Why do RWers tell us to chase "centrist" voters, yet fail to take their own advice?

[ClassWarrior]

It's a trap. "Centrism" is a myth.

No Center, No Centrists
by George Lakoff

"Centrism" is the creation of an inaccurate self-serving metaphor, and it is time to bury it.

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.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/no-center-no-centrists_b_60419.html

NGU.

[ProSense]

1. The problem is that there are too many people

who think they're geniuses.

[ClassWarrior]

2. Huh?

:crazy:

NGU.

[ProSense]

3. You didn't understand the response?

Oh well.

:rofl:

[ClassWarrior]

4. If you're referring to Professor Lakoff, I'd say he approaches genius.

After all, he's a distinguished professor at a major university.

Oh well.

:shrug:

NGU.

[ProSense]

6. No,

wasn't referring to Lakoff, though I don't always agree with him.

"Barack Obama has it right: Get rid of the very idea of the right and the left and the center."

Do you agree with that?

[ClassWarrior]

7. Of course I do. I posted it. But note that this was written during the 2008 campaign...

...so Prof. Lakoff's comments reflect his observations of Candidate Obama, not President Obama.

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

18. .

[ClassWarrior]

5. By the way, am I wrong or does this post seem to be belittling an attempt...

...to understand Rape-Publican strategy?

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

13. No answer, Mark?

Won't you own up to what exactly you were trying to say?

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

19. .

[ClassWarrior]

28. .

[Armstead]

8. It's good point...The mix of conservatism and liberalism

I think many assume that most people are consistently conservative, and thus Democrats can not seem to be "too liberal."

IMO Obama was close to challenging that assumption as a candidate, but he backslides into the centrist mush in office.

This part of the article seems to be aT the core of it to me:

"The losing strategy is to move to the right, to assume with Republicans that American values are mainly conservative and that the Democratic party has to move away from its base and adopt conservative values. When you do that, you help activate conservative values in people's brains (thus helping the other side), you offend your base (thus hurting yourself), and you give the impression that you are expressing no consistent set of values, which is true! Why should the American people trust somebody who does not have clear values, and who may be trying to deceive them about the values he and his party's base hold?"

[ClassWarrior]

10. That paragraph really is the essence, isn't it?

My President and so many others on our side keep (in most cases, inadvertently) reinforcing RW values.

NGU.

[damntexdem]

9. Because they want us to move right, toward the "center" . . .

while they move the "center" further to the right. And, of course, while they move even further right.

[guruoo]

11. Dingdingding!

[ClassWarrior]

12. Bingo. Easy enough for a fifth grader to understand, right?

NGU.

[Blue_Tires]

26. exactly...

[ClassWarrior]

14. Really? Unrecs for a thread that attempts to clarify how our side is being manipulated by...

...the RW? Now what would someone's motive be for doing that?

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

27. Another unrec? Why would someone not want us to understand Rape-Publican tactics?

NGU.

[craigmatic]

15. When they say centrists they mean chase conservative votes which would pull the party further right.

[ClassWarrior]

17. Exactly.

NGU.

[JVS]

16. Because they win either way. They either get super right or right wing policies.

[ClassWarrior]

21. Yup, and they get our people in the habit of using RW frames, so we end up...

...inadvertently reinforcing RW values.

NGU.

[NorthCarolina]

20. Because if they can keep the pressure ever rightward, they never have to worry

about America implementing legislation like Single Payer Healthcare for all, creating a Federal level Department of Peace and an end to wars, or that the uber rich would have to pay their fair share of taxes, or effective environmental reform, or comprehensive Net Neutrality, or requirements for fair and balanced reporting in the MSM, or elimination of perks for corporations that ship jobs overseas, etc.

[ClassWarrior]

22. Why don't more people get that?

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

23. Where are all the people who have been singing the praises of "centrism"...

...the past few weeks? I'd honestly like to get your take on this.

NGU.

[Avant Guardian]

24. Because there is no center in US politics

We are a two party system, left and right.

[ClassWarrior]

25. Very eloquently stated.

NGU.

[TheKentuckian]

29. Because they understand that when the enemy is drowning it is time to toss them an anvil.

[ljm2002]

30. If you could devise some really, really bad advice for the RWers...

...that you could phrase in such a way that they would fall for it hook, line and sinker, wouldn't you do it?

I know I would.

That's why they give us advice that they would not take themselves. Because it's bad advice, and our side is stupid enough to fall for it.

[ClassWarrior]

31. That's why Lakoffian "framing" is so important. Because it allows our values...

...to infiltrate common conversation virtually undetected.

Think about "pro-life." How many of us unthinkingly use that phrase - which makes the Rape-Publicans look almost human - for being opposed to a woman's right to control her own body?

NGU.

[ljm2002]

32. I never use the term pro-life...

...instead I use the term "forced-birth". It is 100% accurate since that is their desired end result. They are not pro-life in any way, shape or form.

[ClassWarrior]

33. Agreed. But the point still holds.

NGU.