Virginia Republicans have to sell the sizzle.

The Republican party is in turmoil. So-called moderate, liberal, and conservative Republicans are fighting over the proper way to fight the Democrats/progressives on a national level. However, I feel that the campaign to defeat the progressives on the national level is lost, at least in the short term.

And the war will be lost, if the GOP continues as it has over the last few months. The GOP continues to fight the LAST war. It continues to fight on the terrain of the Democrats. It is accepting the premises put out by the left, and therefore, is on defense. No war has EVER been won by a force defending itself......

There is still hope on the local and state level. But only if McDonnell, Bolling, and the AG candidate can change the strategy of the past.

Republicans of all flavors have accepted the premises of the left and the stereotypes of the Republicans presented by the left for so long that the GOP seems afraid to go on the attack. The GOP refuses to challenge the very basis of the progressives' plans instead of just denying them policy successes. The Left has marketed the product that they sell much more successfully. All sales are emotional. And most Americans do not pay attention to issues.

United Conservatives of Virginia posted about the failure of the GOP to "sell the product" back in February. Now the Republicans seem to want to water down their product even more? Republicans CANNOT win by denigrating Democrats. They will only win by putting out a more attractive product.

Social issues MUST be framed in the principles of freedom and liberty, not governmental interference. Conservative economic principles MUST demonstrate how liberty and the free market will benefit the populace. The mantra of "lower taxes" is a losing battle cry. 40% of Americans pay little or no taxes. Show how a more sensible tax plan benefits ALL Americans, don't agree to "targeted tax cuts."

Republicans have to sell the "sizzle" of freedom instead of the "meat" of the conservative principles behind it.

Leigh Scott of Big Hollywood presents the same case:

Conservatives need to fire the marketing department.

How many times have you seen a trailer that looked awesome, only to find the film to be lame? Most of the time the best parts of the movie are in the trailer. While domestically, we rarely see the blatant trickery demonstrated by the overseas vendors, we are occasionally subjected to marketing elements that don’t match the final product.

Politics today is very similar to Hollywood. We have a President known more for his wife’s fashion and his great speeches than any policy achievements. After all, do you call someone lost without their script (i.e. teleprompter) anything but an actor? It’s all style and no substance. People pick politicians like they pick movies, based on the short version, the “trailer,” and not on the substance of the actual individual. It’s an emotional decision, based on immediate needs and not on actual principles.

And this, my friends, is where the conservative movement has lost the battle.

Conservatism is all about freedom. That’s the sales pitch. Conservatives endorse freedom. We are the modern day rebels. We are the punk rockers of politics. We like to work hard and party harder. The government is “The Man.” “The Man” tries to hold you down. Anybody who wants the “safety net” of cradle to the grave government support should be ridiculed. And rightfully so.

The GOP needs to change its image, NOT its ideals and principles. How does the GOP attract more people to its ideals, NOT how does the GOP changes its ideals to attract more people.

The feud between the branches of the GOP must end. Mr. Scott said it best:

The core values of the movement can be different from the marketing campaign. That’s the smart way to do it. It’s how the Democrats took over the government and it’s our only hope at taking it back.