RNC says "never think on the air" ...courtesy of DNC research.

[madfloridian]

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/08/think.php

Posted by Josh McConaha on August 22, 2005 at 05:26 PM

I was forwarded an interesting document (PDF) from the Research Department here at the DNC this afternoon. If you've ever watched a Republican avoid questions and say nothing meaningful in an interview, this is why: they're told to "never think on the air" and to "restate the problem without offering an opinion." You know, because opinions on problems are bad. They're also told that "some questions shouldn't be answered" because they're "beyond your scope" - meaning that you probably won't answer the way the RNC wants, so don't you dare try.

MEDIA TRAINING was provided for members and staff by appointment.

Participants were questioned on camera following a briefing on media techniques and then critiqued by their peers. Some message tips include: Never think on the air; define the points you want to make in advance; lead with the positive; define what you're for, not what you're against; control the tempo; restate the problem without offering an opinion; some questions shouldn't be answered; they are hypothetical or beyond your scope. For more information on media training contact Brian Jones at 202-863-8614.

And if you were wondering, this message was not approved by the Republican Politburo (or even a Democratic one). We as Democrats work together on what we say, but we all still think for ourselves."

Thanks, Josh.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. really explains what we see, and what I saw this AM with Bartlett -

saw him being interviewed on one of the networks - CNN I think - fake smile (lead with positive), restate rather than answer the question, say nothing of any meaning whatsoever.

[Initech]

2. I... I think that's bullshit!

*gets up and leaves*

[madfloridian]

3. That's funny. And that same guy...Novak..

is still alive, still writing his column...and still going after Howard Dean with both barrels. He did a real nasty article on him this week.

:hi:

[Initech]

4. I guess CNN's idea of "indefinate suspsension" is, what, one day?

[NYCGirl]

18. I don't think he's on the air on CNN at this time. His column is in the

Chicago Sun-Times, I believe.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

19. Novak has a separate column in the

Chicago Sun Times.

[FormerDittoHead]

5. And for all the other Repub's not on the air - "Never think." n/t

[Eagle_Eye]

27. For some reason when you say that I think of mind numb robots

[Roland99]

6. Certainly explains McLIEllan, LIERita, and BartLIEtt

That are complete automatons in front of the camera.

It's an insult to the media and esp. to the American people.

[Linette]

7. Are you saying that the Repugnicans...

...are clever bastards who are trying to manipulate and deceive the American people?

The Republican Nemesis

[madfloridian]

8. Yes, I do say that. Good paragraph at your link.

"The most important reason why negative campaigning has worked so well for the Republicans is because their negative attacks on the Democrats create a positive impression of Republican candidates, who appear—in contrast—to be individuals who do not possess the defects that they have accused others of having. They define themselves by defining their Democratic opponents . On a visceral level, what the Republicans actually “stand for” in the minds of Swing Voters on election day is that they are not Democrats—those defective people who seem to have been born to ruin everything. It’s simple, really. By bashing Democrats, Republicans present themselves as the desirable alternative. The negative character attacks also provide the Republicans with one more benefit. They know that the media will give priority coverage to their personal attacks and that it will distract attention away from any of the "substance" blather that Democrats always like to talk about."

[Linette]

32. Yep.

Kroeger nails it.

:kick:

[blondeatlast]

43. Nails the problem. That paragraph alone should be required

reading for everyone at the DNC.

That's the "Right Wing Noise Machine" by David Brock in one paragraph.

Duly bookmarked that site.

Thanks, Linette, and welcome to DU! :toast:

[Roland99]

10. I think some take it too much to heart and stop thinking permanently.

not just in front of the camera.

[CrispyQ]

13. Boy did you hit the nail on the head with that comment!!

Right on!

:thumbsup:

[Greyhound]

24. Well, could you think about the crap they spew, and maintain your sanity?

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

26. Good point

Funny and true.

:rofl:

[Roland99]

30. I'd have to commit Seppuku if I were them.

[NYCGirl]

17. Well, the "bastards" thing is correct...

I'm not so sure of the "clever." I like to refer to them as "ethically challenged."

[bemildred]

9. Do you have a thinking problem?

Answer the following questions and find out.

1.) Does your thinking begin earlier in the
day than it used to?

2.) Do you find yourself craving a think at
a specific time each day?

3.) Have you ever had a blackout as a result
of thinking?

4.) Do you think alone?

5.) Has your thinking ever caused you to perform
an act which you later discerned to be
certifiably insane or incredibly stupid.

If you answered yes to nay of the above questions,
you could be among the millions of people in this
country who have lost the ability to control their
thinking, a disease which, if left untreated, can
result in jails, institutions, or frontal lobotomy.
And just because you don't think every day doesn't
mean you don't have a problem. Many problem thinkers
go for days or weeks without thinking, only to
eventually find themselves on the inevitable three
or four day thinking binge.

[FlaGranny]

11. Bemildred, has anyone ever told you -

YOU ARE BRILLIANT? That was great.

[bemildred]

20. Stolen, I'm afraid, but thank you. nt

[sui generis]

14. chronic thinking runs in my family

I'll probably set a bad example by thinking in front of the kids.

Don't Think And Drive!!! (many practice that here in Texas)

I have a confession. I actually even thunk once, but it was with my best friend from highschool and we were falling down shitfaced from being on a thinking jag and it was November 2 last year, so I don't really remember much of what happened, except sometime in the middle of the night I woke up with an election and . . . well, :shrug:

[Linette]

29. LOL Bemildred

:yourock:

[maxsolomon]

12. basically, never debate

and the media just takes it. amazing.

[Roland99]

15. Well, the media is complicit. Shouldn't be a surprise.

That's why I'd SO love to see Soros create his own news network.

[Arkansas Granny]

16. This is absolutely true.

When you see the right wing propagandists on TV, they never answer questions. They have their talking points and nothing the moderator can say or do will deter them from getting those points across. Ask them a question on a subject they choose not to discuss and they say they don't know about that, but yada yada yada, they throw out another talking point, but never answer the question.

[OneTwentyoNine]

21. They don't have to think on the air--RW media gives them a pass anyway...

Maybe 1 time out of 100 one of those RW pundits will softly question something one of them has said. Usually they just agree and make sure to talk over any Dem thats on the show.

Don't try and think on the air...Bawhahahah.....

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

22. That is so funny!

And yet so sad.

No wonder the Repubs all seem brain dead on the air, and all they do is repeat talking points.

Mostly while Democrats may have some talking points in mind, they do actually construct their thoughts on the fly. It helps them to come across as much more animated, ie not brain dead.

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

23. ....or off the air.

[bemildred]

25. Yes. Why risk it? Why think at all? Choose mental chastity. nt

[Roland99]

31. "mental chastity"! BWA HA HA HA HA HA!!

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

42. LOL!!!!

[AuntiBush]

28. No Shitz.

You'd have to get-up "pret-ty" early in the AM not to have figured that one out yet. We've had 1 big-time example to compare that one with.

[mconvente]

33. hmmm - so this is more proof that repukes are drones... n/t

[WarhammerTwo]

34. To be fair...

...as all good liberals should be, I think we may be taking the very last part out of context. The whole "some questions shouldn't be answered; they are hypothetical or beyond your scope" stuff. That second part I think is saying how you should respond to questions that shouldn't be answered. I mean when you're asked a question like, "Is Michael Jackson guilty?" before the trial even starts, then you probably shouldn't speculate. So you respond, "That question is beyond my scope of knowledge." It sounds better than "I dunno." When I was in college, I had to take a public speaking course since as a scientist I would eventually have to present data. We were taught to say that when someone asked you a question that you didn't know the answer to, this is how you should respond.

As a matter of fact, as I re-read these techniques, they all kinda sound like plausible answers to question which you may not know enough to comment on. I mean, in this highly divided and partisan political environment, talking out your butt could cost you an election, so I guess it's better to do this stuff than have it come back and bite you in the arse later on.

I mean, guys like Ken Mehlman (or however the hell you spell his name) use this stuff to the point where you wanna strangle the guy. But over all, I feel these are pretty innocuous techniques. Like, "Never think on the air" may simple mean "Don't go on record when you don't know what you're talking about. Don't guess. Don't speculate. Don't "think' because your opponents will take you out of context and distort what you say." Y'know, just like neocons tend to do to any liberal who gets in their way.

Anywho, that's my two cents.

Later gators.

[slay]

36. HA! Like Republicans play fair

My take on this is that they are told not to say anything that requires thought because their thoughts are pretty fucked up the way they hate gays, love war, and in their hearts want us all to live under Christian rule. Seriously. They are nothing more than criminals and liars who fear the truth.

[slay]

35. Republicans say NOTHING because they stand for NOTHING!

All responsible media should take note and NEVER let them get away with this avoidance tactic ever again!

[stevietheman]

37. Two ways to deal with this

1) Spread this far and wide, as long as the DNC can provide proof of the information beyond a reasonable doubt.
2) Using this information, and thinking of their approach as a weakness, an Achilles heel, develop counter-attacks that undermine them. (E.g., "stop repeating the question, and answer the question, please", and "we've heard that line before... have something newsworthy to say?").

[Time for change]

39. Yes, very good ideas n/t

[Time for change]

38. This explains it all!

Too bad that so many people in this country aren't able to recognize the BS we get from "on the air" Repukes.

[ClintonTyree]

40. I'm under the impression.........

that there isn't much thought on the air, off the air, in the air..........let's face it, there isn't a whole lot of independent thought in the Republican Party. They have a few "think tanks" (the imagery here is open to multitudinous interpretation) where basic talking points are hammered out, then dispersed throughout the Republican community. That's all. That's it. That's the sum total of "thinking" once you sell your soul to the Republican Party.

It's much easier for them to believe and stay on message than to think. Look at bush. "Stay the course". :eyes: That's not a policy, that's a sure-fire path to the rocks. They're incapable of course alteration or thinking on their feet. They thought about it once (maybe) and that's it, they shall never have to think of it again.
Great way to run a party and a country, huh? :shrug:

[orleans]

41. well we all know bushie can't think "on air"

he's too full of hot air to do any thinking. was watching a news clip of him today in idaho where he admitted a mistake!! (not having gone there sooner)

[Roland99]

44. Kick

Because it's just so damn good to see what we've all known to finally be "outed".