What to Watch for in the Presidential Debates by George Lakoff

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/10/02




I’ve been applying cognitive linguistics and neuroscience to politics in six books over the past two decades. The ideas in those books were on display in many of the speeches at the Democratic National Convention. Look for them in the debates. They include:


*All politics is based on moral values, with strict conservatives and progressives having different moral values.

*There are also morally complex voters — moderates, independents, swing voters — who are progressive on some issues and conservative on others. The activation of one in the brain turns of

*All issues are conceptually “framed” — that is, they have a mental structure that fits one’s moral system.
Facts matter, but only when they clearly fit one’s morally-based frames. Facts and figures, when used, should create a moral point in a memorable way. And if the facts don't fit your frames, the frames stay (since they are in your brain) and the facts are ignored or ridiculed.

*Political language is rarely neutral. Because all words are defined in conceptual frames, all political language is defined in terms of morally-based frames.

[tk2kewl]

1. potus and veep have been doing this ver well for months now

[eridani]

2. Lakoff after-debate commentary

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/10/04-0

You don’t win a presidential debate by being a policy wonk. Obama violated all the basics of presidential debating. The best defense is a good offense. You have to set the terms of the debate and press those terms. Obama failed. Here are those basics:

(Photo: Reuters)
•State your moral values. Contrast them with your opponent’s.
•Project empathy and enthusiasm. Connect.
•Communicate clearly and simply.
•Be authentic. Say just what you believe.
•Project trust.
•Present an authentic view of yourself that the public can identify with and be proud of.

Obama did none of this. Instead he talked about policy details.

He needed to come on strong from the first sentence.

Democracy is based on citizens caring about and taking responsibility for both themselves as for the well-being of all. Government is the instrument that citizens use to guarantee protection and empowerment for all. We all, together, provide what is needed for a decent life. Individual accomplishment rests on what other Americans have provided and keep providing.

[xchrom]

3. +1