Narrative

[Dulce Mia]

Here's how the noise machine has won support from moderate conservatives under the patriotic narrative: "It's good to be patriotic, democrats think it is bad to be patriotic. Democrats respond: being patriotic leads to bad things like wars, etc." That is the way that general argument tends to go. We lose. To argue with the republicans that patriotism causes war, war is bad, patriotism is bad is the exact frame the republicans want us to take and adopt.

You don't change people's core values. Republicans know this. The argument should fit the core values through framing. Patriotism and Christianity are core values in America that the Republican Machine has capitalized on. Democrats can drive the narrative this way:

1. Paying taxes is patriotic, republicans are traditionally against paying taxes, opposing and avoiding taxes is unpatriotic. Carefully and strategically using our soldiers makes our national defense stronger, and that is patriotic. Bankrupting the armed forces without a plan is unpatriotic. The republican decimation of the armed forces over the last 5 years has weakened our national defense. That's unpatriotic."

2. Christian values teach us that structuring the tax code to provide breaks for
the wealthiest 2% of our country is wrong. Jesus said blessed are the poor. We are ethically bound to take care of the poor. Republican tax policy deliberately causes suffering for the poor. That violates Christian values. Republican policy violates Christian values.

3. A democratic value system is more patriotic and corresponds with what Jesus very clearly taught on the Sermon on the Mount.

[Susan Kitchens]

Excellent. I'm also interested in reframing issues, and am working on some ways to reframe current events in terms of Country First and Sacrifice for something greater than your own self interest"

"John McCain aides help in Troopergate to cover things up. America's interest (transparent government, accountability, a chance to know the record of McCain's Veep pick)."

John McCain's campaign whisks Veep Candidate away from press for maybe up to 2 weeks. Why? McCain is not acting with Country First, not letting us have opportunity to ask questions about her.

etc.

[Dulce Mia]

I'm working on this too Susan. People still misunderstand what reframe means. It's not some Orwellian tactic to be used dishonestly by the Republican Noise Machine and not to be touched by Democrats. It's a powerful tool that can be used with honesty and skill to inform and educate. I repeat George Lakoff's words "don't think of an elephant" to myself like a mantra sometimes. The strength of this movement is tremendous.

Susan Kitchens said:

Excellent. I'm also interested in reframing issues, and am working on some ways to reframe current events in terms of Country First and Sacrifice for something greater than your own self interest"

"John McCain aides help in Troopergate to cover things up. America's interest (transparent government, accountability, a chance to know the record of McCain's Veep pick)."

John McCain's campaign whisks Veep Candidate away from press for maybe up to 2 weeks. Why? McCain is not acting with Country First, not letting us have opportunity to ask questions about her.

etc.