(AL Senator) Sessions disputes death tax article

[trof]

Tuesday, September 20, 2005
MARY ORNDORFF
Birmingham News Washington correspondent

WASHINGTON - Sen. Jeff Sessions, responding to a magazine article accusing him of "legislative ambulance chasing," said Monday that his plan to use the death of a Gulf Coast business owner to argue for the repeal of the estate tax was a reaction to a liberal agenda.

"It was just a push back to the group that was trying to use Katrina as a basis to block permanently or indefinitely the death tax (repeal)," Sessions said.

Sessions, according to an article published Saturday on Time's Web site, called a Birmingham estate tax expert and asked him to find someone whose death would help them make their case for repeal. The request kicked off a search of Gulf Coast obituaries. Sessions disputed the implication that he was trying to exploit the tragedy. Instead, he said, it was the opponents of the repeal who were exploiting.

And my LTTE of the Birmingham News:

A search of the Department of the Treasury and IRS websites will find no reference to the "death" tax.

Your Sept. 20 story "Sessions disputes death tax article" uses the term "death" tax in the headline and again in the first two paragraphs. In later paragraphs you do, finally, use the correct term of estate tax.

"Death tax" is Republican "framing" of the debate. It's a loaded phrase that has no place in a straight news story. See below:

"George Lakoff’s new best-seller Don’t Think of an Elephant has been heralded as the “bible” for battered progressives searching for direction in the post-election doldrums. Lakoff himself has become the Left’s answer to Frank Luntz, the focus-group genius behind the branding of Bush’s “death tax,” “Clear Skies” and “Healthy Forests” initiatives."

If the situation weren't so serious, it would be funny; Session's circular reasoning that he is not exploiting Katrina's victims for political reasons, just "pushing back" against the bad ol' liberals who are the ones really exploiting Katrina. Give me a break.

Neither of my senators, nor my representative, have been able (or even tried) to explain why it's a good idea to cut the nation's income even more, while record deficits continue to mount. Apparently the money for relief and rebuilding from Katrina will come from a great big government credit card that no one will ever have to pay off.

(trof)
Foley, Alabama

[warrens]

1. In what way is this disputing the story?

He admitted he did it. What kinda headline is that? It should be, Sessions admits sleazy attempt find a dead rich guy, but won't apologize.

[Kagemusha]

2. Because "liberals used the dead first so I can too"?

Seems like it to me.

[TahitiNut]

4. It's utilitarian (teleological) ethics in action.

Once convinced of and dedicated to the "rightness" of his goal, he justifies any means to (arguably) achieve it. In his (minuscule) mind, opposition to his goal is evil and, therefore, anything he does to fight evil is, by a faith-based definition, good. This Zeitgeist is at the very heart of corruption, completely blinding the corrupted person of his or her own condition. Corrupt people are inherently incapable of perceiving their own corruption - it's a kind of sociological insanity.

[trof]

13. What he said.

You talk good.
;-)

[indypaul]

16. Headline should read

Sessions Seeks Increase To "Birth Tax"

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. REFRAME: "Large Estate Tax"

do not call it simply the estate tax. Everyone has an estate. Everyone has death. very, very few have a Large Estate.
If we are going to reframe, do it right. once again,

LARGE ESTATE TAX

[stuckinlucky]

6. "Paris Hilton Tax"

Is what we should be screaming from every rooftop.

Two can play the "reframing" game.

[zbdent]

17. Naw, really piss them off with >

"The Kerry Clinton Tax Relief"

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. The Libruls made me do it.

He's probably trying to figure out a way to blame Clinton.


MKJ

[calimary]

7. Got a link?

Thank you in advance.

I REALLY like how people here are coming up with some viable SOLUTIONS to the framing issue - when we pinpoint the false advertising of the republi-CONS and assholes like frank luntz - and come up with good alternative phrasing and framing.

Large Estate Tax is good.

I also LOVE-LOVE-LOVE the "Paris Hilton Tax."

Any other such extravagant wastrels who do nothing but crowd the society pages could also very thoughtfully lend their names to this, but of course Paris Hilton is the best example.

[Synnical]

8. It's here:

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1127208106113650.xml&coll=2

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. Why is leaving shit alone a "liberal agenda"? n/t

[yellowcanine]

10. So - if someone else exploits the dead it is ok for me to do it also?

What ever happened to the self proclaimed party of moral absolutes?

[Frances]

11. So pleased you are posting again, Trof

We were worried about you during Katrina. Where are you posting from?

And thanks for keeping us updated on my native state's poor excuse for a senator.

I remember when Lister Hill was an Alabama Senator. Hill (D)helped draft the National Defense Education Act, which paid for my last 3 years at Auburn.

[trof]

15. Katrina = no prob

We stayed here and watched it blow through.
No house damage, just some limbs down.
Didn't even lose power.

I've been around, but mostly in the lounge.
:hi:

[redqueen]

12. Wonderful letter, t.

:applause:

[trof]

14. Sorry! Forgot link. Here:

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1127208106113650.xml&coll=2