Obama Democrats Routed (Again) by GOP WMDs -" Weapons of Media Destruction

[BEZERKO]

By Robert Becker

opednews.com
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-Democrats-Routed-Ag-by-Robert-Becker-100726-913.html

July 26, "10

The Shirley Sherrod "politics of panic" indignity dramatizes my provocations, recast from last week:

Why is this energetic, veteran White House repeatedly shellacked in the message-framing wars by overtly deceitful Republicans? Why can't the president command the public forum let alone connect to Main Street, pass legislation a majority favors, leveragehis own huge '08 constituency, and countermand ambushes bythe likes of Sarah Palin?



Just what the wavering Obama government needed: another train wreck week of bad news, with bad messaging compounding bad long-term framing (terms from George Lakoff). So little about real programs or solutions, so much about personal failings especially reactive, panicky leadership. The Sherrod fiasco is, alas, no anomaly, reinforcing the question no administration can long endure, "who, if anyone, is in charge"?

Certainly, the Sherrod blunder provides jaw-dropping proof this White House remains a sitting duck for in-your-face, rightwing mugging, even from notorious dirty tricksters. What is it about Mark Twain's quip WH officials don't get, "A lie can make it half way around the world before the truth has time to put its boots on"? Had Ag officials demanded six hours of due diligence, a demoralizing humiliation could have become a PR bonanza, broadcasting how the predatory the vast, ultra-right smear machine works. Instead, self-immolation.


By the weekend a second blunder, wider in scope, emerged when the president underwhelmed Netroots by talking empty bromides. Here's the perfect audience, progressives dying to re-embrace a bafflingly anemic president, and he blew it.

...3) "Change is hard," he lectured, but activists should "keep making your voices heard"

http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/Obama-Democrats-Routed-Ag-by-Robert-Becker-100726-913.html

Can we get rid of Rahm Emanuel already?

[JTFrog]

1. What a piece of shit article.

I'm so sick of this Obama ≤ Bush bullshit posted here everyday.

Wait til the Repubs are back in the WH and reality comes and smacks these fucking idiots who can't tell the difference upside the head.

[ixion]

2. truth hurts, eh?

There is simply no excuse why rethugs consistently win the framing war. That's what this is about, and it's true.

And the idea that "vote for us because we suck a bit less than the GOP" is old, and has worn out it's welcome.

[JTFrog]

3. Truth my ass. n/t

[ixion]

7. Hey, stay in denial

You'll be following the pack.

[JTFrog]

9. Better than the pack you're following. n/t

[ixion]

11. Pray tell: what pack is that?

Hmmmmm?

Are you making stupid insinuations? Sounds like it.

[JTFrog]

13. Pot, kettle....

and all that...

[lillypaddle]

5. How about "vote for us"

or the Supreme Court goes COMPLETELY down the toilet. How's that work for ya?
:spank:

[ixion]

6. I got news for you: It's already there.

[lillypaddle]

12. Almost.

but not quite. Will be for sure if we lose the presidency.

[SkyDaddy7]

8. When the Democrats have the same media empire...

at their beckon call that Rupert Murdoch gave the Republicans then you can make the "framing" argument!

[ixion]

10. That is called making excuses for poor performance...

because they never seem to respond to said media in a fashion that would be productive.

[SkyDaddy7]

14. Respond via what outlet?

It is easy to sit behind your computer and say it is poor performance but what is your solution?

The Democratic Party simply does not have a MEDIA EMPIRE to repeat their message and ONLY their message 24/7/365 on cable, in print & on the internet like Rupert Murdoch provides the Republican Party...And not to mention you can't hardly find anything but Right Wing Propaganda on Talk Radio regardless of where one is in the country!

The MSM gives the Democratic Party 3min blurb on the nightly news followed by the Republican's spin.

There is a crystal clear advantage in favor of the GOP.

[certainot]

15. left can't message shit until it stops ignoring the talk radio monopoly

every day the right puts soapboxes on every corner in the country and screams our brothers are thieves and our sisters are whores and the left just sticks their fingers in their ears.

the problem isn't obama it's that the people who said they'd get his back have no fucking clue the dems are getting attacked from 1000 of the loudest stations in the country 24/7 because it gives them a headache to listen to it. vote blog whine seems to be the plan for a lot of naive new voters who weren't paying attention until obama came along.

[certainot]

16. it is plain fucking stupid to try to evaluate obama and dems media performance

while at the same time completely ignoring the right's most important media weapon- talk radio.

[yurbud]

18. Democratic pols lose framing war because too many agree with GOP

but can't be blunt about letting voters know that.

The GOP has a luxury Dems don't: their voter base and their donor base have few conflicting priorities: you hate gays, want prayer in schools, and guns in church? That's no skin off the ass of billionaires who want tax cuts, subsidies, and government contracts.

By contrast, Democratic voters do have an economic agenda, and it conflicts with the fat cats the DLC is courting as donors. The end result is Democratic pols sound like a judge trying to come up with a ruling that will make both a rape victim and her rapist happy. It usually ends up sounding hopelessly bland and satisfies neither.

[ixion]

19. I think that is a very astute assessment

and I agree. A little gumption and a whole heap of straight talkin' honesty would do them good.

[yurbud]

20. if some of them told the truth, no one would vote for them:

''I want your vote, and in exchange, I will do everything in my power to make the wealthy wealthier and you poorer but I won't beat you up for being gay, black, or Muslim like the GOP would (unless someone wealthy gives me money to do it).

[BrklynLiberal]

4. yep..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8823487

[yurbud]

17. they weren't routed: they unilaterally surrendered.