Two weeks ago I watched a very good Frontline episode called "The Persuaders". Go ahead, click on the link, I'll be here when you get back. Now notice that the good people at PBS online have been kind enough to not only let us see the show for free in its entirety but also hone in on specific sections of particular interest. The one I'd like to point out is #5 Give Us What We Want. It is a segment on a guy named Frank Luntz. Go ahead, watch the segment, it's only 13 minutes long.
Welcome back! I don't know what is scarier, Luntz reclining in that faux black leather recliner couch section to watch "pop culture" or he in ecstasy over how to dupe people (and get paid handsomely for it I imagine). Now read the article War Of Words by Brian Morton of the Baltimore City Paper.
As a break from all that text, let's look at a nifty graphic that the NY Times put together after the conventions.
Recently my sage husband (still strange to call Paul that, er, not the sage part, the husband part) pointed out that we need a counter to the phrase "politically correct" which has been sent to the dustbin as an absurd, liberal term. At its heart, it contains a recognition that language does effect perception. Politically correct terms like "African-American" or "postal carrier" are trying to expose bias and are not meant to obscure meaning. What the GOP is doing is covert and Orwellian and it's not getting pointed out. We need a term that can be easily affixed to terms and phrases like "climate change" (read: global warming) and "death tax" (read: estate tax) to flag them as spin. I would like to nominate "luntzian" or "luntzspeak" or "luntzspin" although they do ironically canonize that jackass. Any other ideas?
To finish the tour of this topic for today, I encourage you to read the following articles. If you don't get to all of them today, bookmark the permalink for this entry. They really are all very worthwhile reading.
Opposing Luntz' Talking Points :: this weblog entry from Hunting the Muse. It is very valuable because it contains a download link for the recent Luntz talking points memo (in PDF form). If you want to see it for yourself, this is invaluable. I downloaded a copy, so if the link no longer works, email me at leftfield(at)elizabethfuller.com and I'll send you a copy.
The Republican Noise Machine :: in which David Brock, the reformed conservative noise-maker, discusses with Mother Jones' Bradford Plumer how the Right has sabotaged journalism, democracy, and truth.
Using Deceptive Language :: from a favorite weblog of mine in which Luntz is discussed. Interestingly enough, the most recent entry is on the Frontline show that aired last night about the evil Walmart Corp.
Insinuation and Other Pitfalls in Political Ads and News :: contains a section "Who's Language Is This?" in which the author discusses the case of Willie Horton and how it was framed by the GOP and H.W. Bush to attack Michael Dukakis.
Posted by Elizabeth at November 17, 2004 11:47 AMInsightful and well written. Seems that we are watching the same programs. I too watched with horror the Frontline Walmart expose' and The Persuaders. How can anyone find joy in aware dishonesty? Just another example of "man's inhumanity to man."
Posted by: Ingrid at November 17, 2004 12:34 PM