Democratic Pundits: Be Ready for Republicans Pundit Tactics
After watching Bill Kristol's performance on Real Time with Bill Maher, although I was pleased that Bill did lobby some direct talk towards Kristol, I was frustrated as well.
I was frustrated because even in 2014, after roughly 25 years of Fox "News", Rush Limbaugh et al, and especially the amazingly effective influence of Frank Luntz's strategy, our pundits still don't seem able to recognize and counteract the wingnut pundits' tactics.
Bill Maher did well to tell Bill Kristol he was wrong on many issues but if you notice Kristol actually controlled the conversation and he used well practiced tactics that Maher, and all of us should be ready for by this time.
Tactic One: Seem reasonable but shift topic quickly.
Kristol "admitted" his error(s) immediately thus seeming reasonable. When conservatives are confronted with a situation they cannot change the subject with, and know they're wrong they "admit their error, then change subject or subtly shift the topic to include Democrats."
i.e, "Both sides do it." That way, it lessons the impact of the Republican behavior and leaves the listener with the belief or feeling that "yes, politicians are devious and Democrats just as bad as Republicans." They are not, not in this era of wingnuttery.
When we're confronted with tea bagging jerks at home, don't allow them to shift the subject. Take it back to the main point, for example: "We're talking about your mistakes Mr. Kristol, you were wrong about Iraq".
Tactic Two: Change the subject. They immediately change the subject to a Democrat.
"Chickenhawk Ted Nugent bragged about dodging the Vietnam draft by crapping his pants and not bathing for days before going in front of draft board."
"Draft dodgers like Bill Clinton are hypocritical when they advocate war." Then suddenly, we're talking about a Democrat dodging the draft and not Ted Nugent. Republican pundits do it every time and we often take the bait.
Tactic Three: Interrupt and Talk Loudly
We all know this one, where people like Joe Scarborough constantly interrupt and or talk loudly preventing our side to be heard and or point made. Rachel Maddow one time on Real Time was interrupted so much she actually stood up and spoke. It was effective and stopped the tea bagger cold. He was not prepared and the audience heard every word she said.
If necessary, say "Stop interrupting me" and point out to listeners that the conservative corporate tool won't allow you to be heard.
In conclusion, our pundits seem unprepared for these obvious tactics and we need to educate and encourage our side to do better. As you know, most television shows give only minutes per segment for points to be made, and it is important we utilize those precious minutes effectively.
In addition, the casual observers have an emotional response too, where they may not know it but leave feeling that the wingnut was more passionate. Unfortunately some equate passion with correctness or honesty.
Bill Maher allowed Bill Kristol to change the subject from Iraq to Afghanistan. He deferred himself by pretending to accept responsibility for his (appallingly poor record) past errors but actually scored points by acting humble but truly shifting the conversation to military actions that "both sides were involved in". It was subtle and good, when Maher should have pounded him on Iraq, the war that crippled this country for years, not to mention lives etc.
Also, Kristol interrupted and talked "forcefully" if you will over the rest of the panel, thus often preventing a free flow of conversation about the failures of Republicans.
These tactics are classic Frank Luntz and literally taught to Republicans. Watch when you can, how they all seem to do use them and we must be prepared and control our messages, especially when on television.
I do it and boy howdy the wingnuts don't like it when I do. They get angry, but also get tongue-tied because they aren't prepared for anyone who drills them down even slightly.
If you do get verbally attacked and they talk over you, be ready to say "I disagree". At least you will leave your audience with the mindset of disagreement and on their terms. You don't have to always be eloquent or know it all. Audiences are forgiving and will respect it, and it will leave them with doubt and that is important.
One more point: When a wingnut says "you're supposed to be the tolerant one, and you don't tolerate my viewpoint", answer this way:
"I tolerate you, tolerance doesn't mean I have to agree with you and I don't. I strongly disagree with you." "Yes I can, I can disagree with you and still tolerate you. I'm doing it now."
Thanks for reading this quick post, I've wanted to put this out for awhile and hope it helps our team. Link to video above mediaite.com.
p.s. Language and emotions, wedge issues are an advantage Republicans have over us and they shouldn't. If we master a few basic skills, especially our professional pundits we will connect better with casual voters.
I have jerk tea baggers in my wife's family and they cannot look me in the eye anymore because they know I am ready for them. i keep using the word "Republican" which seems mild but think about how often Republicans are actually discussed. You hear "liberal" all the time.
I also ask them questions and my most effective is this one: "What do you think of George W. Bush?" They know, they know he screwed us and if they defend him you can say "well you don't care about deficits then do you, and more."
Almost every time with every person they stammer and say "both sides do it" but I keep saying, "please answer the question, I heard you, "both sides do it" but again "what do you personally think of George W. Bush?"
Also, whenever they talk about money and the deficit say "well you must hate Republicans Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, for they tripled and doubled the deficit". "Shoot, Bush didn't even list the cost of the wars in the operating budget, he listed them as emergency expenditures."
Not only do you force them to respond or shut up, but if they're people in the room, they may finally hear some facts about the f$*cking Republicans for a change.
Republicans have jumped the shark and they must be stopped.
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