Is Lakoff helping at all with framing? Anyone else?

[amborin]

Romney is a sociopathic liar. He's got Republican (and conservative) approval to use any means to win. His debate tactics consisted of massive lies; false allegations that the facts that Obama and Dems present are lies; and false allegations that Obama is lying.

But even before the debate, Romney and the Republicans were framing the campaign discourse and prepping the audience for the debate. Their framing consists of: Obama will lie during the debate. Obama lies. The Democrats lie.

The framing is insidious and has the effect of ---in advance--- annulling and rebutting anything Obama says.

I've read that the specific tactics Romney used during the actual debate is the Gish method. It's a method that
creationists and deniers who pretend to be scientitsts use to debate legitimate scientists concerning evolution and global climate change. The tactic consist of articulating a massive barrage of lies and denials so quickly and so aggressively that there is simply no defense.

Any ideas on how to deal with this?

Are any linguists assisting the campaign?

[elleng]

1. Don't know if anyone is.

Dems had Lakoff do a seminar a few years ago, and as I recall shrugged him off thereafter. Have never understood it.

[southernyankeebelle]

2. Obama isn't a good debater. He isn't aggressive. It's just not his style. But I don't think

he lost the first debate. Romney was spinning his head and lying. I hope Obama will show up at the next debate. Obama still has my vote because the republicans are taking this country in a terrible direction.

[tama]

3. I'm a linguist and familiar with Lakoff

Lakoffian guide to political activism and dialogue, as I see it, is simple in principle:

1. Talk with people, not down to people. Level, don't preach. Start from what unites you, seek common ground. "How is your family" is always a good start, reminding both of your common humanity and human compassion.

2. Expand the frame, widen the horizon, allow also yourself to keep an open mind. Look at your differences of opinion again from more holistic point of view, how do the particulars now relate to larger wholes and your common basis of shared humanity.


This might be not so far from what Obama was actually doing but don't know, didn't watch it. If you are looking for tips for debate tactics and Sophistry of Appearing Being Right, Lakoffian dialogue is perhaps not what you search for but Schopenhauer's Art of Controversy.

[amborin]

4. Lakoff

has discussed the conservative worldview, how they believe in the "strict father," according to which neither parents nor government should help adult offspring or citizens, and how this permeates their discourse and framing. Democrats hold the opposite view, based on empathy. Obama has been much better at framing than other Democrats. But I was just wondering if Lakoff or any other linguists might provide ways to counter the machiavellian framing that Romney is using.

[tama]

5. I believe in the "lazy father" world view :D

"Macchiavellian framing" cannot be really countered, except by trying to be better macchiavellian than the opponent. Which is not countering the frame, but surrendering to it.

What suggests it naturally as response to macchiavellian power struggle is some kind of aikido with your dance partner.