Disaster Messaging by the Democrats: It Could be Fatal to America's Future -- By George Lakoff

[babsbunny]

http://blog.buzzflash.com/contributors/3340

Here’s a description the typical situation.

• The Republicans outmessage the Democrats. The Democrats, having no effective response, face disaster: They lose politically, either in electoral support or failure on crucial legislation.

• The Democrats then take polls and do focus groups. The pollsters discover that extremist Republicans control the most common ("mainstream") way of thinking and talking about the given issue.

• The pollsters recommend that Democrats move to the right: adopt conservative Republican language and a less extreme version of conservative policy, along with weakened versions of some Democratic ideas.

• The Democrats believe that, if they follow this advice, they can gain enough independent and Republican support to pass legislation that, at least, will be some improvement on the extreme Republican position.

[madfloridian]

1. Lakoff's post was at top of rec list at DKos last night.

Great post and article.

[RandomThoughts]

2. Guess that idea of getting Republican Democrats to hold Democratic seats.

Isn't working out to well. Since it just makes it seem like democrats are in power, and then makes them look bad when they do not pass legislation to help.

There are some people that think getting anyone in a party is a good idea. But if they take the name of some party, then do the opposite, how do they help the party? they only make it look like something else.

Basically the big tent is a good idea, but not if you sell out on what the ideas of the tent are.

Is the Democrat label a label to win elections, or a group to get things done.

Because if you don't get things done, then you don't win elections.




AC/DC - Thunderstruck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvoeeq-BH4w

[Catherina]

3. Good observations but action speaks louder than words

In this case no action and bad messaging. Fatal is right.

[derby378]

4. Too many Corpocrats have a vested interest in ignoring Lakoff...

...and I think some of them are in the White House.

[OHdem10]

5. This is exactly what has ruined the Democratic Party.--Constantly

affirming the Republican Platform. The Democrats will
take us to the same disaster as Republicans following
this strategy.

A Country in which the Rich get richer, the middleclass
fall into poverty and the poor become a permanent underclass.

I thought Lakeoff recommended that Democrats make their
own frames and not move to the right.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Yeah....it's all the Democrats fault!

It's not like the media, including the pollsters, and even a lot of Democrats
aren't always ragging on Democrats constantly, day in, day out....
meanwhile even looking at these boards, Republicans must smell like flowers,
cause ain't nobody aiming their guns at them at all....anywhere!
Great strategy! Lakoff is a Genius. He should run for office one day,
so we can witness his pure raw talent at how easy it is to get elected!

[Mimosa]

7. Intelligent analysis. Thanks! n/t

*edited for spelling*

[quiet.american]

8. Democrats in leadership & talking-head positions need to listen to Lakoff more.

There is no denying that Democrats in general do not know how to re-frame/get out in front of Republican insanity.