(Editor’s note: The campaign style that President Reagan initiated with resounding success may still be copied in RP as noted by the author.)

Filipino politicians don’t play a joke on themselves, but their opponents always get the black eye from campaigners with no known political color.

Last week, Cavite Gov. Ayong Maliksi took an oath of affiliation before LP Mar Roxas in the presence of Noynoy. Maliksi’s defection was joined by his board members, mayors, vice mayors, and councilors.

Biggest vote

Cavite’s voting population is now nearing 1.6 M, RP’s biggest, and Maliksi is the most popular man in the province. Less than 10 days after his affiliation Gov. Ayong was angered by one announcement that he joined the NP, portraying him as a habitual defector, or opportunist, or party shopper for the usual “reward.”

We can expect more of this “descarte” between now and May. This is the expected result of our political history since 1907 when Nacionalista and Democrata personalities defected, then rejoined parties. The final defection occurred when NP stalwart Manuel A. Roxas bolted and organized a national party in January, 1946 naming it Liberal Party that split the old party of Osmeña and Quezon.

Ronnie Reagan for governor

The most popular campaigner in the US was Ronald Reagan, former president of the actors’ guild and Republican governor of California who defeated Gov. Edmund Brown (Democratic Party) by nearly a million votes. Brown did not regard Reagan as an especially formidable opponent being totally inexperienced in government.

One political advertisement even reminded voters that it was an actor who assassinated Abraham Lincoln.

Joking about himself

Reagan loved to tell stories about his campaign among the hillbillies living far from towns and cities. In one hillside village, he and wife Nancy talked to an old man fixing a fence. He smiled his best and extended his hand. The man did not take it and was annoyed.

The candidate tried a new approach:

“I’m running for president and I need your help.”

“I don’t know you,” the man said.

“I’ll give you a hint of my initials, R.R.”

The man shouted: “Maw, come out here. Meet Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.” The man shook his head and thanked Reagan or Roy Rogers for the visit.

Landslide

The vote on Nov. 4, 1980, was so lopsided, that President Jimmy Carter conceded his defeat about 9 p.m. EST, long before voters had finished going to the polls in Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast states. Out of the more than 86 M votes cast, Reagan received 43.9 M against Carter’s 35.5 M.

Near perfect score

The landslide won 489 electoral votes carrying 42 states, while Carter received only 49 from six states and the District of Columbia. In November, 1984, Reagan buried Walter F. Mondale (Carter’s vice president) 54.4 M to 37.5 M and 525 electoral votes to 13. Mondale received the electoral votes only of his home state Minnesota and of the District of Columbia.

Reagan never used unkind words in his two campaigns for president and in his first two campaigns in California.

It was during his term – 1981 to 1989 – that communism started to show cracks in Europe – Russia, Poland, and East Germany.

Muckraking as art

Filipino politicians had copied the US muckrakers between 1900 and 1948. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, in 1952, had initiated the spread-eagle salute and his boys made the Eisenhower smile the main feature of the crusade, distributing “I like Ike” buttons to people, including children.

Between now and May, our politicians can still change their campaign style – from elaborating on personal faults and defects to discussing our needs, weaknesses, and priorities.

Without insult

Barack Obama and Joe Biden have not reserved unkind insults against John McCain and Sarah Palin. Race and sex were never raised even as minor issues.

Clean politics as practiced by Reagan may still revise our campaign style. The strong party system in the US and Britain has limited campaign issues as shown by the party leadership. There are three or four small third parties that don’t count in the US and three major ones in Britain – Labour, Conservative, and Liberal.

Like changing socks

In RP, party initials remain as standard IDs of some six to eight factions. Voters are used to dealing with politicians without party affiliations who shop around for the right price, even if winning is not the main intent.

Leaving one party for another is the most difficult in the US, Europe, and the more progressive countries like Japan, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, etc.

In RP changing parties is easier than changing undershirts. (Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com).