# The Repizzles are in the Hizzouse (RNC Plans for Rebranding the Image)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [February 19, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548 "2009-02-19T14:18:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/81 "2009-02-20T16:46:15Z")

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They should go for it. Can’t see it impacting on their core fundamentalist vote and it [worked so well for the UK Conservative Party](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4745016.stm).

> [@](#):
>
> For many people, the enduring image - unfairly or not - of William Hague’s first 100 days as Conservative leader is that of him wearing a baseball cap on a visit to a theme park.
> 
> The publicity stunt was an attempt to project a more youthful image for the party but it saw him mercilessly pilloried in the press. Simon Heffer in the Daily Mail said the new Conservative leader “looked like a child-molester on a day release scheme”.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/82 "2009-02-20T17:34:29Z")

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You’re a few years off, aren’t you? Hague was elected Conservative leader nearly twelve years ago. And when [David Cameron](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4810212.stm) made similar moves far more recently, it seemed to work fine:

> [@](#):
>
> Even his attempts to appear young and fresh - by not wearing a tie, for example, or being photographed in a cycle helmet, did not - unlike predecessor William Hague’s baseball hat - generate mocking headlines.
> 
> “The media, hungry for a new story about the Tories, have largely collaborated in portraying him as a winning guy in touch with the 21st century,” wrote Andrew Rawnsley in The Observer.
> 
> “David Cameron’s first 100 days can be seen as an application from the Conservative party to rejoin the human race,” he concluded.

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**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/83 "2009-02-20T17:42:54Z")

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So Steele’s plan will rely on “collaboration” with the media to make sure they’re on board with presenting the GOP as funky fresh? Does the liberal mainstream media know about this?

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**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/84 "2009-02-20T18:42:07Z")

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That noise is either small caliber ammunition being expended, or champagne corks a-poppin’.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/85 "2009-02-20T18:47:03Z")

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> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> So, it’s amnesty, then?
> 
> There is no such thing as GOP nuances. It’s black or white.
> 
> Are you against illegal immigration so that you will fight it till your last breath, or are you for giving all them illegals amnesty? Which is it, boy?
> 
> -Joe, realizes you’re Canadian

Yeah, yeah, yeah… pick a side, we’re at war.  
Personally, I’d like Canadian immigration rules vastly loosened so anyone free of mental or physical illness and a criminal record can stay, subject to explusion in the first ten years if they are shown to be working against Canadian interests in some clear and obvious fashion (details to be worked out). At the very least, we can take advantage of American dumbassery on the issue and attract all the smart eager immigrants who for one bureaucratic Homeland-Security reason or another can’t settle in the States.

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/86 "2009-02-20T19:55:27Z")

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> [@Captain\_Carrot](#):
>
> Given that Steele barely beat Katon Dawson, a man who said he became Republican because Democrats forced his school to integrate…

The “Barack, the Magic Negro” guy was a finalist, too.

**tagos** , nice cite. Nobody does snark as consistently well as British newspapers.

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**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/87 "2009-02-20T20:27:26Z")

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> [@Johnny\_Angel](#):
>
> What happened to that guy? He was funky fresh. . . . [and other previous dope postings]

The new all-purpose Republican slogan:

That other guy? Drop that Zero and get yourself a Hero!

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**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/88 "2009-02-21T02:44:18Z")

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> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> [tangent]You’re aware that tectonics is an exceedingly slow and gradual process, right? I’d hate for this phrase to replace paradigm shift.

It took decades, if not centuries, for the aforementioned shift to occur. The Republicans freed the slaves and the KKK was probably mostly Democratic once upon a time.

Hostile Dialect,  
Hostile Dialect, Narcissist

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/89 "2009-02-21T02:52:17Z")

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> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> The “Barack, the Magic Negro” guy was a finalist, too.

No, he wasn’t. Saltsman dropped out the day before voting began.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/90 "2009-02-21T03:59:36Z")

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Quoth **Hostile Dialect** :

> [@](#):
>
> What, Obama won because he was more “urban-suburban hip-hop” than McCain? We’re talking about a guy who eats arugula, here. What else could possibly make him more “hip-hop”? Hrmmmm…

Actually, I think that was at least part of it. Part of Obama’s political success is a result for his knack for fitting in with many different demographics. Nerds see him as a nerd, athletes see him as an athlete, heck, the Irish see him as being more Irish than the guy whose name starts with Mc-. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the hip-hop subculture really does see him as hip-hop.

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**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/91 "2009-02-21T17:31:04Z")

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I swear to god, half the hip-hop on the radio right now has the word Obama in it. I am not joking. I am exaggerating, though. But I swear, it seems like every hip hop artist got inspired after he won.

… not really a surprise, mind you.

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**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/92 "2009-02-21T17:50:25Z")

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> [@E-Sabbath](#):
>
> I swear to god, half the hip-hop on the radio right now has the word Obama in it. I am not joking. I am exaggerating, though. But I swear, it seems like every hip hop artist got inspired after he won.
> 
> … not really a surprise, mind you.

Bush made it into a lot of raps too. The general tone may have been slightly less conciliatory.

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/93 "2009-02-21T18:34:24Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> heck, the Irish see him as being more Irish than the guy whose name starts with Mc-.

Well, what do you expect, with a name like O’Bama?

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/94 "2009-02-21T19:02:42Z")

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> [@Captain\_Carrot](#):
>
> No, he wasn’t. Saltsman dropped out the day before voting began.

Thanks for helping make the point.

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**Author:** ![haymarketmartyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@haymarketmartyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haymarketmartyr)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/95 "2009-02-21T23:29:26Z")

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When that grinning idiot with the silverware for a mouth and a clock wrapped around his scrawny chest becomes the spokesperson for the GOP I will know its time to bring back the Whig Party.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/96 "2009-02-23T03:38:47Z")

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> [@Hostile\_Dialect](#):
>
> …and the KKK was probably mostly Democratic once upon a time.

100% Democratic, actually, if you go back to its founding.

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**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/97 "2009-02-23T10:25:53Z")

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> [@Mr.Moto](#):
>
> You’re a few years off, aren’t you? Hague was elected Conservative leader nearly twelve years ago. And when [David Cameron](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4810212.stm) made similar moves far more recently, it seemed to work fine:

This is like 1997. The Conservatives could run a syphilitic chimp on acid and win the election because the current government is hated.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/98 "2009-02-23T13:12:55Z")

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> [@Mr.Moto](#):
>
> 100% Democratic, actually, if you go back to its founding.

This seems unlikely.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/99 "2009-02-23T13:19:59Z")

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> [@Mr. Moto](#):
>
> 100% Democratic, actually, if you go back to its founding.

I’d need a cite before I quoted you on that, but for the purposes of this discussion, I’ll buy it.

Hostile Dialect,  
Hostile Dialect, Narcissist

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-repizzles-are-in-the-hizzouse-rnc-plans-for-rebranding-the-image/486548/100 "2009-02-23T14:46:00Z")

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> [@Hostile Dialect](#):
>
> I’d need a cite before I quoted you on that, but for the purposes of this discussion, I’ll buy it.

Yup, it’s [true,](http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_org_kkk.html) or at least it became true very early in the KKK’s history:

> [@](#):
>
> The Ku Klux Klan was formed as a social club by a group of Confederate Army veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee in the winter of 1865-66. The group adopted the name Ku Klux Klan from the Greek word “kyklos,” meaning circle, and the English word clan. In the summer of 1867, the Klan became the “Invisible Empire of the South” at a convention in Nashville, Tennessee attended by delegates from former Confederate states. The group was presided over General Nathan Bedford Forrest, who is believed to have been the first Grand Wizard – the title for the head of the organization.
> 
> Lesser officers were given such names as Grand Dragon, Grand Titan, and Grand Cyclops. Dressed in robes and sheets, intended to prevent identification by the occupying federal troops (and supposedly designed to frighten blacks), the Klan quickly became a terrorist organization in service of the Democratic Party and white supremacy. Between 1869 and 1871 its goal was to destroy Congressional Reconstruction by murdering blacks – and some whites – who were either active in Republican politics or educating black children.

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