Mixed Signals: Revamping the Obama Brand

Last updated on: June 10, 2011 at 11:12 am by Erin Straza

Mixed Signals: Revamping the Obama Brand 2011-06-10T11:12:26-06:00 Erin Straza

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mixed Signals is Erin Straza’s weekly musing about marketing miscellany in advertising, branding, and messaging.

It doesn’t take a marketing expert to recognize that elections are made up of carefully crafted messages developed to win the hearts and minds of the voters. This is especially true for our presidential elections.

According to a USA Today article by Susan Page, the messages presidential candidates develop and distribute determine their election fate. Clear, simple messages that promise to fulfill the needs of the voters are most successful.

That’s why Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign message—Hope and Change—was so powerful. Voters understood what he promised, and they wanted what he offered.

And there’s the rub: Obama’s 2008 campaign was so successful that he became synonymous with his brand. It’s now 2012, and that message is old news. Polls show that voters are no longer sure President Obama can deliver on his brand promise. So unless he successfully rebrands himself, he will lose the next election.

But I’m wondering, is the 2008 brand really the problem? Or is the real problem our unrealistic expectation of those serving in political leadership?

Our consumerist mentality at the polls converts the voting booth to a retail counter where we purchase the product (i.e., the candidate) that offers the benefits we desire. Brand Obama promised Hope and Change—and by golly, we want Hope and Change. Never mind that Obama is a person, a human being, working within the confines of our government structure and in the midst of myriad variables he cannot control.

Expecting our leaders to deliver the life we want when we want it places them in the position only God can fulfill. Only God can promise and make good on the promise for true Hope and Change, for this life and for the next. No elected official is capable of this.

When President Obama unveils his 2012 branding message, as voters, let’s see what he is offering and determine if it is reasonable to expect delivery. As believers, let’s remember that he is human and look to God to provide what our hearts truly long for.

Asides

barack obama

mixed signals

Previous Post

June 10, 2011

Elsewhere: Romance and Young Adult Novels, Human Centipede II, Settlers of Catan, etc.

Next Post

June 13, 2011 The Importance of Story in Super 8

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz