Why Not Follow the Advice Luntz Gave to the Republicans

[The Whiskey Priest]

Frank Luntz developed a playbook for the Republicans that allowed them to escape responsibility for anything…his advice was to start the response to any criticism with “9-11.” By wrapping themselves in “9/11” the Republicans have avoided answering any criticism of their handling of the economy, the war, the constitution, in short it’s a get out of responsibility card.

Which started me thinking…it might be good advice. So for instances, we want to stop the give away to the super rich and ultra-conservative wealthy, we could simply say:

“After 9/11 everybody needs to support the troops and our way of life, this means no one should shirk shouldering the responsibility to provide the economic means necessary to care out this fight. 9/11 requires those who have prospered under our way of life to step up and pay their share of protecting our way of life.”

Or, something to that affect.

[yurbud]

1. you've caught the edge of something, but it needs to be played out more

[The Whiskey Priest]

2. Give me a hand (help, not applause)

As long as we get it done, I have no envy of authorship.

[Atman]

3. I agree. It is the germination of something brilliant.

Turn the tables right back on them. It puts security right on the dems plate and makes it a positive issue FOR us, instead of one the right can use AGAINST us. I really do like it.

[The Whiskey Priest]

4. Listening to the Republicans and knowing of the advice

You hear it everyday....I heard a halfadozen times yesterday during the debate on taxes....it is the same with the phrase "class warfare" we should be first out of the box on that one. Lets move from reaction to proaction.

[HardWorkingDem]

5. 9/11-Terrorism is the right's new "Communism-Cold War"....

There are so many parallels to these two it is almost unbelievable. In some ways, if we don't get off our duff, we are going to be spanked for many years to come.

You can line up the two and clearly see them:

Suppression of speech and criticism by labeling those who dare as traitors and giving comfort to the enemy;
An "enemy" that is beyond defending or explaining without being painted as defending the enemy;
An inability to critique American actions without being pained as America haters;
A deep streak of rabid nationalism;
Red meat issues;
A reason to keep feeding the military-industrial complex:
Boogey men used to scare the be jesus out of citizens so they fall in line and ask no questions;


The list just goes on and on. We need to understand this so we can fight back more effectively.

[yurbud]

7. difficulty is most buy the commie scare frame too

[Arkansas Granny]

6. This goes along with the Republicans "framing" of an issue and,

therefore, forcing the Democrats to reply to the Republican talking points instead of addressing the issue directly. This is why so many people think that Democrats have no ideas. We need to get the jump on the issues and make them defend their stance instead of letting them set the tone of the debate.

[yurbud]

8. I agree, but this approach is worth exploring

[The Whiskey Priest]

9. It is easy to do...even for me Joe Ordinary.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x313808