LAKOFF: The Cry for Democratic Moral Leadership and Effective Communication

[yurbud]

I'll count the minutes until a DLCer calls him a crank or a whiner.

The Democrats problem on this issue is not that they don't know how to communicate, but rather that if they did too clearly, they would either piss off Democratic voters OR the money people they are courting on Wall Street.

A judge can't come up with a ruling that will please both a rape victim and her rapist.

The Republicans don't have this problem since their base doesn't think they are being raped when their house is foreclosed, the job outsourced, and their kid killed in Iraq, so they are free to communicate as clearly as they want.

What should be avoided, besides policy-wonk and pure-policy discourse? Again, the answer comes from Neuroscience 101. Offense not defense. Argue for your values. Frame all issues in terms of your values. Avoid their language, even in arguing against them. There is a reason that I wrote a book called, "Don't Think of an Elephant!" Don't list their arguments and argue against them using their language. It just activates their arguments in the brains of listeners.

Don't move to the right in your discourse or action. That will just strengthen the conservative moral system in the brains of swing thinkers. Frame your arguments from your moral position.

***

Winning this election will require the right policies and actions, but it will also require moral leadership with honest, morally-based messaging and a communications that will not just blog and knock on doors, but will be there in the districts with the crucial swing thinkers 24/7 day and night.

The Democrats cannot take their base for granted. Only moral leadership backed by actions and communicated effectively can excite the Obama base once more. Without that excitement, the Democrats will lose big.

http://www.truth-out.org/the-cry-democratic-moral-leadership-and-effective-communication62894

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I wish I had 10 dollars for every post I have made in the past 6 years with Lakoff's name in it.

I believe there have been at least a dozen in the past two months alone.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8924978

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4474620&mesg_id=4474643

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8722151

[nenagh]

3. Maybe Obama, for all his book learning.. and that's OK :)

Has not been in sales.. He's never stood in the Cough and Cold isle and tried to reason with seniors who want the latest cold remedy they saw on TV... because they know it works..

I'm a Pharmacist, and have seen directly the influence 'TV Ads' have on customers..

They are mesmerized by the pitch... and to hell with the reality of the issue.

It is as if Obama thinks that the more he accomplishes, the more bills passed etc.. the better the Dems will do..

But he is being outplayed in the sales department..

He needs a smarter, edgier crew around him.. and I think he's starting to look defeated.. which is a tremendous shame..

[BrklynLiberal]

7. The messaging stinks.....and sadly, that is as important as accomplishments....or maybe even more so

[eridani]

9. The sad thing is that it was excellent in 2008

The reason why Dems can't campaign on values with respect to HRC is that the bill was based on one of America's most despicable values, namely that the health care people deserve is only about how much money they have. No civilized oountry has Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Dirt people.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. True...

[yurbud]

8. oddly he was better at it during the campaign, but he needs it even more in office

[BrklynLiberal]

10. True. As a candidate the messaging was excellent...Too bad it was lost after the election.

[yurbud]

12. Bush went too far in the other direction of doing everything for the sake of the perpetual campaign

(as well as crony capitalism).

It is frustrating to see Democrats only learn the wrong lessons from Republicans: instead of picking up their savvy messaging, they only borrow the corporate toadying.

[another saigon]

2. three words

"campaign finance reform"


Because I have not seen anything honest out of politicians ,save a handful, in my lifetime. The money and influence needs to go or we are toast.


Actually I feel like burnt toast already.

[nenagh]

4. That is also true....

[BrklynLiberal]

13. That's it! Burnt toast! Exactly how I feel nowadays.

[LaurenG]

5. I really appreciate Lakoff

he is usually spot on with his assessments.

[avaistheone1]

6. No moral leadership expected from Obama

after he paid tribute to George W. Bush.