Framing, Lakoff and the progressive message.

[bluedawg12]

This is an excellent source for understanding how things work in the mysterious world of politics and political messaging.

Telegraphing our message to the public is as important as the message...otherwise it is the tree falling silently in the forest.

http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t143.html

Lakoff: right on frames wrong on nuturing metaphor.

>"Frames," according to Lakoff, are the key to understanding how
political ideas are received. Human beings don't absorb information asraw material; we sift input through frames of meaning carried in thelanguage we use. Lakoff's central idea is that conservatives see the world through a "strict father" frame emphasizing discipline, self-reliance, forcefuldefense, while progressives see the world through a "nurturant parent"frame-supportive, nourishing, emphasizing mutual responsibility.

Lakoff claims that thirty-five to 40 percent of Americans fall into each camp,although most are some sort of mix.

The Right, Lakoff points out, is extremely good at selling their
policies in clear, easy to understand "strict father" frames.
Progressives, on the other hand, too often seem to offer laundry listsof issues lacking any overarching moral framework.

So, it's easy to see why progressives are rallying around Lakoff's callto arms. Since polls show majorities actually agree with the progressiveagenda on many key issues, including corporate power, the environmentand abortion, focusing on "framing" issues in ways that Americans canunderstand them seems like the answer they've been praying for.

Certainly, much of Lakoff's advice about communicating progressive ideasis powerfully insightful and right on target.

[MissMarple]

1. We love George Lakoff. He has worked with Howard Dean.

It's all in the sound bite. Well, for the dim bulbs and the ill informed. I think that's why many DUers didn't understand why the power of the Republican spin machine worked so well for them. We tend to think for ourselves, the GOP uses its' own form of framing to keep some of the people fooled... all of the time. We use it to clarify issues, not to bamboozle the ignorant.

:bounce:

[Totally Committed]

2. Lakoff is a genius.

He's been very generous of his time with a number of Democrats. Last summer, when the Clark supporters had their Nationwide Meet-Up down in Little Rock, he was part of their series of workshops and presentations. People that went said his part of the program was really good... very informative.

I really like what he has to say, and wish there were more here on the left who were open to learning "framing". Maybe after the 2006 elections...

But, he is a genius, and his books are very readable.

TC