The phrase has been bandied about for several months. The first time I saw it in print was four months ago, when David Axelrod used it in a joking way.
Increasingly, though, the 10-word pitch -- "Osama Bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive" -- is taking hold as a line the White House is completely serious about. Here's Vice President Biden, addressing a Communications Workers of America conference a few days ago, reading prepared remarks:
"The best way I've heard this expressed what's clear, in shorthand, is 'Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive,'" Biden said. "Now, some will say, 'Biden's playing on the success on bin Laden.' It's more than that. It's a metaphor; it's a metaphor for a lot more."
The Obama re-election team certainly hopes so. Democrats have traditionally struggled to craft compelling "elevator pitches" when it comes to their policies, records, and visions. But Biden's 10-word pitch, a blunt instrument as political rhetoric goes, at least has the benefit of summarizing the points Obama for America hopes to stress: the president and his administration turned the economy around at home, and has scored high-profile national security successes abroad.
It's seems likely the Democratic campaign will face considerable pushback if officials keep using this pitch out loud -- the politicization of the bin Laden strike may prove tricky -- but the fact that the likely Republican nominee opposed the policy that got the al Qaeda leader, and was inclined to "let Detroit go bankrupt," the health of GM and demise of bin Laden at a minimum sets up the contrast the White House wants to see.
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When and where can I buy the bumper sticker and window decal?
How about Cafe Press? I'll buy one (right along with my "Dunning/Kruger 2012" stickers.)
Other Campaign Slogans broken down by word count:*
*(With Hyphenated words counting as one word.)
Nine Word Campaign: "It's Half-Time in America, and the next Half's starting."
Eight Word Campaign: "Romney is not concerned about the very poor."
Seven Word Campaign: "Don't Let Congress muck up the recovery."
Six Word Campaign: "We're still fighting for the future."
Five Word Campaign: "We Are the ninety-nine percent."
Four Word Campaign: "The Republicans are Crazy"
Three Word Campaign: "Mitt Fired Thousands"
Two Word Campaign: "Economic Inequality."
One Word Campaign: "HOPE."
Here's some other VP Biden quotes that might be helpful this campaign.
Do you know the Web site number?
It's so important we invest in Solyndra.
Chuck, stand up.
Excellent! Well Done!! But I'd change the Three Word Campaign to "We Can't Wait"
"Do you know the Web site number?"
well ping google.com its number is 74.125.127.104
or you can whois it.
dam now that does sound bad any more dont it.
lol
Well done, VP.
no over-stating...just plain talk....call me old fashion, but that works for me...
Biden is going to be the one carry and delivering the Democrat message for the upcoming campaign? Can't wait!
It's actually a little clever, they deserve credit for national security accomplishments, especially the raid to kill Bin Laden. But every time Obama references it, the republicans scream "He's bragging!"
"It's an important message, but it's a little awkward to convey, hmm, who do we have around here who can get away with being awkward?"
"Biden, you have no self-consciousness, you're up to bat!"
Vox, I agree and do give President Obama credit for his role in getting Bin Laden. I'm not sure he ever acknowledged that others before him played a role in the process as well. I don't think it was as "brave" a decision as others make it out to be.
But, it happened on his watch. He made the decision. He deserves tremendous amout of credit without the "he's bragging" comment. Agreed.
"I'm not sure he ever acknowledged that others before him played a role in the process as well."
Yes, he did. Not that his critics would ever acknowledge it. But then, Obama is much more gracious than his critics.
And, let's remember, the gang that's having a hard time acknowledging what Obama did is the same gang that almost had a mass orgasm at the sight of W striding manfully acrooss the flight deck of an aircraft carrier to falsely declare, "Mission Accomplished".
It smacks of sour grapes to criticize Obama in any way about this - especially since Mr. "Dead or Alive" Bush declared that he had lost interest in ever bringing Bin Laden to justice a whole 6 months after 9/11. And then he quit trying.
How much credit should we give the right when they criticize Obama getting Bin Laden when they didn't give a damn when Bush quit even trying? Seriously.
Exactly, Ruth. He did indeed credit others. Even though they didn't deserve it.
and bush never apologized for saying he has not concerned....Comander in Chief?
and bush never apologized for saying he has not concerned....Comander in Chief?
While I understand the concern, let's face it: If it was the Republicans in office when Osama bin Laden had been dealt with, they'd certainly be politicizing it. In fact, they wouldn't think twice about and use it as an indicator that the Democrats aren't capable of this type of thinking. Credit is due and I have no fault with Obama taking the credit for that decision. It was significantly less costly - both in dollars and soldiers - then all the other efforts made in the past 10 years to take him out.
"Now, some will say, 'Biden's playing on the success on bin Laden.' "
Well, I sure as hell hope so. Any administration that doesn't tout its achievements is doomed to a well-deserved defeat when the opposition talks up only the failures, both real and imagined. And tell you the truth, "OBL's dead and GM is alive" is a great line. Why? Because it's true, and the GOP hates that like sin...
Oh no, the GOP doesn't hate Sin, in fact they have a standing order.
Guess we shouldn't expect anything more from the hypocritical leaders of the GOP - they can't even be happy when a Republican says good things about America - they have nothing to sell but lies.
I bet Elizabeth Warren is going to have a better slogan. This woman is a great communicator.
I've only heard a few of Ms. Warren's speeches and interviews so far, but I agree. In fact, I've wondered - could she be the (future) first female POTUS?
I hope so. She would make a great follow up to Obama. Give her the bully pulpit and she will flog the Republicans senseless.
It's nice enough that GM and Chrysler are still around, but it's much more important that their suppliers didn't go down with them.
Or for that matter Ford and Subaru, both of which lobbied for the bailout to protect their supply chains. That, despite the fact that both of them stood to gain a lot from fewer American competitors.
I would hope that once Mitt and the Repubicans (band name?) go far enough out on the "let the US auto industry die" limb, the Democrats will start dust off the list of auto industry suppliers who would have died with them and point out that fact to the communities that depend on them.
they need to put it on a t-shirt and sell it at Obama.com
RobDon, can't agree with your assessment that it was not as brave a decision as has been credited. how brave a decision would it have been if it failed? Pres. Obama, who can do no right, would have been crucified if the hair of one Seal had been harmed, had Osama not been there, Katie bar the door, probable impeachment.
My best 10 word pitch: Republicans are really really really really really really really stupid
Great, but it's missing its 9-word punchline:
Would you rather have it the other way around?
!
I am only a winter resident of your country but US politics directly affects us because we had to swear off Arizona because of the crazy talk that we kept hearing everywhere we went in that state. Plus I didn't feel like carrying my passport with me everywhere we went. (I am easily identified as a Canadian because of my accent). We are truly rooting for the Democrats come November. (Of course we are socialists because we all have health care). Talking about messages and the flap surrounding the Half Time in America commercial why aren't the right up in arms about "Clean Coal", Cisco and General Electric ads where they are saying the same message without the identifiable Republican spokesperson. Large companies want people to part with their hard earned cash more than anything so are trying to portray a country that is recovering. Seems like a smart business move to me. Not to worry GOP they will still be sending their millions to your Super Pacs to affect the outcome of the election because they don't want to pay more taxes on the increased profits generated by the positive ads.
MORE! MORE! MORE!
(I relish the image of President Obama watching Romney pinball around the stage in a debate... and Santorum try to go toe-to-toe with Joe)
Bluntness can be so useful when used for good. Go Joe.