Reply #167: Another EXCELLENT point, Skinner - Make 'em deny it.

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The Republican political consultant Mike Murray is fond of saying, "Make the charge and let the other guy spend $1 million to explain it."

Someone else posted here on DU awhile back, reminding me about how LBJ first snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Evidently, it was back when he was first getting into politics, during his first congressional campaign when he was trailing his opponent badly. As the story goes, he got his people together and ordered them to spread all kinds of shit about his opponent, like he was sleeping with pigs and other outlandish stuff. Wasn't true. Didn't need to be. The point, as LBJ said, was to MAKE HIM DENY IT. Punchline of the story was - LBJ was soon on his way to Washington, his political career well on its way, too.

ABSOLUTELY. MAKE THEM DENY IT. Say, accuse, fabricate, exaggerate, WHATEVER IT IS. No matter how outlandish. But force them to react, defend, and deny. The important point here is OFFENSE. Go on the OFFENSE. Force them to react. By doing that, you're forcing THEM to play YOUR game, not the other way around. Then, YOU control the game, AND the frame.