It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear - Frank Luntz

[otohara]

That is the title of self described "word doctor" Frank Luntz, who regularly consults the GOP on what words to use.

Hey Frank, what do you think when people hear "job-killing ObamaCare", "job-killing cap & trade", "job-killing" energy policy. etc, etc. etc.

My guess, "job-killing Democrats"

[ZombieHorde]

1. "It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear"

That is very true.

[tridim]

3. It's the *wink wink* effect.

The teabagger candidates all use it.

[harun]

12. Youtube any video of Cheney in front of the Right Wing Think Tanks

Heritage, etc. and it is the most *wink wink* speak I have ever seen in my life. Makes me want to puke.

[YvonneCa]

2. No, Frank. What you say and how you say it...

...matters. Get a clue! GRrrrrr!!!

[riderinthestorm]

4. Right Frank, so examples such as "death panels" - that's soooo subjective

and open to interpretation - it's all the LISTENER'S fault!

This is more crap spin from the ultimate spin doctor.

[napi21]

5. As much as I hate to admit it, Frank if GOOD at what hee does!

My problem is that he can't be the only person with the caability of "using" the english language to manipulate people. Why don't the Dems hire one or SEVERAL? That's been one of our big problems for years...we never use simple, short & easily understood words to push our ideas. Just as an examble, why didn't we use something like Americare for our HC bill instead of the long sentence we did use? I'm not very good at doing that sort of thing, but every good marketing & advertising peson IS! For God sake Dems...HIRE AT LEAST ONE!

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

7. ONLY because CRITICAL THINKING is dead.

Otherwise, this guy wouldn't have a job

[blondeatlast]

11. Exactly. nt

[napi21]

14. Mmm, that may have something to do with it, but talk to an ad exec or a marketing

exec sometime and they'll tell you the words, colors, shapes, etc. that attract people's interest and make them pay attention. The short phrase or jingle that you can't get out of your head is an example of that and all of us have experienced that. Remember that irritating jingle "Lights on, lights off...the clapper!" I hated it, but sometimes it would just be in my head! As soon as the first tones sounded on the TV, I knew exactly what it was. That's the kind of stuff politicians need to sell their ideas.

[edhopper]

8. I wonder this myself

Why wasn't it the Jobs Bill not the Stimulus Package?
Why wasn't it Health INSURANCE Reform, not Health Care Reform?
Why not always call them "Tax Cuts for the Rich Republicans".
It's not that hard, yet the Dem leadership refuses to do it.

[napi21]

15. Absolutely, and you & I aren't the first people to say that. I've

heard numerous Dem talk show hosts 7 pundits saying the same thing. People don't like to have to think about things and what they mean. It's much easier in their busy lives to hear a phrase and know right away "That sounds good to me" or "That sounds bad."

[NightWatcher]

6. Is Luntz related to Goebbels?

Just curious

[blondeatlast]

10. No, but certainly a student. nt

[blondeatlast]

9. You broke it, you bought it, Mr. Luntz. It's your gawddamned career--you OWN this.

YOU are PERSONALLY responsible for a lot of this rhetoric.

[EC]

13. And the righties of the world with their limited brain power

HEAR exactly what your coded messaging is conveying...They ARE HEARING WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO HEAR...


That's why everything you recommend for talking points sound like regular talking points to regular people, but are dog whistles for the Jesus-freak, no government types...