Saul Alinksy, Rules for Radicals: “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.” That’s why so many TTAG commentators think we should dial back our coverage on Shannon Watts. They know that Shannon’s anti-gun group, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America—formerly One Million Moms for Gun Control—is a sham. MDA doesn’t have anywhere near that level of grass-roots support (hence the name change). But the mainstream media treats Watts as if she has power, thus giving her power. Our readers think we’re doing the same thing. Which is true. But just like the MSM, we get something out of the deal . . .
“Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”
“A good tactic is one your people enjoy.”
“Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”
“Keep the pressure on. Never let up.”
“The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.”
“The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.”
“Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”
Also Alinsky. Also true. Truth be told, if Shannon Watts didn’t exist, we’d have to invent her. The gun rights movement needs a living, breathing target that we can expose, personalize and ridicule. And I don’t mind her knowing it because she works from the same playbook. See that cartoon up top? Like that.
That said, like all good philosophy providers, Alinsky covered his *ss: “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.” Which raises the question: are we all Shannoned-out? Should TTAG stop or ease-up on the Watts bashing? Or have we not yet begun to demonize?