Fred Thompson should be loving his enemies
I’ve been receiving Richard Viguerie’s e-mails for awhile. I’ve found him to be rather, how should I put it, rigid. I’ve been truly enjoying the last few e-mails over the last couple of months. He’s been attacking Fred Thompson. If I were on the Thompson campaign I’d be rejoicing. Here’s why:
First off, when someone who is either a leader, or self-proclaimed leader, of a movement or part of a movement attacks you, you are a threat and more importantly, a legitimate threat. That means someone who has, or thinks they have credibility thinks you have credibility. Forget what the attack is about - it doesn’t matter. The benefits far outweigh the negatives. In this case, Thompson is the focus and the topic - not what Viguerie’s message is. He should know better, he’s supposedly an expert on messaging.
Secondly, Viguerie is giving Thompson plenty of fundraising material. I can just see the fundraising letters now - I’m being attacked as … Just fill in the blank. It’s the same thing that Hillary Clinton does to boost her fundraising. You think she wants to be loved by everyone - hell no. If you are loved by everyone, then there is no need, in the current state of poilitics to give you money. Politics is about fighting, not love. You have to be up against something or someone. That’s what politics is about. Look at the great leaders - they fought against great odds and great opponents. Reagan against the Evil Empire, FDR against tthe Nazis, Lincoln against teh South and Slavery, Washington against the oppressive British. That’s how it works.
Bush tried this approach, but the problem is that terrorism isn’t restricted to a geographical location with boundaries, unlike the other great enemies we’ve faced.
Here’s a personal example for me of all this in play - When I did Jessica Brewbaker’s District Judge race, I was thrilled when I learned that someone had taken some of our yard signs, ripped them into pieces and shoved them into people’s mailslots on their front doors. Yes, someone actually got that upset - amazing. It thrilled me because it rallied our supporters, helped us raise some last minute, much needed funds to finish the campaign, and showed me that our message was working.
Thompson’s campaign should be loving the criticism - it means he’s doing the right thing.