The Republican Governors Association “met with top GOP message-man-turned-Yoda Frank Luntz to learn how to wiggle out of uncomfortable moments whenever questioned about the politically inconvenient Occupy Wall Street movement.”
Luntz’ handy-dandy guide looks like a mirror image of what John Carney should be saying:
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.”
Congressman Carney – say “Capitalism.” Don’t be seen as the defender of Wall Street and voters will like you. Voters think modern capitalism is immoral because they have eyes. Be on the middle class voters side. Stop being on the side of Wall Street and immoral Republicans.
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.”
Congressman Carney – talk about raising taxes on the rich. For one thing, it will solve the debt “crisis,” and it will help you get elected.
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.”
Congressman Carney – stick up for the middle class. Don’t be afraid of being a proud Democrat and a defender of the middle class. You will tap into the public’s perception that our party is on the side of the middle class when you talk about the middle class.
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?”
Congressman Carney – turn the conversation to jobs. Republicans will look like idiots talking about careers to people who need jobs. Talk about how Republican economics has killed our economy and ruined the job market.
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.”
Congressman Carney – call it what it is “spending” or better yet call it what it should be “investments.” People know that the government has been cut to the bone. When your challenger talks about waste, ask him how many students should each teacher have in a classroom? 40? 50? 60?
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.”
Congressman Carney – talk about how unwilling the Republicans are to compromise. This Republican mania to be strident and inflexible is anti-democratic and anti-American. The public is yearning to hear an office holder call them out on it. Also – add that they are unwilling to even cooperate, which is an easily proven fact of modern political life.
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. 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.
Congressman Carney – say that Republicans don’t get it. They are unwilling to compromise or cooperate and are out to shrink the middle class by defending Wall Street. Cinchy! Just say it JOHN CARNEY!! SAY IT!!!!
8. Out: ‘Entrepreneur.’ In: ‘Job creator.’
Use the phrases “small business owners” and “job creators” instead of “entrepreneurs” and “innovators.”
Congressman Carney – If Republican policies are all about helping “job creators,” where are the goddamn jobs? We need to support entrepreneurs and innovators and stop parroting the GOP’s BS that wealthy people are going to save us through their benevolence.
9. Don’t ever ask anyone you want them to ‘sacrifice.’
“There isn’t an America 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.”
Congressman Carney – When is it going to be the richest corporations and individuals turn to “sacrifice?” When Republicans talk about us all “being in this together” they should be mocked a ridiculed.
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.”
Congressman Carney – okay. I’m at a loss with this one. Republicans will always be willing to brazenly lie. It is just a fact. I hear you spreading this lie from time to time and it sickens me. That’s why I’m a Democrat for Kovach
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