IMPORTANT: Reframe Your Ideas in Debates with Undecided Voters

[crispini]

I have been reading Lakoff's book "Don't Think of an Elephant" and I think EVERY ONE OF US needs to order the book and read it and use its ideas in our discussions with undecided voters. One thing that he talks about is how Democrats are very fond about arguing issues and we think if we can convince voters that we have the best ideas that are in their own self interest they will vote for us. Sound Familiar? Yet NOT TRUE, as we all know. Think about some of the conversations you had recently where they say something and you rebut rebut rebut and they're still not convinced. ARGUING ISSUES DOESN'T ALWAYS HELP.

Example of reframing. Repubs use the term "gay marriage." Stop using their term! Refer to "same-sex marriage." And when someone asks you if you are in favor of gay marriage, say "I am in favor of civil rights and equality for all human beings. That's part of the American way." See?

Another example: I had a couple of conversations with undecideds recently on Iraq, post-debate. They said, "Well I still didn't see a plan." I talked about summits and multilateralism and told them to log on to Kerry's website and read his whole plan. WRONG, and they were still unconvinced. I was arguing issues!

Here is what I will say tomorrow: "Well, when it comes to specific plans, I am not really a foreign policy expert, and I'm not sure I want to be. I, personally, don't really know the best way to get us out of this mess. However, I do know it's a complicated issue and I want a man I can trust with complicated issues. A man who has experience with this kind of mess (Vietnam) and a man who is not afraid to stand up for the right thing. Have you seen 'Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry?' (no) Ok, I challenge you to go see that movie and come back here and not tell me that John Kerry is a man of honor, a man who is unafraid to do the right thing, a good person who can protect our country and pick the right path to get us out of this mess. In fact if you go see that movie and you don't come back here and tell me that John Kerry is the right man for the job I will give you $20... I will bet you $20 that the more you learn about Kerry's life that you will appreciate him as true American hero, a patriot, a thoughtful person, and someone who is capable of taking care of this mess."

I'm still reading Lakoff's book. I'll report back with more stuff. But I'm telling you, when we are debating with undecideds THIS is what we need to do: REFRAME THE DEBATE, DON'T ALWAYS TALK ISSUES.

Buy book and read more articles here:
http://www.chelseagreen.com/2004/items/elephant/AssociatedArticles

***Not afilliated with Lakoff or his publisher in any way! Just want to WIN THIS FLIPPIN ELECTION!

PS if you like this idea please KICK... it's important!

[girl gone mad]

1. sounds good.

Speaking of tactical books, there is a book that I hope that someone in the Kerry campaign is familiar with. It's called The Book of Stratagems (Tactics for Triumph and Survival), by Harro von Senger. It's a book of traditional Chinese strategic rules and schemes first catalogued at the end of the Ming Dynasty, some employed by Sun Tzu (Art of War), and Mao Zedong.

I say I hope they are at least familiar with it, because I've sold it to several Republicans. I've also sold it to the military. It was used by military tacticians in planning the first Gulf War. It's out of print, but I try to keep it in stock.

Edit: Rove uses many of the strategies in this book. Whether or not that's where they came from, I don't know. Also, "renewal" is one of the strategies (as in "stage a comeback"), so perhaps Kerry has studied it.

[crispini]

2. Vanity...

:kick:

Thoughts?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[Cheswick2.0]

3. I agree, always reframe the debate

You idea of what to say about Iraq is good. I would add how badly bush has screwed it up and that we need someone in office the rest of the world doesn't hate and mistrust.
People will tell you that the french and Germans hate us. The answer to that is, no they don't, I have friends in German who love americans and are very interested in american politics. They dislike and do not trust Bush. They would be happy to help us in Iraq but bush expected them to give money and troops without having any say in policy or strategic planning. They don't trust bush and they were unwilling to work under his neo-con war planners who have proved that they are incompetant. How can we expect any country to sacrifice their troops that way?

[roseBudd]

4. On Iraq for people who need short and to the point

the opinion of experts backs Kerry.

Most underinformed Americans don't know the Iraq War has made them less safe because they have not read the 62 page Army War College report "Bounding The Global War On Terror" of Dec. 03. The flyer below summarizes this expert opinion.

Go to http://somnamblst.tripod.com to download high resolution TIF or PDF files to print and distribute.