rather d*mn*d if they do (align with jr) and d*mn*d if they don't - at least according to bush acolytes. Wonder how many are wondering whether it is now ALL about jr and not at all about Party. Ironic, given Rove's rise to power was supposed to trigger a generations long one-party rule, eh?

[sinkingfeeling]

11. I like his idea of branding Republicans with a 'W'! And he wants

the GOP to look like stupid, uneducated, arrogant, stumbling, asses! (Bush drives our image). ROFL!!

[bee]

34. I was thinking that same thing. lol!

A big fat red W for all of their foreheads! :rofl: perfect!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

12. The NeoCons are getting backed into a corner...

...and now they're threatening the very same people that have kept them in power.

Does that sound like a good political strategy on the part of Mehlman?

[nolabels]

19. That sounds like a good political strategy

If it would help I would even send him words of encouragement :evilgrin:

[NYC Liberal]

21. Well it IS a good strategy...

...just not for the GOP. ;)

[warrens]

13. Yup, the stupid scum are married to Smirky and his incompetence

Too late for a divorce, fellas. Learn to love the war, the crappy economy, idiotic immigration policy, foreigners owning our infrastructure...and oh so much more.

[rocktivity]

14. CUE THE VONAGE THEME!

They're playing right into our hands! :woohoo:

This makes it that much easier for us to tar them with "the Bush brush." Jon Corzine won the New Jersey governorship by nearly ten points by asking of his opponent, "He's Bush's choice--is he yours?" Just like with the DLC, this is nothing more than the RNC's bid to stay in power. So don't discourage them: GO, RNC--RAH RAH RAH!


rocknation

[Olney Blue]

16. No dissent allowed. Obey orders. Case closed.

Send your donations to the GOP and keep quiet.

[zbdent]

17. One passenger to another on the Titanic

"Don't piss on the deck, we're sinking!"

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

18. let's hope they all listen to him.

[wryter2000]

20. LOL

They are so fucked. :rofl:

[progressoid]

22. "W Brand Republicans" It's a WIN/WIN for us.

If they are with W we nail them with supporting incompetence, greed, lies, etc. If they bail on W, they loose a big part of the GOP base. Works both ways.

"W Brand Republicans" It's a perfect description and a perfect tool for us.

[Hosnon]

23. I'd love to see the chart they mention. nt

[AndyTiedye]

24. Is He Going to Brand a "W" on their A$$e$?

GOpers are "W Brand Republicans" whether they like it or not.

[wallwriter]

25. Note to Repukes: The Kool Aid is delicious!!

[NastyRiffraff]

27. Oh, PLEASE obey him, Republican candidates!

This is like a wet dream. Maybe they could even wear a Scarlet W :D

[melissinha]

28. This is what it demonstrates

Mehlmann has no problem with what *Co is doing, is there one mention about the best interests of the country in here? NO. You read the messages from Deano, its all about whats best for the country, which has always been the Democrats' real mantra.

Its all about maintaining power, no mention of their pathetic wedge issues and how important they are....

Mr. Mehlmann, do you need a little help with that noose?

[Hobarticus]

29. If they're that concerned about the 'face of the party"...

then why embrace a guy whose approval hovers in the mid-30's?

[truthisfreedom]

30. ever seen a cornered rat? they're spinning, jumping, and indecisive...

because there is no good choice. it's win-win for us no matter what they do.

[Arkana]

31. The ol' "STAY IN LINE, BITCHES!"

Man, they are slaves to the master in the GOP--to a degree even I didn't think was possible.

[annabanana]

32. Watch out for flying pig poop! I agree with the RNC!!

everyone one of them should hug Bush close to their collective bosoms....

and jump into that abyss together.

[Supersedeas]

35. Ken MOUTHpiece is circling the wagons

[Love Bug]

36. Will the next message be a horse's head?