It’s election season, which means the war between the private-interest PACs and the grassroots effort is in full artillery mode. Mailers being funded by out of state money with intentions to sway your vote towards their desired candidate are hitting our mailboxes every day.
Text messages are flooding our phones, commercials are running, all in an effort to flood our minds with propaganda.
Propaganda is defined as “the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist.” (Propaganda and Persuasion, Jowett, O’Donnell)
The voice of the people is muted by the influence of money; money that’s being given through PACs and out of state donors who have one desire, get their candidate elected through any means necessary.
In Hamilton County, Representative Michele Reneau was elected by the people two years ago, against a long-time incumbent who was no longer voting to preserve Republican values.
The incumbent, Patsy Hazlewood, voted to weaken our state’s position on illegal immigration, she voted to provide loop-holes for abortion, she voted against lowering the age to legally carry to 18, and voted against the Tennessee Constitutional Carry bill.
Reneau, a conservative in District 27 was paying attention and decided to run against Hazlewood, to give voters an opportunity to choose someone who would listen to their constituents and uphold conservative values.
Reneau won by 138 votes. Her campaign strategy was different from her incumbent’s, she relied on getting to know her constituents rather than deepening her pockets.
Today, as she is running for a second term, Patsy Hazlewood is continuing to fight her, by financially supporting Tony Hullander, Michele’s opponent.
The HAZ-PAC has given $2500 to Tony Hullender. She has also given $2500 to John Crawford, the incumbent in District 1 who voted against establishing property tax rates at the time a home is purchased or refinanced, who voted to strip the right of citizens to challenge unconstitutional laws without being injured by them first, and is 80% funded by PACs, including The Bipartisan Network PAC who is completely funded by a couple in Texas.
Jessica Means, John Crawford’s opponent, is much like Michele Reneau, focused on the “ground” game, meeting constituents and raising finances from individual voters rather than organizations and PACs.
Let’s look at House District 78 where Representative Mary Littleton has “retired” and two candidates are running to serve, Perry Keenan and John Louallen.
Mailers recently landed in mailboxes across the district accusing Louallen of “hiding your kid’s information from you” and accusing him of being a “government knows best” politician.
Looking at John Louallen’s campaign contributions, 73% are from individuals and 0.8% are from PACs and organizations. His average gift is $169.
His opponent, Perry Keenan, who received $1500 from Mary Littleton, has received 69% from individuals and 23% from PACs and organizations. His average gift is $1488.
Just a quick scroll through his donors, you’ll see the largest PAC donation from Tennesseans for Student Success Action PAC of $5,000. They are also the return address of the mailer which is full of propaganda to confuse voters, making accusations without any data.
He’s also received $1,000 from Tennessee First PAC, an organization who funds both Republicans and Democrats, including Senator London Lamar. You may remember her for standing on her desk in the chambers accusing politicians of protecting Jim Crow laws after the redistricting vote.
Keenan received another $1,000 from the Priority On Demand PAC, an organization who also funds Democrats and is based out of Arizona. This PAC has given to 70 Representatives and Senators across Tennessee.
Simply peeling back the source of funding, it seems the accusation that Louallen is the candidate who believes “government knows best” is misdirected.
Both parties thrive on the use of propaganda, it’s a tactic all forms of government have used against the people when seeking control. During World War II, Joseph Goebbels served as the Minister of Propaganda under Adolf Hitler and developed 5 rules in which to persuade the people:
- Avoid abstract ideas and appeal instead to the emotions
- Employ constant repetition of just a few ideas, using stereotyped phrases and avoiding objectivity
- Put forth only one side of the argument
- Constantly criticize enemies of the state
- Identify one special enemy for special vilification
Those who idolize their power, on both sides of the political aisle, would rather fund initiatives to ensure elections are harder to win based on truth and facts.
For us, this means we must remain vigilant to identify propaganda and take it upon ourselves to research the candidates. Mailers and commercials that appeal to the emotions should be ignored. If a candidate is constantly criticizing their opponent rather than speaking about their platform and the policies they will support, the candidate must be ignored.
If the electorate is educated, we cannot be taken advantage of and candidates who prioritize our voice over the influence of PACs will be elected.
This election cycle, stay vigilant! Ask questions, do your research. Use resources like the Tennessee Legislative Report Card to look at voting records and campaign contributions.
Most importantly, equip your neighbors, friends, and family, and become a trusted source of truth. An informed, united electorate is the foundation of meaningful “consent of the governed.”
Resource:
https://whofundstn.org/
Elections: The War Between PACs and the Grassroots
It’s election season, which means the war between the private-interest PACs and the grassroots effort is in full artillery mode. Mailers being funded by out of state money with intentions to sway your vote towards their desired candidate are hitting our mailboxes every day.
Text messages are flooding our phones, commercials are running, all in an effort to flood our minds with propaganda.
Propaganda is defined as “the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist.” (Propaganda and Persuasion, Jowett, O’Donnell)
The voice of the people is muted by the influence of money; money that’s being given through PACs and out of state donors who have one desire, get their candidate elected through any means necessary.
In Hamilton County, Representative Michele Reneau was elected by the people two years ago, against a long-time incumbent who was no longer voting to preserve Republican values.
The incumbent, Patsy Hazlewood, voted to weaken our state’s position on illegal immigration, she voted to provide loop-holes for abortion, she voted against lowering the age to legally carry to 18, and voted against the Tennessee Constitutional Carry bill.
Reneau, a conservative in District 27 was paying attention and decided to run against Hazlewood, to give voters an opportunity to choose someone who would listen to their constituents and uphold conservative values.
Reneau won by 138 votes. Her campaign strategy was different from her incumbent’s, she relied on getting to know her constituents rather than deepening her pockets.
Today, as she is running for a second term, Patsy Hazlewood is continuing to fight her, by financially supporting Tony Hullander, Michele’s opponent.
The HAZ-PAC has given $2500 to Tony Hullender. She has also given $2500 to John Crawford, the incumbent in District 1 who voted against establishing property tax rates at the time a home is purchased or refinanced, who voted to strip the right of citizens to challenge unconstitutional laws without being injured by them first, and is 80% funded by PACs, including The Bipartisan Network PAC who is completely funded by a couple in Texas.
Jessica Means, John Crawford’s opponent, is much like Michele Reneau, focused on the “ground” game, meeting constituents and raising finances from individual voters rather than organizations and PACs.
Let’s look at House District 78 where Representative Mary Littleton has “retired” and two candidates are running to serve, Perry Keenan and John Louallen.
Mailers recently landed in mailboxes across the district accusing Louallen of “hiding your kid’s information from you” and accusing him of being a “government knows best” politician.
Looking at John Louallen’s campaign contributions, 73% are from individuals and 0.8% are from PACs and organizations. His average gift is $169.
His opponent, Perry Keenan, who received $1500 from Mary Littleton, has received 69% from individuals and 23% from PACs and organizations. His average gift is $1488.
Just a quick scroll through his donors, you’ll see the largest PAC donation from Tennesseans for Student Success Action PAC of $5,000. They are also the return address of the mailer which is full of propaganda to confuse voters, making accusations without any data.
He’s also received $1,000 from Tennessee First PAC, an organization who funds both Republicans and Democrats, including Senator London Lamar. You may remember her for standing on her desk in the chambers accusing politicians of protecting Jim Crow laws after the redistricting vote.
Keenan received another $1,000 from the Priority On Demand PAC, an organization who also funds Democrats and is based out of Arizona. This PAC has given to 70 Representatives and Senators across Tennessee.
Simply peeling back the source of funding, it seems the accusation that Louallen is the candidate who believes “government knows best” is misdirected.
Both parties thrive on the use of propaganda, it’s a tactic all forms of government have used against the people when seeking control. During World War II, Joseph Goebbels served as the Minister of Propaganda under Adolf Hitler and developed 5 rules in which to persuade the people:
Those who idolize their power, on both sides of the political aisle, would rather fund initiatives to ensure elections are harder to win based on truth and facts.
For us, this means we must remain vigilant to identify propaganda and take it upon ourselves to research the candidates. Mailers and commercials that appeal to the emotions should be ignored. If a candidate is constantly criticizing their opponent rather than speaking about their platform and the policies they will support, the candidate must be ignored.
If the electorate is educated, we cannot be taken advantage of and candidates who prioritize our voice over the influence of PACs will be elected.
This election cycle, stay vigilant! Ask questions, do your research. Use resources like the Tennessee Legislative Report Card to look at voting records and campaign contributions.
Most importantly, equip your neighbors, friends, and family, and become a trusted source of truth. An informed, united electorate is the foundation of meaningful “consent of the governed.”
Resource:
https://whofundstn.org/
Like this article?
Anne Lowery
Anne Lowery