The "outrage" tactic.
Look. The GOP outcry is not about a speech at schools. It's only nominally about the public option. It's not really about climate change, or birth certificates, or whatever else.
It's about the strategic use of political tone.
Here's how it works. The Republican machine generates outrage about anything (it doesn't really matter what,) and then as the press picks it up, that "discord" becomes a background noise of anger and tension that permeates the news coverage.
A sustained feeling of anger and tension in the country, for whatever cause or dubious manufacture, is attached to the party in power, especially the President. That feeling is an unpolled "wrong track" kinda question.
They're trying to sour the national mood, and thus, damage Obama.
The thing is, by the time all the yelling filters down into the public consciousness, the Republicans, as the minority, don't really bear the cost of this.
You can't beat this by arguing with them, because it's not at all about what they're yelling. It's just that they are yelling. That's the meta. That's the tactic. ...and it's hugely effective.
It's about the strategic use of political tone.
Here's how it works. The Republican machine generates outrage about anything (it doesn't really matter what,) and then as the press picks it up, that "discord" becomes a background noise of anger and tension that permeates the news coverage.
A sustained feeling of anger and tension in the country, for whatever cause or dubious manufacture, is attached to the party in power, especially the President. That feeling is an unpolled "wrong track" kinda question.
They're trying to sour the national mood, and thus, damage Obama.
The thing is, by the time all the yelling filters down into the public consciousness, the Republicans, as the minority, don't really bear the cost of this.
You can't beat this by arguing with them, because it's not at all about what they're yelling. It's just that they are yelling. That's the meta. That's the tactic. ...and it's hugely effective.
posted by mikevotes at
10:12 PM
8 Comments:
My main gripe is that this outrage is being covered as legitimate and not as the over the top, schizophrenic, baseless, temper-tantrum horse shit that it is.
I blame the GOP for being lying, manipulative goons. And I blame the media for being knowing tools.
By
-epm, at 12:39 PM
Yes.
By
mikevotes, at 1:22 PM
Rather Hitlerian.
By
Anonymous, at 8:00 PM
So what do you think is the best way to fight against this tactic?
By
Mickey, at 9:42 PM
Tell the truth. Always. Repeat the truth the same way the GOP repeats their Big Lies over and over. You can't go up against the monstrosity of the corporate GOP favoring MSM but you'll be able to sleep better know that you're practicing a virtue that the GOP finds more of a nuisance than a moral foundation.
By
matt, at 10:01 PM
I don't know how you fight it. Fighting each argument with truth creates the very tension they're seeking and extends coverage.
One response would be to push their perception out of the mainstream, greet each new round with rolled eyes of derision and recurring phrases like "here we go again" or diminish them as a "Cult" or otherwise present them as brainwashed.
It's just my sense that "facts" and "truth" don't work in today's media very well.
That says alot, doesn't it?
By
mikevotes, at 10:18 PM
MAybe another way would be to meet each occurrence with the question "where's your plan?" A little less effective and requiring all Dems to work together, but getting the Repubs to express their exact positions would work if you could do it.
Although I think they weasel their way through 5 minute interviews without having to say they don't want to help 90% of the country.
By
mikevotes, at 10:21 PM
Telling the truth does seem the most obvious and ethical thing to do.
Shaming might be good. Especially if it's just slathered on to the point that it's almost ridiculous: "Why, if my mother heard me twist the truth the way that Congressman So & So is doing about Such & Such, she would be so ashamed of me. I would be ashamed of myself. Where is his self-respect? His sense of integrity? His honor? How does he look himself in the mirror every day KNOWING that he is purposely misleading his constituents at the behest of multi-million dollar corporations? Where have we gone wrong in our society that this is acceptable?"
By
Mickey, at 12:07 AM
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