Some political strategists do get it...
Jay Heine is one that has always "gotten it".
Political Strategist Jay Heine:
You want to know why we lost ground in 2006, 2008 and 2012? We elect/select candidates that tell us what we want to hear, who are "electable", but not trustworthy. They get into office and they follow the crowd. The most successful office holders are those that stand on principle and are unwavering. It doesn't matter whether they are conservative or liberal, it matters whether they do what they say they are going to do. If they don't they alienate the electorate. And all the Republicans who are about to sell us out on the fiscal cliff are making the same error.