Recent seeming lunacy by Frank Luntz is actually framing.

[bigmonkey]

Some comments on the seemingly incongruous statement by Luntz that he's “bothered tremendously that we've become such an angry country” reported in this thread.

This is not some silly statement, it's propaganda entirely in line with his goals. Wingers need everybody else to be reasonable, so that their shoutycrackers appearances on TV can be "understood" as the "honest" reactions of usually reasonable people to the "outrageousness" of the left. It's the framing that allows them to continue their bluster and illogic, and at the same time never to be blamed for being overbearing and unreasonable. They can't help it, you see, the left is just so out there that they are forced outside their normally-reasonable demeanor.

The meta-message is that Republican behavior is always natural and normal. Once you start to look for how they take that stance, you see it all the time. If we can figure a way to cut through that reliably and convincingly, that's the end of them. I don't think I'm exaggerating.

I have to give Vice President Joe some credit. Biden's comment about Giuliani, that all his sentences were "A noun, a verb, and 9/11" was a perfect example of revealing the pattern so clearly that it loses all its punch.

So, how do we clearly show people what the Repubs are doing, and at the same time reveal them as abnormal and unnatural? Well, my first attempt would be including the words “abnormal” and “unnatural” at every possible opportunity when commenting on their actions. I think it would be as effective as Alan Simpson's continual framing of Caribou Barbie as a quitter.

"This unnatural phobia about muslims..." "...this abnormal concern about other people's sex lives..."

Repeated again and again.

Other ideas?

(Making this an OP, with some amendments, at the behest of some kindly DUers.)

[BeFree]

1. Another idea

The republicans have a hidden agenda.

Besides their open NO policies, there lies deeply hidden an agenda they won't openly express.

[bbgrunt]

12. good one and also very true.

[blondeatlast]

2. "anti-social (although they've made "social" a dirty word using the above described tactic),

I'll have to think about that--but you're suggestions are superb.

As one of those who requested this post as a stand-alone, thank you--I can only rec once, but I'll kick this as long as possibe!

[immoderate]

5. Maybe "sociopathic" might serve.

It's perhaps a bit much, but appropriate.

--imm

[blondeatlast]

6. Hardly over the top, though. I would have thought so a year or so ago,

until I witnessed the fight over health care and terminology applied to even the current plan by the RW--and now the assault on public schools. What's next--the fire department?

[bigmonkey]

7. I don't think "sociopathic" is over the top as a description.

I think it's accurate, but I don't think it undermines the framing as much. You have to make a case for it, whereas saying something is "abnormal" or "unnatural" needs less contextualizing. "Sociopathic" just allows the winger to blow up again, because that's such an "unreasonable" thing to say.

(Edited to add "sociopathic" to subject)

[blondeatlast]

9. Good point. I've been thinking about words/phrases that could be used and it's not

easy.

[bigmonkey]

11. It would be hard to defend Republican tactics and goals as "normal" and "natural".

I think that's why this seems likely to work. "So, you think it's normal to attack other Americans on the basis of their religion?" "So, you think it's natural for corporations to pollute the air and water?"

[blondeatlast]

14. It's an excellent start. I don't understand why it is so hard for the Left to get

this stuff--it's not like it hasn't been exposed by the likes of Lakoff and David Brock,

I'm a teeny minnow in a big Red pond (Maricopa County, AZ) but I'm adopting those terms immediately.

[Spazito]

3. Republicans are 'fear-ridden, frightened of their own shadows'...

and want to make the public as fearful as they are. I would use "frightened" as often as possible. Frightened of muslims, frightened of progress, frightened of the poor, frightened of the middle class, etc.

Tar and feather them as being frightened cowards.

[MrScorpio]

4. Losing our fucking minds is normal

The Republicans want to keep that as the status quo

[glitch]

8. K & R, and I agree with above, pointing out their fear might make them think about how they are

being manipulated by their corporate masters.

Let's show them something to be pissed about.

[nannah]

10. reframe "high spending for visibility" into a negative.

reframe a constant television presence into proof of "corporate obligation" or "sell out" or some other negative idea that is easy for people to relate to.

we really can't compete with corporate spending; we have to neutralize the value of it. i don't pretend to have all the answers, but i do think this is an important strategic focus and well worth pursuing. topple "them" with their own momentum. help them make themselves a visible target for american's frustration.

[andym]

13. selfish or self-obsessed

to the point of using dishonesty to get and maintain power.

That might be a description of many Republican politicians....

[blondeatlast]

15. Immature: the RW tendency to see things as black or white is

certainly childish.

[blondeatlast]

16. K because a lot of us don't recognize how insidious these tactics are. nt

[pa28]

17. Yes, he's coining the next talking point.

Watching his language and framing is usually a good forecast for the political discussion to come.

I'm sure Republican candidates and pundits will be lamenting all the anger and hatred out there in the world outside the beltway. Of course the anger will be a natural product of the Democrat's "divisive", "extreme" and "socialistic" policies.

Luntz is destructive and calculating but he's very good at his job. He knows Republican message makers pay very close attention to his words.

[bigmonkey]

18. I'm tired of just watching these guys poison every well.

I think we can fight back, and undermine their business-as-usual.

[blondeatlast]

19. "Ignorant." Sarah Palin's recent screech about how the Statue of Liberty

is a rejection of socialism--why can't we call that "ignorant" since we can hardly say :wtf: on the air?!