Frank Luntz & Anita Dunn on Words That Work
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-04-06/frank-luntz-anita-dunn-words-work
Two prominent political strategists, one a Republican, and the other a Democrat, talk with Diane about why words matter. Frank Luntz and Anita Dunn explore how language is used to craft campaign messages and frame debates.
Guests
Anita Dunn
Democratic strategist and
former senior adviser to the Obama campaign
Frank Luntz
president, Luntz Global
author of "Win: The Key Principles To Take Your Business From Ordinary to Extraordinary"
Comments
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Fascinating subject. Given the new census figures that have emerged demonstrating the increasing importance of the Hispanic vote, what do your guests feel that media consultants will deal with Spanish-language campaign messages, advertising, and outreach?
At some point putting a good spin on a client's position and hiding or manipulating the truth begins.
I would like to know where the guests draw the line for lying and can they provide any examples of lies that were perpetrated on the American electorate.
I recently got a grip on just how smart Luntz is, by realizing how much his strategies had worked on me.
Last week I was sorting through and trashing some old recordings, and stumbled across some saved analysis of the 2008 election of Barack Obama, including the HBO documentary "By The People."
The interviews with those warmly remembering him as a bright young child in Hawaii really stood out, in contrast to the hazy impression I had that his background was a cloudy unknown. How could that be?
I rewatched interviews with people who knew him every moment of his life, watching the pride, nostalgia, and humor in the faces and voices of dozens of people to whom, unsurprisingly, Obama always stood out.
In addition to being charismatic and conspicuously intelligent, he was athletic and competative. And, precisely the qualities that make him seem vulnerable to the whisper campaign of the birthers... his Kenyan father, his exotic name, and his childhood years in Indonesia at the side of his athropologist mother... made him stand out so much to his peers that they never forgot him.
So why did I have the impression that I had seen people claiming that they had no memory of him?
Just now, I saw that Frank Luntz was going to be a guest, so I googled him. Time and again I watched him asking focus group members about Obama's religion, his background.
I unconsciously had assigned the same mental weight to the "testimony" of his hand-picked subjects repeating third-hand rumors that came from dubious viral emails, that I gave to the family and friends of Obama's childhood recalling their own direct experiences with him.
The voices blended in my memory, and finally swamped the first-hand accounts of those who were there in the classroom with Obama.
It's not about making the best argument, it's about churning up so much nonsense that you make it impossible for people to sort out the truth.
Kool, a show about how to hone our lying and deception skills to please our oligarchial masters. "Say the secret word, duck comes down, gives you five-hundred dollars." Boy, and just in time for the 2012 elections. "How you say in the Englais? Illegitimata corrupta govornmant! Gointa imploda like Soviet Union." (That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.)
Excellent account Jim Saul- think: "Jack-boot veterans for truth"
I have a therapeutic massage practice @ an upscale, private tennis club in an affluent suburb. A new, tho loyal client was an self-admitted, "ultra-rightwing" republican. He came to me because of a chronic, tight knot in his right shoulder. After a few sessions where we discussed politics - I told him that he actually wasn't a rightwing nut, it was just a spasm (!) - "boulder in his shoulder" that I could definitely rid him of:)! We have had an ongoing friendly spar of words for more than a decade. We always find some sort of workable solution! Thanks for this show, peace, linda
Diane, What about "Senior Death Trap" that Wasserman-Schultz is using to characterize the Ryan plan?
I have a therapeutic massage practice @ an upscale, private tennis club in an affluent suburb. A new, tho loyal client was a self-admitted, "ultra-rightwing" republican. He came to me because of a chronic, tight knot in his right shoulder. After a few sessions where we discussed politics - I told him that he actually wasn't a rightwing nut, it was just a spasm (!) - a "boulder in his shoulder ~ " that I could definitely rid him of:)! We have had an ongoing friendly spar of words for more than a decade. We always find some sort of workable solution! Thanks for this show, peace, linda
There is a fine line between "propagandizing genius" and "criminal genius." When you defend or advance a criminal or immoral enterprise that line has been crossed. Do not buy books written by jailbait and defenders of war criminals.
Buy focusing on health care (a relatively safe subject) they are evading their lowdown behavior.
Frank used "I" incorrectly. He should have said "me and Anita" rather than "what would be great for Anita and I" - great for I? Hmmm...
Smartbodies: How about comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable? Like a barber you get paid to spar and acquiesce. You get paid to pleasure the body of the monied: a contradictory employment for a poor person.
Do me a favor: Read the story of Judith in the Bible.
Sorry I missed Dr. Luntz until 11:30.
Will listen to the web version of the show later.
Diane,
I really enjoy your show.
I know there is a horrible deficit problem, and I know something will eventually have to be done about the entitlement programs. I also strongly believe that taxes need to be raised, especially for the most wealthy in this country.
I will say, however, that I am very angry at Republicans and the deceitful and fear-mongering rhetoric they have used the past few years. It is much worse than what Democrats have used.
The term "death panel" in particular was a lie; it was unconscionable that Republicans used it.
Richard
Clayton, MO
Tom, you didn't miss anything if you're heard Frank plugging the same book on various shows over these last several months. He doesn't freshen his remarks but reiterates them like T-party talking points. And you thought he was smart, not a parrot.
Mr. Luntz sounds like the GOP's propaganda machine. He can claim to not be a Republican, but all I've heard him say is nothing but republican spin. Sad.
Frank, these words, these phrases are so successful because a lie repeated often enough becomes a talking point.
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
-Joseph Goebbels
As you brought up your Jewishness more than once during this segment, I don't feel it improper to point out the irony. My paternal grandfather's family were all killed in the Ukraine during the war. I do not like it when I see these tactics revised.
I forgot to add: because of the lying rhetoric Republicans have used in the past few years, I will not trust a single thing they say, including things that Frank Luntz says.
Socrates opposed sophists because they claimed their techniques could win any argument regardless the validity of the position taken. Dr. Luntz has similar roots. The sophists were successful in protecting their profits by turning politicians against Socrates with a dishonest characterization of his ideas. Does Luntz not accept his work as modern day sophistry? How can he defend his work in terms of honest rhetoric?
Many people don't know what you mean when you say "top one percent in income.". Instead say xx hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
I few years ago a poll showed 19% believe they are in the top percent!
Frank commented that there are more Republicans office holders at the state and local level than at any time since 1928.
Excellent selling point for the Republican agenda.
I seem to recall something bad following in 1929......
I would love to have Diane reread the first two sentences of her intro ("Words matter." and politicians all know it...) then ask Frank Luntz about the use of "Second Amendment solution," "lock and load" and similar language.
When conservatives denied the power and purpose of that language in the wake of Gabriel Giffords' shooting, did Frank feel betrayed? Please Diane -- don't let him get away with saying, "We use the language of war in politics." That's non-responsive. Ask whether politicians should employ violent imagery (about shooting people) to gather support.
The most important thing a citizen can do is learn to listen, read and think critically. The decline in the quality of public education is the United States is a national security issue. A poorly educated citizenry cannot protect a democracy from the tricks of language.
Dear Diane,
Two years ago, on the day after inauguration, President Obama launched his "Open Government" program for engaging the public in their government.
I've been following that effort very closely, but most people are unaware of it. I'm wondering to what extent your guests are aware of his program to make the government more "transparent, participatory, and collaborative"?
Stephen Buckley
@transpartisan on twitter
Getting confused by the repetition of untruths is one thing you have to look out for when you're willing to look at both sides of an issue. I've found that when a lie is called out at every turn the lies lose their weight.
Call it what it is, propaganda. Either side is just trying to influence and sway people to their side - the side that pays them the most - If they really wanted people to make just decisions, they would present reasoned and objective analysis.
You can hide a lot of malfeasance under the guise of incompetence.
I am so tired of the viral e-mails. However, as wearisome as it is, it has encouraged me to seek the truth. This is not always easy but it is necessary in today's world. But not everyone will take the time to do this and it is those people that are becoming the scary part of American. these are the Neanderthals that are now getting elected. This makes me afraid for my country and Americans. Instead of this time of change being the beginning of a new era of accomplishments, it is becoming a time of shutting down things that work as well as things that don't work. Where is our best and most creative. I can only hope that government, including both parties, can come to together and start getting things done. So far all those newly elected officials have doen NOTHING!
Anita Dunn on NPR and conceding the validity of the opposing point of view:
Classic Progressive Messaging Fail (and a great example of the caller's point about why we are always loosing to a conservative opposition that refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of our values)
Why is it the tax payers of Wisconsin are never in the equation for liberal union activists only those so called evil republicans. The unions and their supporters do not care about property tax increases or any tax increase as long as they get their ENTITLEMENTS. In an off year election and with the liberal rage motivating democrats it is remarkable that Prosser is posed to win. GO Prosser!
Why is it the tax payers of Wisconsin are never in the equation for liberal union activists only those so called evil republicans. The unions and their supporters do not care about property tax increases or any tax increase as long as they get their ENTITLEMENTS. In an off year election and with the liberal rage motivating democrats it is remarkable that Prosser is posed to win. GO Prosser!