Republicans and word usage redefine

[caseagainstfaith]

Yahoo News sat in on the session, and counted 10 do's and don'ts from Luntz covering how Republicans should fight back by changing the way they discuss the movement.

1. Don't say 'capitalism.'

"I'm trying to get that word removed and we're replacing it with either 'economic freedom' or 'free market,' " Luntz said. "The public . . . still prefers capitalism to socialism, but they think capitalism is immoral. And if we're seen as defenders of quote, Wall Street, end quote, we've got a problem."

2. Don't say that the government 'taxes the rich.' Instead, tell them that the government 'takes from the rich.'

"If you talk about raising taxes on the rich," the public responds favorably, Luntz cautioned. But "if you talk about government taking the money from hardworking Americans, the public says no. Taxing, the public will say yes."

3. Republicans should forget about winning the battle over the 'middle class.' Call them 'hardworking taxpayers.'

"They cannot win if the fight is on hardworking taxpayers. We can say we defend the 'middle class' and the public will say, I'm not sure about that. But defending 'hardworking taxpayers' and Republicans have the advantage."

4. Don't talk about 'jobs.' Talk about 'careers.'

"Everyone in this room talks about 'jobs,'" Luntz said. "Watch this."

He then asked everyone to raise their hand if they want a "job." Few hands went up. Then he asked who wants a "career." Almost every hand was raised.

"So why are we talking about jobs?"

5. Don't say 'government spending.' Call it 'waste.'

"It's not about 'government spending.' It's about 'waste.' That's what makes people angry."

6. Don't ever say you're willing to 'compromise.'

"If you talk about 'compromise,' they'll say you're selling out. Your side doesn't want you to 'compromise.' What you use in that to replace it with is 'cooperation.' It means the same thing. But cooperation means you stick to your principles but still get the job done. Compromise says that you're selling out those principles."

7. The three most important words you can say to an Occupier: 'I get it.'

"First off, here are three words for you all: 'I get it.' . . . 'I get that you're angry. I get that you've seen inequality. I get that you want to fix the system."

Then, he instructed, offer Republican solutions to the problem.

8. Out: 'Entrepreneur.' In: 'Job creator.'

Use the phrases "small business owners" and "job creators" instead of "entrepreneurs" and "innovators."

9. Don't ever ask anyone to 'sacrifice.'

"There isn't an American today in November of 2011 who doesn't think they've already sacrificed. If you tell them you want them to 'sacrifice,' they're going to be be pretty angry at you. You talk about how 'we're all in this together.' We either succeed together or we fail together."

10. Always blame Washington.

Tell them, "You shouldn't be occupying Wall Street, you should be occupying Washington. You should occupy the White House because it's the policies over the past few years that have created this problem."

source - news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/republicans-being-taught-talk-occupy-wall-street-133707949.html

So just because you change the words around we are suppose to be gullible enough to fall for that? Maybe some people are that stupid but I don't think just because you change word usage around that you are going to get many OWS people to bite. They are smarter than that, I would hope at least.

[N. De Plume]

1. Don't say 'capitalism.'

"I'm trying to get that word removed and we're replacing it with either 'economic freedom' or 'free market,' " Luntz said. "The public . . . still prefers capitalism to socialism, but they think capitalism is immoral. And if we're seen as defenders of quote, Wall Street, end quote, we've got a problem."

Classic euphemizing.

2. Don't say that the government 'taxes the rich.' Instead, tell them that the government 'takes from the rich.'

"If you talk about raising taxes on the rich," the public responds favorably, Luntz cautioned. But "if you talk about government taking the money from hardworking Americans, the public says no. Taxing, the public will say yes."

3. Republicans should forget about winning the battle over the 'middle class.' Call them 'hardworking taxpayers.'

"They cannot win if the fight is on hardworking taxpayers. We can say we defend the 'middle class' and the public will say, I'm not sure about that. But defending 'hardworking taxpayers' and Republicans have the advantage."

Ooh! Love this doublethink whammo! If it is a tax on the rich, it is “taking from the rich” but if it is on the middle class, then it is just a simple tax.

4. Don't talk about 'jobs.' Talk about 'careers.'

"Everyone in this room talks about 'jobs,'" Luntz said. "Watch this."

He then asked everyone to raise their hand if they want a "job." Few hands went up. Then he asked who wants a "career." Almost every hand was raised.

"So why are we talking about jobs?"

Actually gotta agree with this point. The problem is when everyone is focused on jobs, you just wind up with a lot of low quality, shitty jobs. Making careers can keep the focus on quality stuff.

5. Don't say 'government spending.' Call it 'waste.'

"It's not about 'government spending.' It's about 'waste.' That's what makes people angry."

All spending is waste? Okay, so let’s stop all the waste on defense.

6. Don't ever say you're willing to 'compromise.'

"If you talk about 'compromise,' they'll say you're selling out. Your side doesn't want you to 'compromise.' What you use in that to replace it with is 'cooperation.' It means the same thing. But cooperation means you stick to your principles but still get the job done. Compromise says that you're selling out those principles."

Just so you know, refusal to compromise is what got us in this clusterfuck in the first place.

7. The three most important words you can say to an Occupier: 'I get it.'

"First off, here are three words for you all: 'I get it.' . . . 'I get that you're angry. I get that you've seen inequality. I get that you want to fix the system."

Then, he instructed, offer Republican solutions to the problem.

You “get it?” No, you don’t. This whole thing, minus the careers bit, is a perfect illustration that you fucking don’t. Rather than actually address the problems, you are just messing around with the language. You do not fucking get it.

8. Out: 'Entrepreneur.' In: 'Job creator.'

Use the phrases "small business owners" and "job creators" instead of "entrepreneurs" and "innovators."

Hard to take this seriously when you got so many entrepreneurs refusing to hire people. No job creation there.

9. Don't ever ask anyone to 'sacrifice.'

"There isn't an American today in November of 2011 who doesn't think they've already sacrificed. If you tell them you want them to 'sacrifice,' they're going to be be pretty angry at you. You talk about how 'we're all in this together.' We either succeed together or we fail together."

So, what, you mean, ”We are all in it together, but don’t you dare ask me to contribute?”

10. Always blame Washington.

Tell them, "You shouldn't be occupying Wall Street, you should be occupying Washington. You should occupy the White House because it's the policies over the past few years that have created this problem."

Wow. Outright admitting it is just a fucking blame game.

And you seriously expect us to believe that you “get it”?

[foolishwisdom]

2. Don't say that the government 'taxes the rich.' Instead, tell them that the government 'takes from the rich.'

"If you talk about raising taxes on the rich," the public responds favorably, Luntz cautioned. But "if you talk about government taking the money from hardworking Americans, the public says no. Taxing, the public will say yes."

Yay, lets make a Robin Hood group!

[verasthebrujah]

Dec 1, 2011 11:42:59 GMT -5 caseagainstfaith said:

So just because you change the words around we are suppose to be gullible enough to fall for that? Maybe some people are that stupid but I don't think just because you change word usage around that you are going to get many OWS people to bite. They are smarter than that, I would hope at least.

Part of the reason that the Republican Party has had so much success over the past few decades is their incredible ability to redefine words. Americans supported the estate tax, but they oppose the death tax. It's the same thing, but they gave it a new name and the argument changed.

[nickiknack]

Don't say that the government 'taxes the rich.' Instead, tell them that the government 'takes from the rich.'

"If you talk about raising taxes on the rich," the public responds favorably, Luntz cautioned. But "if you talk about government taking the money from hardworking Americans, the public says no. Taxing, the public will say yes."

How is this new?? This is the same bs talking point you've been using for years, because those CEOs are so much more hard working than those on the bottom that make peanuts.

3. Republicans should forget about winning the battle over the 'middle class.' Call them 'hardworking taxpayers.'

"They cannot win if the fight is on hardworking taxpayers. We can say we defend the 'middle class' and the public will say, I'm not sure about that. But defending 'hardworking taxpayers' and Republicans have the advantage."

Yup, they really give a shit for the hardworking taxpayers so much so that it's their polices that lay most of the tax burden on them.

Don't say 'government spending.' Call it 'waste.'

"It's not about 'government spending.' It's about 'waste.' That's what makes people angry."

Not new, same old same old bs, except if they want to blow a shitload of money on bombing some country full of brown people.

[Thejebusfire]

9. Don't ever ask anyone to 'sacrifice.'

"There isn't an American today in November of 2011 who doesn't think they've already sacrificed. If you tell them you want them to 'sacrifice,' they're going to be be pretty angry at you. You talk about how 'we're all in this together.' We either succeed together or we fail together."

No, we don't want everyday Americans to sacrifice.
We want people like you to make sacrifices.

[Aqualung]

Wow, seriously??

[brendanrizzo]

Can I have another angry dome, please?

[shykid]

1. Don't say 'capitalism.'

Don’t call a spade a spade.

Good to see that people are wising up to the fact that unfettered capitalism is disgusting and morally reprehensible, though.

2. Don't say that the government 'taxes the rich.' Instead, tell them that the government 'takes from the rich.'

No difference to me. The government needs to “take” from the rich if they don’t give their fair share, although it’s not really “stealing” if it’s giving the lower classes what they rightly deserve for working for them.

3. Republicans should forget about winning the battle over the 'middle class.' Call them 'hardworking taxpayers.'

Wait, so when the government takes from middle-class people, it’s called “paying taxes,” but when the government takes from rich people, it’s theft? lol, ok, you try that tactic. I don’t think you’ve quite thought that outrageous spin through. People aren’t that stupid.

4. Don't talk about 'jobs.' Talk about 'careers.'

That’s nice, but where are these “careers”? I thought the rich were “job creators” according to you people. Then why was unemployment lower under the Clinton administration’s tax policies and disgustingly high several years after the Bush tax cuts?

5. Don't say 'government spending.' Call it 'waste.'

Wait, so basic necessities like medical care, economic security, and safety from criminals are “waste,” but but mansions, yachts, and luxury cars aren’t? Astounding. I feel sick.

6. Don't ever say you're willing to 'compromise.'

Because you sure as hell aren’t, though I admittedly agree that compromise is not inherently good: the reason for the epidemic of social and economic injustice in this country is the fucking spineless Democrats and moderate Republicans “compromising” with the far-right (because apparently you’re a Republican or Conservative in Name Only if you have a conscience, one foot in reality, or a shred of sanity—and Lord help your liberal-hippie-communist-socialist soul if you have all three).

7. The three most important words you can say to an Occupier: 'I get it.'

Except they either don’t “get it” or just don’t care, as well evidenced by their actions. And if you believe this drivel you spew, you certainly don’t either.

8. Out: 'Entrepreneur.' In: 'Job creator.'

So insane that far-right jackassery has tarnished perfectly neutral words with a negative connotation.

9. Don't ever ask anyone to 'sacrifice.'

Really? I sure as hell want a lot of sacrificing to go on. The lack of it is the problem here. We need to bring back luxury taxes and double the income-tax rate on high-income earners (PDF).

10. Always blame Washington.

At least wait a few years before you try to rewrite history. The economic crisis started under the Bush administration. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he and his administration are 100% at fault, but it does mean that the current administration could not have started it, though they deserve plenty of blame for not doing more to fix it and call the far-right’s bullshit out for what it is.

ETA: At least he didn’t really mention “class warfare.” Why is “class warfare” wrong to these people if real warfare isn’t? I am thoroughly sick of that right-wing meme. Fuck, we need a little legislative “class warfare” to take back our country from the undue influence of the ultra-wealthy and ensure economic security and prosperity for everyone.

[Rat Of Steel]

[banjaxed]

Frank Luntz is a bastard, and he and his ilk are a big factor in the cycle of partisan nonsense that currently causes all of the gridlock in Washington. Despite this, he is genius at what he does. Few people would have the balls to do what he does.

[Dragon Zachski]

Dec 2, 2011 12:46:20 GMT -5 shykid said:

government takes from middle-class people, it’s called “paying taxes,” but when the government takes from rich people, it’s theft? lol, ok, you try that tactic. I don’t think you’ve quite thought that outrageous spin through. People aren’t that stupid.

Yeah, actually, they are

[shykid]

I haven’t quite lost that much faith in humanity, and the GOP has been slipping in the polls ever since the Tea Party held the nation hostage over tax cuts for millionaires.

[brendanrizzo]

You know, Shykid, when I first joined this board I never thought I'd one day have less faith in humanity than a longtime member. Ironically, I think it was the very same incident you cite which put the nail in the coffin of my belief that any of America's problems will be fixed within my lifetime.

[ltfred]

Dec 1, 2011 11:42:59 GMT -5 caseagainstfaith said:

7. The three most important words you can say to an Occupier: 'I get it.'

"First off, here are three words for you all: 'I get it.' . . . 'I get that you're angry. I get that you've seen inequality. I get that you want to fix the system."

This is very clever. "We agree with you- democrats are bad."