Lights, Camera, Action: GOP Talking Points Are Convention Screenplay

If the Republican National Convention is essentially political cinema, the talking points released for GOP surrogates on Monday are a glimpse of the party's screenplay.

The 2,300-word memo posted by the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard, lays out the party's overall message, includes a list of key facts about the convention ("a press corps twice the size of the Royal Wedding") as well as a "Tropical Storm Isaac Q&A."

"For four days, we will drive stories that will set the coming election in context -- both thematically and through compelling, real-life examples, and through powerful, dynamic speakers," the memo reads.

Isaac forced the party to cancel Monday's events and shave the convention to three days. Still, GOP surrogates are urged to carry out Monday's theme of "We Can Do Better" by hitting President Obama on unemployment, the federal debt, and lost income.

“We reject the notion that Americans should settle for high unemployment, crushing debt, and spiraling deficits. They are the result of four years of misguided, liberal policies by this president, whose failures of leadership have created” the issues, the memo states.

The talking points heavily criticize Obama but are vague on how exactly Mitt Romney and vice presidential pick Paul Ryan would proceed differently.

"In contrast to President Obama, we will advance specific polices that Governor Romney and Paul Ryan will implement to grow our economy, help businesses create more jobs and let American families keep more of what they earn," the memo says.

Tuesday’s theme, “We Built It,” jabs Obama over his much-publicized “You didn’t build that” comment in reference to business owners. Wednesday’s “We Can Change It” program asks Republicans to call for the repeal and replacement of “Obamacare,” but doesn’t say what the replacement would be.

The theme for Thursday, the night on which Romney is scheduled to accept the GOP presidential nomination, is "We Believe in America." The talking points suggest that Republicans should remind people that Romney is a family man, job-creator, and leader.

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