This was the first thing that struck me when I arrived at Dave Westlake's internet headquarters:
BASED ON TAKING THE HARDER RIGHT OVER THE EASIER WRONG...
Then I started playing the first of Westlake's two office video chats, in which the Republican Senate candidate, clad in his patented bright orange shirt, lets his supporters in on his campaign strategy. He has apparently entered "phase two" of the campaign (the first phase lasted a year).
A bell went off in my head as the menacing introductory music to his video started playing. Where does that tune come from...? No...it couldn't be. A senate candidate?
Yes, Westlake's campaign apparently rocks to the same beat as the "Young Cons," the conservative hip-hop duo from Darthmouth University. The boys made a big splash on "Huckabee" last year. They were a welcome substitute to Chuck Norris, who kicks considerably less ass when he is fighting for family values. Their music video comes with high recommendations from The Sconz.
Frankly, I don't know why the subliminal messages are necessary. It's not as if Westlake's rhetoric conveys moderation. From the "social issues" tab on his website:
I believe that the religious component of marriage is a sacred union between a man and woman and must be protected. Deviation from the Lord's intent on either of these issues [abortion and marriage] seriously compromises the strength and integrity of society's number one stabilizing force--the family.
"Harder right" indeed. Unfortunately for Dave, probably a "harder right" than the Wisconsin general electorate will accept. But whatever works in the primary.
