Branding

Why do Republicans seem to own the concepts of “freedom” and “patriotism”? Because Republicans are better at branding—themselves, their policies, and Democrats.

An example:

Tax and Spend Democrats vs. Fiscally Responsible Republicans

I was recently talking with a friend about his conservative parents who voted for Donald Trump in 2016, and did so again in 2020. Once Mom & Pop business owners, they’re now retired and remain staunch Chamber of Commerce Republicans. I’m a business owner too, so I get their perspective to a degree.

The fact is, however, Republican administrations have squandered resources (Bush: Iraq War), cratered the economy (Bush: Financial Crisis), and exploded deficits (Trump: 2018 Tax Cuts). Meanwhile, Democrats fail to get credit for cleaning up the messes (COVID-19) and leaving the country on sound financial footing (Clinton, Obama, Biden).

So, why do these labels endure? Effective, consistent branding.