It isn’t really new in the world of public relations or political tactics and not entirely new to the Romney/Ryan campaign, but it is one the very few options left to them.
The press has had mixed success calling Romney and Ryan out on their lying, but the lying has successfully kept their base motivated. We know their belief system is so anti-reality that they could witness Paul Ryan snatching a purse from your grandmother and they would claim some magical alternate storyline blaming liberals and the media. I am sure they have some anti-scientific explanation for gravity. The “strategy for losers” goes something like this. Put out a moderate, centrist proposal or policy in a very public forum (RNC, big national newspapers, television, etc.) expecting blowback from the extremist base. When or if anyone notices this very intentional flip-flop, a surrogate immediately releases a correction in a lesser forum (right-wing blogs, a church, evangelical college speech, obscure radio interview, buried in the back pages of a local newspaper, etc.). The effect is to confuse the general electorate who heard the centrist policy and still placate the base with the retraction. They can simultaneously have multiple competing policies. An example would be: “I heard Romney say he wouldn’t touch Social Security”, while telling his base that it’s a Ponzi scheme. Slide to the center and dash back to the right. Repeat as often as necessary to create confusion. When caught they just tell the reporter or constituent they are wrong. This explains why we are seeing a blinding increase in their policy redirections. The tactics seems so obvious, but with little time for exposure Romney/Ryan are hoping they can scam those who are “undecided” to mistakenly believe they have found common ground on a position and vote for them. Sure all politicians move to the center after the primaries, but Romney/Ryan have repeatedly cycled back and forth depending on the audience. There are many examples of their flip-flops or “he was for it before he was against it” and outright lies. We catalog, post, and laugh at them, but these are not due to mismanagement or lack of message clarity. These are executed with the distinct purpose of misdirection and confusion. Back and forth, each time targeting a different group or audience. This is a close election, if Romney/Ryan can muddy the waters and combine it with just the right amount of voter suppression in each swing state it may work. There message is “tell me what you want to hear and I will agree with you if you vote for me”. It’s hard to imagine anyone in a modern 24/7 news cycle would attempt a throwback 1950’s style, straight up propaganda campaign, but look at their platform at the RNC. It is a tribute to the “Mad Men” series. They are hoping no one is paying attention. With about 56 days to convince or scam a few more “undecided” voters it’s time for the Hail Mary. We can’t assume everyone has access to the same information we have or will read what we do in a timely manner. Some people have a life. Romney/Ryan have no core beliefs and are willing to say and do most anything to steal the keys to the White House. It’s a long shot for them, but again these are desperate times for a pair of desperate losers. I can’t wait for the debates. Note: if you intend to go to a Romney/Ryan rally keep an eye on grandma’s purse.