The GOP's budget messaging campaign: A #hashtag tale
Someone has a fondness for inventing trending topics


As the clock ticks down, Democrats and Republicans are still at an impasse over the budget and the debt ceiling, with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) suffering yet another humiliating setback at the hands of his own party.
But you can't fault Boehner for not trying hard enough on Twitter.
Yep. Over the past year, Boehner and his cohorts have roundly defeated Democrats in the all-important race to create a slew of trending topics on the social media site. Boehner has been pushing hashtag-adorned, budget-focused phrases — typically displayed on blue poster board — during press conferences on a near-monthly basis.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Whether Republicans are actually passing these messages around on Twitter or Facebook is another question. But the sheer accumulation of the phrases over the past year does offer a nice visual timeline of the conservative side of the budget story.
And so we give you the GOP's #budgetmessages:
December 13, 2012 | #SpendingIsTheProblem
January 22, 2013 | #NoBudgetNoPay
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
February 5, 2013 | #RequireAPlan
February 13, 2013 | #Obamaquester
March 5, 2013 | #CutWaste
April 10, 2013 | #BalancedBudget
May 15. 2013 | #4Jobs
May 16, 2013 | @TheRedTapeTower
July 8, 2013 | #DontDoubleMyRate
August 2, 2013 | #StopGovtAbuse
October 1, 2013 | #SenateMustAct
October 8, 2013 | #LetsTalk
October 10, 2013 | #Time4Solutions
Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published