Republican position paper: “Cut and run” is the Democrats, “Stay the Course” is the old Republicans, “stay and play” was the last try, but now it’s “cut, stay, play, adapt, then run”

October 25, 2006

Republican position paper: “Cut and run” is the Democrats, “Stay the Course” is the old Republicans, “stay and play” was the last try, but now it’s “cut, stay, play, adapt, then run”

by Paula Berrer

In a position paper newly released by the Republican Senate Campaign Committee is declaring a new position on the war: The paper states, in part, “‘Cut and run'” is the Democrat catch phrase, “‘Stay the Course'” is the old Republican catch phrase, “‘stay and play'” was the last try, but now we’re going to use “‘cut, stay, play, adapt, then run.'” (This, unfortuantely, undercuts another recent attempt by a Republican message specialist, “bait and switch,” which tested poorly in urban and suburban markets where voters are showing declining interest in GOP tickets nationally).

This is in the aftermath of announcements last week that changes in strategy will not, under any circumstances, be tolerated, but changes in tactics will be tolerated, as long as they don’t involve changes in tactics, or use the word “strategy” in any way. It does, however, permit synonyms of the word “strategy,” such as “game plan,” “policy,” approach,” “line of attack,” or “strategem.”

“I think we have a message that voters will not only embrace, but be fairly less mystified and outraged by,” RSCC Chairman Chad Tobin said of the document. “We’ve worked hard on this baby. It’s ready for prime time. This is the last one. We promise.”

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