Agendas Quote by David Frum
“Anybody who imagines that an election can be won under these circumstances by banging on about William Ayers and Jeremiah Wright is ... to put it mildly ... severely under-estimating the electoral importance of pocketbook issues. We conservatives are sending a powerful, inadvertent message with this negative campaign against Barack Obama's associations and former associations: that we lack a positive agenda of our own and that we don't care about the economic issues that are worrying American voters.”
About This Quote
Source Opinion piece: Political commentary on 2012 US election
Criticizes reliance on scandal over substantive economic issues, arguing it shows a lack of positive agenda and concern for voters’ economic worries.
In simple terms: Focusing on scandals distracts from real economic concerns.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize clear economic policies over negative attacks.
Themes
politics
campaign strategy
election
economics
Mood
strategic
concerned
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- campaign speeches
- policy briefs
- media analysis
- public debates
Key Concepts
Agenda setting
negative campaigning
voter concerns
Questions to Reflect On
- What positive economic proposals could replace negative campaigning?
- How do voters respond to issue‑focused versus scandal‑focused messages?
A Different Perspective
Negative tactics may still mobilize base despite drawbacks.
![“[democrats] hated Richard Nixon, and no wonder. It was Nixon who sent Alger Hiss to jail, and Nixon who waged the Vietnam War after the Democrats gave up,” quote by David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/63d/david-frum-3455_democracy_democrats-hated-richard-nixon-and-no-won_232462.jpg)
