PAF 494 Module 14: GOOD ADVICE: The 10 Commandments of Political Campaigning

Naked Candidates, The Media MRI, and The Illumination of Influence

Deneene Says..., "A lesson learned is wisdom earned." While taking this class in media and public affairs I've been able to gain a new perspective on media and politics. I would have to say that knowledge is bliss and ignorance is just ignorant. Since taking this class I'm confident that some political candidates and powerful political figures would keep the public on a "need to know" basis if they could; I'm glad the media feels like we need to know. Recognizing the raw truth of what goes on behind the scenes of a presidential election and in politics as a whole was probably the most surprising thing I learned about in this class. Reading the book Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime, was like popping in a permanent pair of political contacts. This compelling literary work that covered the real deal on the 2008 presidential election corrected the vision of my political understanding likened unto laser vision correction for those with politically-impaired sight. I loved this class which snatched me out of my comfort zone as it pressed me to become aware of media influence and public affairs through research, knowledge acquisition, and interactions with others on many different levels. A few other things I learned about were:

Naked Candidates:

While we see political candidates dressed in suits and ties, dresses and blazers, the media strips them all naked before our eyes so that we can see the true essence of the individual. When a person makes the decision to run for office they are making a statement that they are willing to be viewed intimately before they ultimately lead. A fairly famous quote from the Bible in Ecclesiastes 5:15 says, "As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand." Running for and holding a high political office is both a birth and death of sorts; a person is born into an entirely new lifestyle which means they die to the life they once had. I've learned that political candidates better be comfortable in their own skin because they will be undressed with the lights on. Furthermore, if they've undressed literally with anyone they shouldn't have their dirty laundry will most likely be aired on all the news networks. 

The Media MRI:

I learned that the media can be like an MRI news machine that can find, identify, and expose things that can't be seen in a photograph or by a simple visual examination. You can't always judge a book by its cover; neither can you judge a political candidate by the way they look. Unfortunately, a lot of people do just that. Many people are visually motivated, and when you add good audio to good visual deception can be effortless. I've learned that we all need to understand the mechanics of politics and take a good long look under the hood of those we vote for before voting for them. In my opinion the media truly is the fourth arm of "checks and balances." The media checks and it balances for the American public what the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government may not. The media is political medical technology that helps keep our political system healthy. I'm not saying that it does; I'm just saying that it helps. 

The Illumination of Influence:

Another very important fact that was brought to my attention is this course is the power of media influence. When a candidate is positively portrayed in the media it can greatly benefit the results of their campaign. Media is highly influential and can shape perspectives like soft clay in the hands of a sculptor. The media is a shining light that has the power to place a dark shadow over anyone they aim to. While most of us are intelligent enough to know that everything that glitters isn't gold, there is a large majority that may not yet know that you can't believe everything you read in the paper or see on TV. In this course the influence of media was ever so illuminated to me and how this power works to shape public policy.

GOOD ADVICE: The 10 Commandments of Political Campaigning:

I read the Huffington Post article, "10 Things You Need To Know Today," and I came up with a little list of my own based upon what I've learned in this class. I consider this good advice based upon what I've learned and what I have seen for anyone in a political race. I call this, "The 10 Commandments of Political Campaigning". Rather than being written on stone tablets with the Finger of God and given to a man to lead a nation these are just a few suggestions written in cyberspace with my computer to some people that may one day lead a nation.

1. G - God Speed; Gain an Advantage: In a political campaign "first mover advantage" is highly important. Move swiftly in a strategic and tactical way. Do things first, gain an early advantage in the polls if possible, and touch the public personally and profoundly. 
2. O - Overcome Opposition: Handle opposition with grace and tact. Minimize your weakness and maximize on your opponent's weakness without indulging in a mud campaign. Accentuate your positives. 
3. O - Orate Well: Master the art of public speaking. Learn when to say what, practice answering pertinent questions, and inject charisma into every speech you deliver. 
4. D - Do What You Say: Your word is bond so be a person of your word. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Above all...deliver on your promises. 
5. A - Advertise: Advertise yourself in every possible medium. Establish and enforce your brand. Secure media endorsements and advertise on your own on radio, television, and the Internet. Pass out fliers, have phone calls made on your behalf, and leverage the power of social media. Advertise on the Internet and be sure to lock down as many media interviews as you can. Make your name a household word. 
6. D - Differentiate: Set yourself apart! Make known what makes you different and special. Your differentiation will be your campaign domination. Be unique by establishing your voice and expressing how you are unlike any other candidate. Voice your promises for change and reiterate the resonance of your personal revolution. 
7. V - Veracity: Be accurate and full of integrity. Be sure not to get caught with your pants down. As a matter of fact keep your pants pulled up. Practice habitual truth. 
8. I - Intelligence: Be informed on everything a political leader needs to know including the issues that face the country you seek to represent as well as foreign policy. Be in the know so you can operate in the now and inspire a promising future. 
9. C - Community: Focus on more than unity but on how you will bring people together. Communicate and collaborate while emphasizing a common vision and dream that you can make reality.
10. E - Eloquence: Be suave but real. Speak well and talk with eloquence. Be inspirational but not phony and communicate with the language of a leader that can talk to anyone from the homeless on skid row to the middle-class bread-winner to the billion-dollar CEO. Let your words be pretty but not too smooth and shifty. Make sure the media only captures your best moments. 

Well there you have it, not written on tablets of stone but on a tablet/computer notebook. "A ruler measures and there are rules that should be followed by anyone who wants to be a ruler which can help them measure success." (another nifty quote by Deneene Collins) I don't expect anyone to follow these commandments but I think they should at least be considered by those with the memory of an elephant and by those as hard working (or stubborn) as a donkey. The pun was absolutely intended. Until next time keep watching the news, pray for political wisdom, given an elephant a peanut, and hope that you don't have to wait for donkeys to fly before a political candidates consistently stay true to their words.