Do You Know How Hard It Is Promoting an Event? Just Ask the GOP.

Photo by - politicsontoast. wordpress.com

Just in case you didn’t know, the Republican party is busy promoting an event otherwise known as the Republican National Convention (2012). The convention will be held in Tampa next week running from August 27 through August 30. So, right now, the organizers normal role in promoting an event of this magnitude would be to highlight the party’s unity and presentation of their presidential candidate and their star vice presidential nominee.

So why isn’t that happening?

Does the GOP Need a Lesson on How to Promote an Event?

There seems to be two storms brewing that could make for the perfect storm at next week’s convention. You see forecasters are keeping their eye on a tropical storm, named Isaac, which computer models show that it could affect Tampa next week. On top of that there’s another storm brewing – but not of the natural kind. You see a certain Republican representative from Missouri that is hoping to unseat a long-term Democrat senator made a few comments over the weekend which has caused quite a firestorm. Representative Akin made a bonehead comment on the weekend saying that women that are raped cannot become pregnant because their body shuts down the ability for conception. Well needless to say that stupid comment has landed the representative in hot water. His own party leaders are calling for him to step aside as they now feel he is very damaged goods. Not only that but he is further damaging the GOP’s messaging to women.

Now before you think this is a one-off (and perhaps to the degree of what he said it is) the GOP has also just finalized their policy platform for moving the party forward (or backwards?). You see as part of their policy, they formally oppose abortion under any circumstances.

As a ~~sideshow~~ side story, we’ve also heard from Donald Trump (aren’t we hearing from Mr. Trump just about every other day now?) that he had a big surprise planned for the convention. Well on the very same day that he put out a tease about his gig at the convention, a journalist let it slip that he was going to do a skit where he and an Obama look-alike would partake in Trump telling Obama “you’re fired”. On cue, the Donald began to trash the journalist as nothing but a flake. Good grief, haven’t we heard this before? Really, have the organizers just given up on even trying to be funny?

Right Now the GOP Should Be Busy Promoting an Event Not Defending Their Policies

What should normally be a period before the convention where organizers are promoting the event has turned into anything but. All we are hearing is how Representative Akin is of touch with women’s issues (and, I don’t know, maybe reality too – not to mention just plain science itself).

I actually feel sorry for the organizers of the Republican convention. It is certainly not their fault what members of the GOP are saying in interviews. However it certainly falls on their shoulders to overcome what their members are saying and try to promote an event in a positive light. After all, this convention really should be about introducing Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan as the Republican nominees for President and Vice President. Instead what many in the party are doing is playing defense as the press just doesn’t seem to want to drop this story.