Organizing for Action has become a practically invinsible political machine. Through the use of data mining and tailoring messages that fit their target demographic, OFA has created an anti-Republican coalition. This anti-Republican alliance is what fueled Obama’s 2012 win. That said, it’s an unstable alliance that if you target certain groups in thet alliance and peel off a significant portion, OFA’s anti-Republican coalition would fall apart. But doing so requires building infrastructure and identifying an issue that can divide that coalition. In the meantime OFA is now claiming its non partisan which is a joke. It is the glue that holds the anti-Republican coalition together.
To counter the OFA machine, the RNC is finally putting together a digital strategy. They are now seeking a Technology officer to build and coordinate this new digital infrastructure.
As part of a rebuilding effort after its 2012 electoral losses, the Republican National Committee on Tuesday announced plans to put an enhanced digital strategy at the center of its operation, led by a new chief technology officer.
[....]
The R.N.C. aims to hire its new technology officer by May 1, after a search that will include Silicon Valley executives and experts in data analysis. Extensive political experience is not necessarily a requirement. The ideal candidate, Ms. Kukowski said, could be someone who “maybe has been an outsider and is maybe able to come in and change the way that we think.”
Republicans learned the hard way in 2012 how valuable a robust technology operation can be, as the Obama campaign used Web analytics, voter data, social media and online fund-raising to more effectively organize voters, drive turnout and increase donations. The Obama campaign also hired a chief technology officer, Harper Reed, from the tech sector and a team of engineers to build a technology infrastructure to drive the president’s re-election effort.
[....]
Reince Priebus, the committee’s chairman, turned to party elders like Ari Fleischer and Haley Barbour to conduct the so-called Growth and Opportunity Project – a point of derision among younger, more tech-savvy conservative activists. But, said Ms. Kukowski, fresh from a meeting about the review, “a recurring theme throughout this report is getting the youth influence.”
They key is to get younger views into the GOP hierarchy. This will require a change in the current culture of the GOP. Too many in the Republican party are dismissive people under 40. This has allowed the Democrats to create an advantage among younger voters. By bringing younger people to the table, many of whom are tech savy, they will get a more accurate view of what sells with different elements of the electorate. The best organizations combine experience with new talent. I do not know if the GOP’s answer to OFA will be effective in time for 2016, but it is a start. The next thing the GOP needs to do is eliminate the Corrupt Consultant Class who are only interested in making money and not winning elections. People like Karl Rove need to be kicked to the curb.
I wish the Republicans had taken this approach a few cycles ago, but at least they are now trying to rectify this situation. The key is not only to match OFA, but to surpass them. OFA’s fatal flaw is that the people who run it are arrogant Hipsters who believe they are superior. I will in the future do a post on how to rip the anti-Republican coalition apart. It’s much easier than most people think, but it will require a major change in outlook from Republicans.
(Hat Tip: Legal Insurrection via Eaglesoars)
Tags: Data Mining, Organizing For Action, RNC
Gut reaction to headline: rolled my eyes.
I will read on, but unless there are major personnel changes I can’t see this working very well.
Just being honest.
I totally get the absolute NEED for this, I just can’t see this group getting it done and done well enough to not look stupid.
@ Bumr50:
“Leadership” at the national level, I mean.
My confidence in them is ZERO.
Note Reince goes to two old guys to figure out how to attract the youth vote.
Thinking FAIL.
Thanks for the hat tip.
everyone be sure to read the comments. Some are very informative and some are just priceless!
The D’Rats learned a long time ago how to ‘Game’ the system. Until the GOPee learns how to beat the D’Rats at their own game all the RNC is doing is creating another ‘Cargo cult’.
Da_Beerfreak wrote:
Of course, we are at a disadvantage, having souls and all…
@ lobo91:
honesty is a serous disadvantage when it comes to winning at dirty politics.
Where’s my Jebby Bush phone?!?!?!?!???
Da_Beerfreak wrote:
OFA definitely has the advantage, being able to just make shit up and have their voters believe it. Not sure how we counter that, really.
China is building one of the world’s largest drone fleets aimed at expanding its military reach in the Pacific and swarming U.S. Navy carriers in the unlikely event of a war, according to a new report.
lobo91 wrote:
That’s how I see it. This is all hoping to go on as usual not facing the facts; Obama bought the votes from day one.
waldensianspirit wrote:
What do you suggest we do?
The GOP can’t NOT compete in the digital arena.
I submit that by NOT engaging the Progs at this level that the GOP would be “not facing facts.”
That’s not to say I’m hopeful (see my take above,) but I do think it makes a difference that we try and engage rather than simply ceding a huge social and cultural conduit to the bastards.
@ lobo91:
Do the same.
Here’s the Democrat digital strategy plan --
The opportunities for the executive branch abusing its domestic surveillance powers to gather sensitive information on Americans for political purposes are endless; and it’s not like we’re talking about people who let a little thing like “ethics” get in the way of their designs on power.
@ Bumr50:
Ask Jebby Bush what he wants you to do. He will win GOP nomination because the Democrats will pick and vote for him in GOP meetups.
@ Bumr50:
Yup. They should talk with Republicans in their 20′s and 30′s on how to win young voters.
@ Fritz Katz:
Hey, would you like to do a guest post on the failure of ORCA? I think it would fit in with the theme I have been writing about.
waldensianspirit wrote:
Plus Karl Rove is behind him.
@ Fritz Katz:
Someone should ask her what a database is.
@ Bumr50:
I agree with you. I just did this post because I am focused on Political Cyber warfare.
Bumr50 wrote:
I doubt that she could correctly identify the sound a dog makes.
@ lobo91:
You see this?
@ Rodan:
In other words, Obama’s doing all the stuff the left screamed about Bush doing (and which he mostly didn’t actually do).
lobo91 wrote:
Yup, they projected what they had planned, onto Bush.
Senator Ted Cruz tears Obamacare several new O-holes.
Lengthy video, but well worth it.
The RNC, or better yet a conservative group, needs to get their crap together & start making use of today’s technology.
mfhorn wrote:
Agree.
mfhorn wrote:
That poses an interesting question. What are the legal pros/cons of one vs. the other?
I agree with this much: the Democrats have isolated the Republican base and have ginned up contempt against it.
The main meme I am seeing around the ‘web is “privilege”. If a Republican says something dumb, it’s because he is “privileged” and doesn’t understand women / minorities / the poor.
It’s usually coupled with “white” to make “white privilege”, and in my opinion this is toxic. That more than anything is what has given us flash-mobs (and has pushed me personally far to the right of maybe where I should be).
There needs to be a serious national Republican effort to push back against Leftist minions’ use of “privilege” and especially of “white privilege”.
@ Zimriel:
OFA is good at what they do my friend. Your observation doe not contradict mine at all.
@ Zimriel:
Turn it against them. Point out how White Democrats (Hipsters)live good and send their kids to great schools, while “Non White” Democrats struggle and their kids go to crappy school. Create resentment against the White Privileged Democrats.
I will expand on this in a post.
Completely off topic, S.Weasel on her blog mentioned she was pleased with the new pope’s selection of the name Francis, because now everytime there’s a papal edict issued, she can trot out the memorable line “Lighten up, Francis.” Heh.
Good morning everyone. Sculptures aplenty in the downtown Toronto Core.
Slow morning again. I see DiFi wants America to “rise up” and help her take away all those Eee-vil AR-15s. America may indeed “rise up”, but it’s one of those Chinese curse things -- “Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.”
Bumr50 wrote:
What I think.
Rodan wrote:
That could work, but it requires finding effective personnel who can make it happen. The party regulars are allergic to effectiveness. They’re also allergic to carrying the fight to the enemy.
waldensianspirit wrote:
They are already a superpower in everything but name.