Lisa Mux, writing at Blogging Blue, describes a well-attended Americans for Prosperity event that touted the Walker Administration’s record:
The entire event was carefully orchestrated and the true reality of what Walker has done to the middle-class in Wisconsin was scrubbed, sanitized, and handed back to the audience in an easily digestible format. From the nine minute video to the messaging that never once veered off track to the panel discussion that allowed the audience to feel included, the AFP had it going on.
It was executed with military precision; not a second was wasted. It felt less like a political event and more like a motivational seminar.
The AFP even told the audience up-front that they weren’t there to talk politics; they were there to spread the “good news” about the reality-that the Walker Way was working. The whole event was slightly evangelical in nature, but it was damn effective. Eight hundred and fifty people left that Town Hall, free dvd in hand, invigorated, empowered, and eager to spread The Word of Walker.
Mux is of the Left, and she thinks that “it would behoove liberals to utilize their methods.”
One sees her point, but many of AFP’s methods on display are, in fact, borne of weakness and defensiveness.
In the end, an expensive meeting like this is more motivational than evangelical. These are not the same thing – the first inspires those attending, the second leads to new supporters of Walker’s agenda. Although motivation is necessary for political evangelization, it’s neither sufficient nor certain to produce new political followers.
If one knew that those attending would use those expensive materials, and take the enjoyment of that precision-timed affair, to win many new followers, then AFP’s money would be especially well-spent.
That’s not likely, however: No matter how motivated the attendees, I’d guess most will share their support only with like-minded people, rather than win others over to Walker’s cause. Motivation in a meeting room is far easier than political canvassing in neighborhoods, workplaces, etc.
Americans for Prosperity knows this, and that’s why most of this meeting money is meant to inspire (and bolster) existing Walker supporters, rather than win anyone over. These supporters have seen independent-minded friends waiver in their support of Walker. Critical press coverage of Walker’s administration leaves his backers on the defensive, and events like this give them a comforting sense of powerful, well-funded forces behind their views.
They shouldn’t, though, need this kind of expensive motivation at this late stage. That AFP feels the need to spend money on this meeting — rather than use it on additional TV and radio to reach uncommitted residents — suggests Walker’s in a defensive position.
Gov. Walker may win a recall, but meetings like this show that his financial backers see how much work there is to do on his behalf.