George Lakoff: The Mind and the Obama Magic

[helderheid]

George Lakoff: Politics looks different from the perspective of the cognitive and brain sciences. From the brain's perspective, the pragmatic arguments and moral arguments converge: Don't adopt rightwing positions for the sake of political expediency (that will backfire) or to demonstrate responsibility (that too will backfire). The best way to be expedient is to be authentic, stick to your core values, show and discuss responsibility, and thus garner trust. That is how to lead our nation, and to do so responsibly and toward fulfillment of its ideals. http://nl.huffingtonpost.com/link.php?M=220080&N=520&L=2334">Click here to read more.

[Runcible Spoon]

1. KnR for Lakoff...

hopefully someone will take him seriously this time around, because he's correct..

[ClassWarrior]

2. Kicking for two of the clearest political minds I know...

Lakoff's and helderheid's.

:hi:

NGU.

[helderheid]

3. !

:spray: :rofl: :blush: :hug: :hi:

[ClassWarrior]

4. LOL... Hitchcock would call that little tableau "pure cinema."

:rofl:

NGU.

[wiggs]

5. I understand Obama follows Lakoff principles...? nt

[depakid]

6. Key points:

1. Barack Obama should not be moving toward right-wing views on issues — even with nuanced escape clauses. My reasons have to do with results in the cognitive and brain sciences, as discussed in my recent book.

2. Obama introduced himself to the primary voters not as a policy wonk, but as a person of character, who announced his values, said what he believed (no pussyfooting), communicated beautifully and powerfully, and gave examples of his good judgment–he was someone you could trust and identify with. That was a major part of the Obama magic. If Obama even appears to adopt Right-wing views for the sake of getting more votes, he will appear to be giving up on his values, renouncing his authenticity and believability, clouding his judgment, and raising questions about whether he can be trusted. The Obama magic will be in danger of fading.

3. There are two major modes of thought in American politics — conservative and progressive, what I’ve called “strict” and “nurturant... The more you activate a conservative mode of thought, the more you inhibit the progressive mode of thought — and the more likely it is that the conservative mode of thought will spread to other issues...

...the form of bipartisanship that involves adopting, or appearing to adopt, right-wing views has the opposite effect. It strengthens conservative thought in the brains on those biconceptuals and weakens progressive thought. In short, it actually helps conservatives. Rather than “taking arguments away from them” it strengthens their basic values and hence all their arguments. It give conservatives more reason, not less, for voting for conservatives.

In short, if Obama adopts, or appears to adopt, right-wing views, he will not only hurt himself, but also hurt other Democrats.

4. Nuanced Escape Clauses -There are two aspects to policy: cognitive and material.

Material policy is about the nuts and bolts, how things are to work in the world. Cognitive policy is about what the public has to have in its brain/mind in order to fully support the right material policies. Coal, nuclear energy, and ethanol are policy disasters, and even giving them phony support with nuanced escape clauses hurts the possibility of real energy reform, but it activates, and hence strengthens, the conservative modes of thought that lie behind those proposals.

5. Can You Avoid Attacks?

No. No matter how many right-wing views you move toward, you will be viciously attacked as too liberal, as influenced by radicals, as inexperienced, as unpatriotic, as all words and no content. Stick to your core values. Be yourself. Voters will respect you.

[madfloridian]

7. I recommended this earlier....wish it had more.

This is an important article.

[depakid]

12. Read his book(s)!

They help you understand the nature of politics (and how to see through conventional "wisdom") -and not just in American politics- but also abroad (as I've found that the same principles applied in the recent Australian elections).

[glitch]

8. Thanks for the excellent synopsis. Plus a new (to me) word for b/w thinkers: biconceptuals

Perfect! I usually just call them binaries, but bicons could work too.

[ClassWarrior]

10. Here's another excellent article that addresses "bicons." (Nice coining!)

There is no left to right linear spectrum in the American political life. There are two systems of values and modes of thought - call them progressive and conservative (or nurturant and strict, as I have). There are total progressives, who use a progressive mode of thought on all issues. And total conservatives. And there are lots of folks who are what I’ve called “biconceptuals”: progressive on certain issue areas and conservative on others. But they don’t form a linear scale. They are all over the place: progressive on domestic policy, conservative on foreign policy; conservative on economic policy, progressive on foreign policy and social issues; conservative on religion, but progressive on social issues and foreign policy; and on and on. No linear scale. No single set of values defining a “center.” Indeed many of such folks are not moderate in their views; they can be quite passionate about both their progressive and conservative views.Barack Obama has it right: Get rid of the very idea of the right and the left and the center. American ideas are fundamentally progressive ideas - the ideas this country was founded on and that carry forth that spirit. Progressives care about people and the earth, and act with responsibility and strength on that care...

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/15/3174

NGU.

[glitch]

16. Oh - I totally misconstrued what he meant by biconceptuals. Thanks for the link! nt

[ClassWarrior]

21. Glad to help.

Lakoff is brilliant.

NGU.

[sandnsea]

13. Nuanced Escape Clauses

Opposes late term abortions for "mental distress". Not "mental illness". Big difference. It diffuses the right wing myth that liberals support 9 month abortions at the whim of the mother.

Uses the phrase "free trade", and then goes on to describe policies that reflect a well-regulated trade. It helps diffuse the trade attacks and is why McCain won't get far with his croc attack.

Has consistently supported getting out of Iraq responsibly, so he can move any direction required with events on the ground, including getting out more quickly.

He's done what you're saying, it's just that the left take his "escape clauses" as phrases written in stone. You just can't hear him.

[chimpymustgo]

23. Problem is - we DO hear him. ANd thinking people are alarmed.

[katty]

9. go Lakoff - thanks for posting

[Whisp]

11. refreshing - O doesn't trip up because he doesn't have miles of lies behind him

to constantly be wary not to contradict.

that's why he comes across as a straight talker to me, he can just wing it and be genuine and not have to worry about past statements as much as most of those other spineless steaming coils.

[ihavenobias]

14. K & R. Also, here's a good recent interview with Lakoff (video) done by TYT

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x150663

[bleever]

15. Very important read.

Big K&R!

[ClassWarrior]

17. Wearin' yer Lakoff goggles, kid?

:terrorist fist jab:

NGU.

[bleever]

19. Gee Wally,

Lakoff's insight into the mutual inhibition of the "progressive" and "conservative" modes of thinking is pretty keen!

It really shows why guys like Eddie Haskell just seem to mess up by tellin' people what he thinks they want to hear.

:hi:

[ClassWarrior]

22. Well bleev...

...let's just hope that keen Obama guy keeps listening to Mr. Lakoff. I mean, he is a college professor and stuff.

:hi:

NGU.

[bleever]

25. Hey Wally, is it true

that Obama taught constitutional law at U of Chicago?

That kinda makes him a perfessor too.

I know a lot of goofy stuff goes on there, like those guys who talk about the "free market" fixing everything. And the architecture is dark, and the parking sucks.

But he seems like a guy who could figure out the good parts of a place like that, and mix 'em with the good parts of other stuff.

Gee, Wally, it's almost like a guy who uses both sides of his brain could get stuff right, even when lots of people are yelling at him!


NGU.

[Radical Activist]

18. Now we know why the media is pushing the narrative that Obama is moving right.

It helps elect McCain.

[Skittles]

24. ist hte media telling Obama what to say, too? n/t

[Radical Activist]

27. I don't see it coming from Obama.

I see a lot of spin without specifics.

[NattPang]

26. The media allows McCain to lie right there on Television

and the media lies about Obama on Television.
What kind of framing is that called?

[Loubonilla]

20. Lakoff is on point

Recommended article.