The language war!

[SammyBlue]

SAMMYBLUE'S CYNIC'S POST

Time to Fight the Language War

Usually I come on here and post something long winded and verbose about something irking me in the world of politics. This time is no different. However, unlike what people are talking about on the LBN and what is on the home page, I feel I need to bring up a problem that most people won’t or don’t seem to want to deal with.

We hear a lot about the War on Terror, the War on Drugs, the Culture War, the War on the Poor (run by Republicans), the War on Education (also run by Republicans) and the War on the Constitution (also run by Republicans). Yet, something we never hear about. . .not from the MSM, not from the liberal press, the conservative press or any outlet that I have seen on the web. . .the Language War.

Folks, fellow Democrats: We are losing the Language War! And we are getting killed without a fight!

What is the language war? Simply put, it is the conflict between two opposing viewpoints on who controls the language of the discussion. In that conflict’s resolution are the terms of the words, the style of the language, the meanings of the words and the overall appeal of the words. The winner dictates what is said, how it’s meant and what connotation and context the words are used in. The loser then goes into a reactive phase, trying to eek out their ideas against a backdrop of language that paints them as wrong, illogical, un-nationalistic and completely removed from thought. Simply put, the loser loses the debate before the first word is spoken.

Democrats, progressives, liberals. . .we are losing this fight. Liberals are afraid of that title and of being labeled as one! Why? Because Democrats and Progressives have not tried to stop the demonizing of that word. The other side knows they can win the argument simply by calling their opponent (or, in their eyes, enemy) a “liberal.” At that moment, their opponent goes into a defensive tailspin, deflecting a label instead of defending a superior position while lambasting a selfish, nihilistic, greedy, opportunistic position the other side poses! Instead of trying to accept the label, most mainstream media “liberals” (and I am looking at you too, Alan Colmes) instantly say “I am not a liberal.”

Here is a list of “liberals” on TV who do their best to not act like liberals:

1: Paul Begala is the number one target in my eyes. He doesn’t even defend liberal guesses on Crossfire (and Jon Stewart is right. . .their show blows!). Example: Jon Stewart. He got incensed and was strangely quiet when Tucker Carlson was trying to nail Stewart to the wall. Watching that, any good liberal would defend the liberal guest and go after Carlson with both barrels. Begala even dismissed the “was Bush wearing a wire” question without a second’s hesitation by cracking a lame, awful joke insulting those who believe he was. There was a bulge there, Paul. Tell your “liberal” CNN to investigate.

2: Alan Colmes: If there is one person who needs to be removed from television, it’s this twit. I’m positive James Carville wouldn’t like the boots of someone like Sean Hannity (who claims on his radio show that he’s the star and Alan’s riding his coat-tails). Colmes makes no hesitation claiming “I am not a liberal” on Hannity and Colmes. Liberals like that are disgusting. But, he’s right, he’s not a liberal. He’s a weak-kneed jerk.

3: Geraldo Rivera: Another person the right wing loves! Why? Because he is the personification of everything wrong with the liberal movement: Opportunistic, lousy journalism, sell-out, former trash TV host. Jerry Springer may have down trash TV, but his should is, and was, a parody of that entire Oprah, Montel genre. Geraldo took himself seriously. Springer never did!

4: Maureen Dowd: She is proof that the Pulitzer Prize has really become worthless. This woman writes like a liberal, as long as the wind is blowing in that direction. If it isn’t, her op-ed pieces are pure fluff. When Gingrich resigned and Bob Livingston became speaker of the House, her claims was “the meanies are out, the nicees are in.” Wow! What a good liberal, progressive thing to say, Maureen!

5: Phil Hendrie. Premiere Radio Networks presents this DINO who claims that he is a Democrat, but Bush is doing a swell job and that all he cares about is the protection of the United States. Hollywood should just shut up, but Arnold is great! His parody voices of his guests are always taking liberal over-tones and he actually told one of his “voice” guest that “don’t be disrespectful to my President, George Bush!” Phil, your show is NOT funny, your politics are terrible and I’m sure Clear Channel is telling you what to say, like the tell Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, Reagan, Rome, Papa Joe (who knows nothing about sports but thinks on his sports show we need to hear his politics) and the rest of the turd factory Clear Channel spews out.

6: Any caller calling into a radio talk show claiming “I’m not your standard liberal.” Already on the defensive! You lost the argument, the debate and should just hang up right there.

These people I mentioned, help make the language war unwinnable. The Language War is the MOST important battle for progressive. He who controls the language controls the debate. He who can spin the language best controls the debate. And he who can get the masses to stop thinking logically and think more emotionally wins without trying.

According to them, we progressives, democrats and liberals are :
1: anti G-d
2: anti faith
3: anti family
4: Bush hating because we offer nothing else
5: wrap our entire ideology in emotion, not logic or thinking
6: elitist
7: anti American
8: pro terrorist (10 out of 10 terrorists support Kerry was a bumper sticker they love here in Arizona)
9: soft on defense
10: out of touch with mainstream America.

Do they offer any type of evidence? No. . .because those ten talking points put any liberal instantly on the defensive. Even the word “liberal” puts a liberal on the defensive. Who wins when all you do is deflect the barrage of code words for “I have nothing so I’m going to use what works?” They do, because we are predictable. They know the word liberal will turn off Americans, they know those 10 talking points will get Americans on their side so why offer anything else. And we are so passive, afraid and mired in intellectualism, we let it happen without a fight. Why? Because we have faith in the American people.

My fellow members of Democratic Underground. . .I don’t trust the Democratic Party to do the right thing. Because until we win the war of language, we will lose more and more.

So, how do we win it? Adopt their tactics and use them against the other side. They like using the word “war.” Culture War! War on Drugs/Terrorism/crotch rot/(enter bogeyman here). Declare war on their language and follow the age old cliche “all is fair in love and war!” I am tired of seeing spineless Democratic leaders. Harry Reid is a good start. Nancy Pelosi is a good start, but I would have liked Barney Frank instead! Call them on EVERYTHING! Put them on the defensive! Retake the language. Make conservative mean what they have turned “liberal” into! Don’t let up! Keep the pressure on. Don’t make headlines then fade away! Keep it up!

As soon as we develop the spine to control the tenor of the language being used and we control the meaning of the words being used, we win! It’s that simple! American voters are basically mindless sheep who do what they are told! We over-estimate them! The other side knows what buttons to push and what words to use! Do the same thing! Use their tactics against them! Don’t adopt their ideology. G-d, that would be the worst thing we could do. Tom Daschle tried that (thank G-d he’s now unemployed)! No, just make it so we control the language.

Win the language war and you win the argument before you say “thank you for having me at this debate!”


I will be trying to do some kind of post like this every week. I like writing things like this to make it possible to get my ideas out, not just agree with everyone else. Hell, maybe evantually I can be one of the Usual Suspects.

[AndyTiedye]

1. That Is Because They Own All The Media

It doesn't matter what language you use if Karl Rove pumps all the oxygen out of the room every time you speak.