Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona has used this idea for years. He always get reelected. He does the will of the people and when the media objects, he essentially tells them to go to hell. Ever since Nixon lost to Kennedy because of the TV debates where he looked unshaven and wan, politicians have pandered to the media. The media has felt they can make or break any politician.
Times have changed. Most Americans dislike the media more than politicians today. Deservedly, the media has lost all respect. They represent their own agenda and sell that agenda.
A new breed of politicians are emerging. Those who realize the media helps them when they trash them. For years the incessant media attacks on Sheriff Joe have only publicized acts the public approves. Every time they trash him, his approval rating goes up. For the first time in years, the media seems to get it. They now act like Joe doesn’t exist. There isn’t a daily Joe story on the local news or in the far left Arizona Republic. He finally won.
Others, like Chris Christie are doing the same thing. They just say it like it is, no carefully crafted press release. Here’s what I did and here’s why I did it. If you don’t like it, I’m sorry, but it’s done.
Here’s a new guy and his story.
Tea Party Maine GOP Governor, Paul LePage for President in 2012?*
>
> Gov. Paul LePage
>
>
>
> Our new Maine Gov. Paul LePage is making New Jersey ‘s Chris
> Christie look like a wimp. He isn’t afraid to say what he
> thinks. And, judging by the comments I hear at the cigar shop
> and other non-political gathering places, every time he opens
> his mouth his popularity goes up.
>
> He brought down the house at his inauguration when he shook
> his fist toward the media box and said, “You’re on notice!
> I’ve inherited a financially-troubled state to run.
> Observe…cover…but don’t whine if I don’t waste time
> responding to your every whim for your amusement.”
>
> During the campaign he was talking to commercial fishermen who
> are struggling because of federal fisheries rules. They
> complained that President Obama brought his family to Bar
> Harbar & Acadia National Park for a long Labor Day holiday,
> found time to meet with union leaders but wouldn’t talk to
> them. LePage replied, “I’d tell him to go to hell and get out
> of my state.” Media crucified him but he jumped 6 points in
> the pre-election poll!
>
> The Martin Luther King incident was a political sandbag which
> got national exposure. Media crucified him but word on the
> street is very positive.
>
> The NAACP specifically asked him to spend MLK Day visiting
> black inmates at the Maine State Prison. He replied if he
> visited the prison he would meet all inmates regardless of
> race. NAACP balked.
>
> They then put out a news release claiming falsely that he
> refused to participate in any MLK events. He read it in the
> paper for the first time next morning while be driven to an
> event and went ballistic (none of the reporters called him for
> comment before running the NAACP release).
>
> So he arrived at an event and said on TV camera that “…if
> they want to play the race card on me they can kiss my
> butt…” and reminded them that he has an adopted black son
> from Jamiaca and that he attended the local MLK Breakfast
> every year he was mayor of Waterville (he started his morning
> there on MLK Day yesterday.)
>
> He then said there’s a right way and a wrong way to meet with
> the governor and he put all special interests on notice that
> press releases, media leaks and demonstrations are the wrong
> way. He said any other group which acts like the NAACP can
> expect to be on the bottom of the governor’s priority list!
>
> Then he did this which broke yesterday and, judging from local
> radio talk show callers, increased his popularity even more:
>
> The state employees union complained because he waited until 3
> p.m. before closing state offices and facilities and sending
> non-emergency personnel home during the last blizzard. The
> prior governor would often close offices for the day with just
> a forecast before the first flakes. (Each time the state
> closes for snow, it costs the taxpayers about $1-million in
> wages for no work in return.)
>
> LePage was CEO of the Marden’s chain of discount family
> bargain retail stores before election as governor. He noted
> that state employees getting off work early could still find
> lots of retail stores open to shop. So, he put the state
> employees on notice by announcing: “If Marden’s is open, Maine
> is open!”
>
> He told state employees: “We live in Maine in the winter, for
> heaven’s sake, and should know how to drive in it. Otherwise,
> apply for a state job in Florida !”
>
> Refreshing politician!
Wouldn’t it be nice if we got a whole new generation of politicians who spoke and acted like this. What would the media do if they found every time they go after a non-liberal his ratings go up. What would happen if politicians found being honest got them votes? Sincerity, honesty, integrity and doing the right thing might mean something again.