Leonard Pitts: That dirty word 'liberal'

[babylonsister]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/09/93561/commentary-that-dirty-word-liberal.html

Commentary: That dirty word 'liberal'
By Leonard Pitts Jr. | The Miami Herald

snip//

As reported by Media Matters, the liberal media watchdog group, that conservative magazine recently sent an e-mail to subscribers, begging for $26,000 to cover a "shortfall created by the perverse incentives of the liberal agenda." The note never bothered to explain what perverse incentives it meant, so I asked publisher Alfred Regnery, who wrote it. He told me the price he pays for paper is about to rise to cover increased labor, health care and tax costs anticipated under the liberal gang now running Washington.

snip//

Conservative pols and pundits have done an astonishing job of rendering that word a synonym for a kind of birth defect that leaves one effete and nonsensical, even as they made "conservative" interchangeable with the healthy patriotism of the common folk. If you didn't know better, you'd never know liberals fought to end segregation and child labor — or that conservatives opposed them.

snip//

The byproduct is also evident in American political discourse, which increasingly takes place in alternate realities, spewing forth great clouds of words that say nothing. But if these are hard times for independent thinkers and political discourse, they are boom times for politicians, pundits -- and publishers -- who have mastered the simple-minded Pavlovian politi-speak of the day: conservative, good; liberal, evil. It's telling that even liberals don't use the word liberal any more.

It's also telling that American Spectator felt no need to mount even a dubious argument about paper prices in asking readers for $26,000; it was sufficient to say the magazine was under siege from -- ugh -- liberals.

And I have no doubt the readers will come through. One is reminded of Pavlov's poor dog, salivating helplessly whenever the bell was rung. Though I suppose the comparison is unfair in a way.

After all, dogs can't reason.

[Festivito]

1. Liberal shares root with the word liberty. Yet, liberals hate freedom?!

When I mentioned the word liberty, that ended that persons use of that right-wing tripe meme of liberals hating freedom. They just went on to other hateful talking points.

[roseBudd]

2. I never us the word conservative, I call the pigs what they are Republicans

[Heathen57]

3. Damn right I'm a Liberal, and proud of it!

I've been making a point of taking the word back from the Right wing-nuts, the Teabaggers, and any who try and make it into something bad.

I catch the family complaining about liberals, and I remind them of all the things they would be without if the liberals hadn't fought to get the programs in place. And since the majority are on SS, I bring it home to them real quick.

I'm sorry, (actually, I'm not sorry, damnit) but the US would be about the same as the Middle East countries the Rethugs hate so much if it weren't for the Liberals.

So in the words of that shotgun toting, heartless wonder, Dick said, "Go Cheney yourself!"

[ca3799]

4. Retire "Liberal". Use "Progressive"

Retire "Liberal". Use "Progressive".

George Lakoff also points out how the word 'liberal' has been purposely framed and tainted by the right since the 60's. Examples include "Hollywood liberal", "tax and spend liberal", "East coast liberal elite".

When conservatives get to frame the discussion, they are more likely to win because their ideological opponents are left to react to political buzz words instead of describing their ideas.

We fall for this tactic repeatedly.

Lakoff recommends retiring the word "liberal" from your vocabulary, and replacing it with "progressive".

Words matter is the sound-bite news age.

[The Wizard]

5. Wrong

Use liberal as often as possible in a positive frame. Running away from yourself and changing the words doesn't stop the owners of the mass media from attacking the language you choose to identify yourself. Attack conservatives/republicans for their failed policies and kick them when they're down.
I'm a liberal Democrat and hide from no Republican.

[ca3799]

6. No,

You can't get to the policy arguments if you get sidelined defending your label in the two or three minutes of airtime you get.

All you need is one Conservative tainting your argument by pointing a finger at you and crying "liberal elitist" and you have lost. Your audience is also now lost in conservative emotional buzzwords and does not hear your words at all.

Change your label and take control. Don't continue to let them control the conversation.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Then that conservative needs to held accountable to the American People for his/her actions.

If you try to run from a label which has been defined by your enemy or opponent, you will always be running.

I don't have anything against the word "Progressive" but if you call your self that just to avoid the word liberal, it won't be long before your opponents bring that to light and then where will you retreat to?

You take the fight to them by defining what "Conservative" has become, expose it for what it is, the Republicans have certainly given us plenty of ammunition.

[Uncle Joe]

7. I believe Leonard nailed it, I also believe that Pavlovian analogy should be presented to the

American People on a consistent basis to aid in either waking them up or preventing them from falling in to the deep sleep trap of critical thinking killing mass brain washing; which is so pervasive in our society.

Thanks for the thread, babylonsister.:thumbsup:

[cornermouse]

8. Earlier post today by same poster.

In the interest of context and perspective just pointing out what is clearly inconsistency and contradiction in case you missed it.

The liberal case against Kagan is overstated
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=293068&mesg_id=293068