The Universal Buzz Word – ACCOUNTABILITY

This election cycle has definitely been quite unique. Candidates carefully omit any party affiliation on their yard signs and push cards, hoping to avoid “that” question when going door to door. Political ads paid for by DC insiders try to hit all of the candidates on one side of the political aisle, telling me that money is in short supply. Every candidate claims to be a conservative regardless of their philosophical views, banking that their constituents will remain as apathetic as they have in the past and just take them at their word without taking the time to research their record.

But there is one word that I keep hearing this cycle, not just from the candidates but also from our local and state media. That buzz word, if you will, is accountability. One of our most popular television stations has a new campaign playing over the airwaves touting their ability to keep individuals accountable. It goes something like, “We ask the tough questions, and keep those in power accountable to you….”.

For me, this was a pleasant surprise! Do you think that maybe, just maybe, the efforts made by the conservative movement to change the conversation and provide a spotlight on government affairs has actually had an effect on our local news reporters? At the very least, the media seems to have made an effort to listen to their viewers and to start speaking their language.

This points to something that we at American Majority encourage all of our trainees, and that is to know the facts and speak always with kindness. Over the last 20 something months, conservative tea partiers and 9-12 members and liberty groups have been battling the stereo-typical views of conservatives being uneducated hate-mongers. The conservative movement in Arkansas has been leading by example using positive and negative reinforcement when communicating with elected officials at city council, school board and town hall meetings. Now, after countless rallies, press releases, letters to the editor, and facebook postings, one of the state’s favorite television stations has embraced the conservative movements rallying cry! Coincidence? I think not…..now, let’s see if it resonates on November 2nd and most importantly, November 3rd.