Update: The GOP’s “Gimmicks-R-Us” Shop

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

As I've said before, nobody does bumper sticker slogan gimmicks better than the Republican Party. They have excelled at this "simple solutions to complex problems" that you can reduce to a bumper sticker for years.

Last week the GOP's "Gimmicks-R-Us" shop came up with "voluntary taxes" for Arizona Rep. Judy Burges, R-Skull Valley. This gimmick was roundly mocked by the state's major newspapers.

This week the GOP's "Gimmicks-R-Us" shop came up with the "Save Our Jobs: Stop the Tax Hike" committee (note the bumper sticker slogan) for Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker, a Republican candidate for governor.

The committee is to oppose a hypothetical sales tax increase referral to the ballot that has not been able to make it out of the legislature after a regular session and four special sessions this year, but no matter. This is all about gimmicks. Parker files papers to oppose tax hike | eastvalleytribune.com

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Vernon Parker took the first steps Wednesday to start collecting cash to battle a proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer for a temporary tax hike.

Parker filed the paperwork for the "Save Our Jobs: Stop the Tax Hike" committee designed to convince voters to reject higher sales taxes if the issue makes its way to the ballot. That 1-cent hike in the state's 5.6 percent sales tax is a key element of Brewer's plan for economic recovery.

Parker said he believes higher taxes would be the worst thing the state could do to its economy. He said Arizona can find its way out of the current deficit without additional funds, though he refused to provide specifics.

"Parker, who in the last poll came in with the backing of just 6 percent of Republicans, said he did not form the anti-tax committee to raise his profile." Right. I call bullshit. This is a play to appeal to Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform and the Club for Growth for their independent expenditures on his behalf in the GOP primary: "Vern's a knee-jerk reactionary no-new-tax pledge anti-tax zealot – he's our kind of guy!"

Parker also enjoys the benefit of having his name appear on mailings and ads for this gimmick committee as its chairman. "Parker said his name, as chairman, will be on all materials prepared and paid for by the anti-tax committee." Combined messaging with his own gubernatorial campaign and the independent expenditure committees could give this relative unknown the media saturation he needs for name ID in a statewide primary.

"It's about leadership; it truly is," Parker said. But Parker declined to provide any details of how he would deal with the state's short-term deficit. Yep, phony as a $3 dollar bill. It's about the gimmicks. It truly is.

It gets better. Vernon Parker is running as a Clean Elections candidate, using public funds to run for office while railing against a hypothetical temporary sales tax increase. That is sure to lock up the hypocrite vote.