We should be interrupting and correcting anyone who uses these wingnut frames:

[Atticus]

"Values voters", as in those who attended the recent "values summit"

The use of this term to describe religious conservatives and those who dress like Uncle Sam every day implies, of course, that the rest of us have no values. Is this BS? Of course it is!

We have different values, but we do have values. And, you know what? More people share our values than theres.

So how about "Excuse me---did you just call yourself a "values voter?" Are you implying that I have no values or just that I am worthless? Who put you or your party in charge of making these moral decisions?"

"Obamacare"---this one really pisses me off.

Once again: "Excuse me---what is Obamacare? Does that mean Bush didn't care? Should we call the invasion of Iraq 'Bushcrime'?"

Similar interruptions and corrections---as blunt and humiliating as possible---should occur for "death taxes", "death panels", "We're fighting them over there so we won't have to fight them here" and, of course, any suggestion that the Bush-Cheny years we're anything less than the worst administration in history, starting with war crimes and ending with the war unfinished and the economy swirling down the toilet.

If we let these pass without objection, we are condoning their usage.

And, besides, the look of shock on the speaker's face and the sputtering Palinesque response will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside!

[NNN0LHI]

1. I feel the same way. Recommended

[liberal N proud]

2. Agreed

[blondeatlast]

3. Word. Atticus, you are on a roll today. k/r nt

[Bigmack]

4. These days....

I don't find myself in company where people say that shit much. By my choice.

I mostly have my little scripts ready about Social Security and the debt and jobs.

"Hey... there's nothing wrong with Social Security! Remove the lid.... problem solved." (most people don't know there is a lid)

"Sure the debt sucks .. If Bush cut government income by nearly $3 Trillion for tax cuts for the rich and another $2 Trillion to piss away on the stupid fucking wars... what can we expect to happen to the debt?"

My favorite:

"Of course the economy sucks... we had Republicans controlling everything for the last 10 years."

They are usually conversation-stoppers, but I have backup figures and arguments.

[Atticus]

7. I think your examples are great. If more of us did that, we'd give the "undecideds" and

"low information voters" something besides the FOX talking points to consider.

[Bluzmann57]

5. The "values voters" thing really pisses me off

Let's talk about values. In my case, I make enough money to support me and my family. We are not financially wealthy but we are a family unit. From time to time, we have had some neighborhood kids over for a meal because they had no place else to go. Nothing fancy, maybe soup and sandwiches. Maybe sometimes we grilled hot dogs for the youngsters. They were friends of my daughter and we felt like these kids were just as good as any other kids. Just because they had a bad situation in their personal lives didn't make them any worse than any one else.
Yes there were some kids who heard about it and tried to sponge meals. We fed a few, we turned a few away. We ain't perfect, nor are they. Anyway, the point of all this mindless rambling is WE HAVE VALUES! We are doing our small part to help folks out. How many of these so called "values voters" have ever done anything like trying to help out the less fortunate? My guess is very few; maybe around 2 or 3 pct.

[femrap]

6. You're on fire!

Get 'em, Atticus.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. "Narrow-minded Values Voters" would be closer to the truth.

Though "Rigid Values Voters" is quicker to say.

[Mister Ed]

9. "Government takeover of our health care system"

Suggested response:

"Oh. I hadn't heard about that. Does the government own the hospitals and clinics now?"

"Oh. Okay, they might not own the hospitals, but they must've made the doctors and nurses government employees, right?"

"Oh. They didn't? Then they must've taken ownership of the insurance companies, right?"

"Oh. They didn't. So...what exactly did the government do? Did they take away the insurance industry's exemption from the laws that forbid companies from colluding with each other to set artificially high rates, instead of competing with each other and letting the market determine rates?"

"Oh. They didn't. Well, I did hear that they made it against the rules for the insurance companies to drop you as soon as you get sick, and stuff like that. Is that what you call a 'government takeover'?"

[Mister Ed]

10. "Tax cuts for the wealthy create jobs"

Suggested response:

"Oh. So, umm...where are all the jobs created by the Bush tax cuts?"

[Warren DeMontague]

11. The "values voters" exist, but they've been given way too much power by the media.

There simply aren't that many of them.

And unfortunately, our party winces in terror of these imaginary beasts, as evidenced by everything from our leaders' unwillingness and seeming inability to stand up strong for everything from gay marriage and reproductive rights to the legalization of pot.