The Republican Party may have its share of PR problems, but common knowledge and polling data agree [1] that the party still holds the upper hand on the issues of terrorism and national security. Polls also [2] suggest that national security has a place close to the average American’s heart, especially after recent close-calls on national airlines.
But, as with so many other matters of partisan policy, the Republicans don’t really have any advantage over their political adversaries at all. Again, the Democrats seem to desperately struggle not with positions, but with effective marketing.
Take for example the 9/11 Commission’s report card [3], issued back in December of 2005. The report card reviewed the Bush Administration’s response to the bipartisan Commission’s list of well-researched recommendations [4], and it gave fairly dismal scores. I think the report card bears repeating, even some eight months later:
As many may recall, a major criticism that arose after 9/11 involved the fact that government agencies f [5]ailed to share information adequately. As of December 2005, “Government-wide information sharing” still gets a pitiful “D”. And how Bush earned a “B” on the “balance between security and civil liberties”, I can’t even fathom.
Oh, and before I continue, a quick note: two of the December 2005 grades have an asterisk because of then-pending legislation to allocate government grants to states on the basis of their realistic risk of terrorist attacks. On paper- and on this report card- this sounds like a great idea, but in practice the legislation didn’t work. States greedily piled on supposed “terrorist threats” such as roller rinks and petting zoos in order to receive more funds. [6] I doubt the 9/11 commission would give the current allocation an “A” as suggested on this chart.
This brings me to the title of this post. Republicans have leaned on 9/11 as one of their most reliable crutches [7]; they have always seen issues of national security as the party’s definite boon. Looking at this report card, I feel yet another overwhelming sense of frustration with the Democrats. [8] Properly employed, the Democrats could have used this finding to completely deconstruct the image of Republicans as tough on terrorism, and strong on national security.
Imagine what the Republicans would do in such a situation. Republican PR professionals have an astounding ability to repeat and exploit propaganda until it rings true. If real evidence suggested that the Democrats had bumbled incompetently through organizing national security, it would make the party even more of a slipshod laughingstock than in the impression conservatives have already crafted.
As the anniversary of 9/11 ever-nears (as does a crucial election), the Republicans no doubt ready themselves to terror-monger on its basis once again. Meanwhile, the 9/11 Commission and its findings go nearly forgotten, and a genuine political opportunity to reveal the Republican’s stance on security as a senseless, train-wreck boondoggle fades far away.
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