Pete Buttigieg is probably the best Democrat I've ever seen at framing issues.

[Music Man]

Last edited Mon Jul 22, 2019, 03:04 PM - Edit history (1)

I am still undecided, because we have several excellent candidates, but Buttigieg is a master at seeing the terms of the debate and changing the prism through which any issue is viewed. He understands that conservatives won't change their long-held stated beliefs of religion, freedom, and security, so he seeks to redefine those terms as progressive. His belief that politics isn't local but personal is another brilliant new perspective that would get us out of a territorial approach to how we run local and state campaigns as Democrats.

Those who set the terms of the debate automatically win it.

In his speech to the Young Democrats, Buttigieg showed his understanding that our modern political world has been largely shaped by Reagan and his disciples, and that overcoming the Reagan lens is a key to changing our political map. It's not just a matter of winning the issue of the day.

In fact, I think he is in many ways better at framing issues than Obama was. I recall during a town hall regarding the health care debate, Obama, in speaking about a public option, said, "Private and public entities can exist side by side, just like the Postal Service and UPS and FedEx. In fact, it's often the post office that's always having trouble."

In advocating for a public option, he criticized an example of a public option

I got the sense Obama wanted to change the political landscape but played on Republican turf in terms of his messaging (of course, this is not to mention the scorched-Earth approach the Republicans, led by Mitch McConnell and the Tea Party did to block any agenda of his, but that's another matter. I'm just talking about messaging).

Buttigieg may be young and hold only a local office, but he is the candidate who both "gets it" and knows how to express it in terms that puts Republicans on the defensive. He is the Democrat of our zeitgeist.

[Corgigal]

1. He also studied under

George Lakoff in California for linguistics. Brilliant on his part to reach out to him.

[Music Man]

5. Didn't realize that.

I've wondered if he was familiar with Lakoff's work, given Buttigieg's tack, and that makes perfect sense. I happened upon this NYT article, which describes that he corresponded with Lakoff in college, when he was obsessed with why Democrats continually lost arguments: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/14/us/politics/pete-buttigieg-2020-writing-message.html?fbclid=IwAR1QOKP_YmfISUnh6e6vPVmxmwikFl1oPzl3VLhwuHH72EwyLERnFpfz3uI

[proud patriot]

13. I didn't realize that

very cool

[Eyeball_Kid]

27. That's a big plus. The Dems are decades behind the GOP in this area.

Lakoff's been around for a long time. It appears that, in Dem establishment circles, Lakoff is way out in the left field bleachers. Perhaps that's why they aren't killing it with 60% of the vote.

[corbettkroehler]

36. Dr. Lakoff Is The Master, Period, End Of Discussion! (n/t)

[Cosmocat]

2. I tried to fight it

because there is so far to go, and so many good candidates, but was tired of fighting it and threw in with him.

You are spot on, he is saying what needs to said.

I really like EW, and KH is darn fine. Lot of other second tier types for this class who would have been good top line candidates in other years.

But, PB is the smartest candidate, and can go directly at conservatives in a way that pierces their armor unlike anyone else.

More broadly, he is taking on the whole system, and I trust would be able to not just rebuild, but strategically rebuild the federal government progressively.

[Larrybanal]

8. he is wonderful

and super intelligent and certainly knows how to say what he wants to say...but he is gay and america will not vote for a gay president (I am gay)...look at his poll numbers with black voters. american voters are not looking for smart (they elected the moron 45) and since trump has been president, americans are way less likely to vote for a gay person but I would love a warren/ buttigieg ticket

[Cosmocat]

15. probably accurate

But, he IS the answer, so that is who I am supporting out of the gates.

To go off of his thing about "socialism" the other day, Rs are going to spin endless shit against WHOEVER is our nominee.

I mean, they swiftboated Kerry, the made Al Gore out to be a lying elitist, made a decent and highly capable public servant into HILLARYDEVIL!!!!!

[Music Man]

19. If Buttigieg is nominated, I'd love a Buttigieg-Warren ticket.

But a Warren/Buttigieg ticket would be beyond my wildest dreams Smart, fighters, progressive bona fides yet a lot for middle America to identify with, inspiration meets details, Midwest plus the coast.

I feel like if Buttigieg does not receive the nomination, the nominee is unlikely to pick him as a VP. As smart and brilliant a communicator as Buttigieg is, I believe he's more valuable at the top of the ticket than the number two spot, because I'm not sure what need he fills as a VP that a Biden, Warren, or Harris don't have at the top of the ticket (other than youth). Not sure if I'm making sense. I guess I see him as more a figurehead and tone-setter than a second stringer.

[Qutzupalotl]

35. Likewise. One good position for Pete

(if he doesn’t get the nomination) is head of the DNC. Perez is good, but Pete would be better at framing and thus winning the public debate.

[CrispyQ]

3. It's about time someone on our side took framing seriously!

Although we're about 40 years behind the 8-ball. I'll never understand why the dems never hired George Lakoff.

Go Mayor Pete!

[Eyeball_Kid]

30. Neurolinguistic messaging, or framing as a skill was first taught by

hypnotherapist Milton Erickson. Bandler, Grinder, and other therapists took Erickson's ideas and expounded further. Erickson was said to remark that his methods could be used to manipulate others in counterproductive and abusive ways, and did not want his techniques to be popularized. It looks like the GOP consultants, however, had other ideas, and folks like Frank Luntz fine-tuned Republican messaging into a fine, dark art. GOP "framing" has been working for them, and the Dems have never had a firm counterframing agenda. They must or they won't survive.

[CrispyQ]

32. Luntz, the asshole who moved to Australia or New Zealand, claiming the GOP was too radicalized.

But yeah, the dems need to up their game & fast. You can't set policy if you don't win at politics.

[Cetacea]

44. Glad you posted this

I seem to recall Carlson saying that GOP studied this stuff as well as psycho-linguistics. And that was back in the 90s. They do seem to be one up on dems when it comes to TV. They seem to be very disciplined as a group, eg, "democrat" as adjective.

[MBS]

4. I agree.

Obviously (see below), I'm sold, but it's his thoughtful framing of the issues that really sold me. What's remarkable is that his POV seems to be deeply internalized, not just sprayed on by the latest meme or consultant. He's as impressive in spontaneous commentary as he is in speeches and formal interviews. Here's one bit that I noticed recently. He's standing in front of some sort of impromptu press scrum, I think after the recent Young Democrats (?) meeting in Indianapolis. For his take on Trump's racist rally, see especially at 1 minute 30 seconds, when he responds to questions on the rally (one of the best responses I've seen, especially given the fact that it's off the cuff), and again at 3 minutes 23 seconds
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=490768298337216

[BootinUp]

6. Still watching that but I want to stop and say

That he really is managing his campaign well, and appears to be the brains behind it. And I agree about framing , said as much just the other day.

[mountain grammy]

7. I'm still with Warren

but when Pete said the Reagan era ends now, he won a chunk of my heart. I've been waiting for that for years, even as I heard Nancy Pelosi quote Reagan just the other day, as she often does. Sure, Ronnie was pro immigration and said some good stuff, but so have Democrats by a longer shot. If she thinks she's winning reppublicans, she's not.

[not_the_one]

21. Pelosi quotes Reagan to appear "centrist", playing the political game

And we all know how "centrist" has been forced right on the political spectrum, for years, STARTING with Reagan...

We can't play it safe this time. There is too much riding on this election. No Guts, No Glory.

Besides, I think the outpouring of support for someone who shows guts would incredible.

[mountain grammy]

25. I think he and Warren would be a great team..

[Eyeball_Kid]

28. Am I being too critical, DU-style, if I say that it's a really BAD idea to snuggle up to Reagan?

Who's the audience she's trying to reach by saying pro-Reagan stuff? 90% of the GOP is licking the smelly parts of Trumpy's body in a highly divisive electorate. So she's trying to appeal to the independent voters who liked Reagan but have no place to go? Maybe. But Nancy, IMO, needs to be talking about the failures of Trumpy's agenda, and should be striking home with the notion that Trumpy abandoned his base for promising policy but only spending time marketing himself and giving them nothing. This should be pounded away, every day, every hour. Pelosi ought to assign two or three Dem reps to get in front of the cameras to tell the public about different aspects of Trumpy's agenda failures, such as the bread crumbs his base got from the massive tax giveaway to the oligarchs. What happened to all of the EPA/consumer protections under Trumpy? Why aren't Dem pols in front of the cameras giving examples of how Trumpy is railroading the environment? Hang "climate change" on the shelf for a few months. It's too abstract for the Neanderthal 3%, but they might listen when acid clouds threaten to suffocate people, or when they hear that Trumpy is killing billions of bees.

Instead of promoting Reagan's image for swishy Dems and independents, Nancy ought to be leading the charge against Trumpy in concrete, factual, yet dramatic ways. It has to be dramatic to take away Trumpy's thunder. Trumpy isn't the only person who can play that game, but Pelosi needs to get Dems who can match Trumpy in front of the cameras, at least until the Dem candidates take center stage. No one should be waiting for "the best time" to attack Trumpy. He's relentless, so should Dems. It must occur daily, or even several times a day.

No one seems to be attacking Trumpy. That ought to be going full-bore, right now. The WHOLE PARTY needs to do it, everywhere, all the time. There's SO MUCH MATERIAL. The news cycle is so rapid and Trumpy is a master at owning all of it. The Dems must take it away if they are to win. They start by attacking. All the time.

[radical noodle]

9. Agree

Obama's thing was bringing two sides together to work toward a greater goal. The GOP had no intention of working with Democratic leaders, and so Obama was unsuccessful in that. Pete has no illusions about what the Republicans are.

[Chipper Chat]

10. I would love to see him debate tRump.

[DesertRat]

24. Or Pence

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. We need a candidate who has

The framing issues speaking prowess of a great communicator like Buttigieg
The intelligence and actual platform issues thought out and detailed like Warren
The political experience of a Biden
The minority life experience and prosecutorial fight of a Harris
The chutzpah and no nonsense consistent idealism of a Sanders
And, I may get flamed for this, but the bravery and honesty of a Gabbard.

[Skya Rhen]

20. I hope to see this side of her in the upcoming debate...

Last edited Wed Jul 24, 2019, 12:40 AM - Edit history (1)

[NewJeffCT]

12. I'm not supporting him (or anybody else)

but, what I loved the other day was when he said that no matter who wins the Democratic nomination, they (the GOP) will label that person a socialist, so he might as well do the right thing.

he is 100% correct on that - it won't matter of Tim Ryan or Tulsi Gabbard on the right win the nomination, or Sanders or Warren on the left - the Republicans will label them socialists.

[EveHammond13]

14. author Michael Lux: "The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be"

strikes on some of these themes as well.

A comprehensive review of the Progressive DNA of America. And the GOP long-game plan, starting with Reagan, to tear it down.

[mountain grammy]

23. Sounds like a good read.. going on my list.

[Skittles]

16. THANK YOU for addressing him by his actual name

I am sooooo sick of that juvenile nickname for him

[wyldwolf]

17. He has a bright future, in this election or one to come

[Blue_Tires]

18. I'm not going to say "ever", but he is good...

[Music Man]

34. Fair enough!

The best in my lifetime, I mean. I'm not old enough to have seen, say, a JFK

[Blue Owl]

22. K&R

[Eyeball_Kid]

26. He'd make a good Senate Majority Leader or Speaker.

But won't gain enough high executive experience to be perceived as an upper tier candidate for prez in the next four years. IMO

[customerserviceguy]

29. I feel that

he is easier to listen to than a lot of people. He's frank, he doesn't dodge a question, and he's knowledgeable. He's got that rare quality of thinking before he answers a question, but he thinks so fast that it looks like it's coming from off the cuff. He's one of my favorites in this current race. I just hope he can get back on track with African-American voters who will not blame him for what happened in that shooting, but I fear that he may have lost them in the primaries.

[democrank]

31. Pete Buttigieg's ability to frame an issue is unmatched in the Democratic Party.

It seems he has already cut through the talking points babble before he speaks, so what comes out of his mouth is concise and crystal clear. He’s a big picture guy with a brilliant mind and an extremely effective way of getting to the core of the issue. Buttigieg is the most competent Democratic candidate to come along in a very long time. The brains of a Wes Clark, the compassionate understanding of a Bill Bradley and the dignity of a George Mitchell.

He has been at the top of my list for months and my respect for him grows every time I hear him speak.

[pattyloutwo]

33. Super interesting

Thanks for the post. I agree it’s critical that democrats improve their framing of the issues. I remember an interview with Dan Savage where he gave some great suggestions - instead of “entitlements” we call them “earned benefits.” Here’s another article on Lakoff and his ideas on framing.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2017/jul/20/the-power-of-framing-its-not-what-you-say-its-how-you-say-it

[corbettkroehler]

37. I Support Sanders But Concur With You

My guy has tighter rhetoric than in the 2016 cycle but needs more work.

[mvd]

41. Agreed. Bernie has details on his admirable plans..

But does need work explaining his policies in short sound bytes like the debates.

[corbettkroehler]

42. My Thought Exactly

I wrote a letter to that effect to Faiz. I didn't expect a reply but would like to know that my messages were received.

[mtnsnake]

38. This may be why Obama considered Buttigieg a potential top contender before most people heard of him

I think Mayor Pete is the most exciting candidate since Obama.

[MBS]

39. Agreed on both points! n/t

[William769]

40. Right now Pete has my vote.

[Generic Brad]

43. He is a rising star

Regardless of the primary season outcome, he has a promising political future.