Don't feed the meme: "Moral Values" is code . .

[msmcghee]

. . for "let's imprison homos and criminalize abortion".

Every headline and commentator who uses those insipid words is just one of Karl Rove's boots grinding into your face.

Call your radio station, send a LTE, adamantly correct anyone in person who has the audacity to use it in front of you. There's nothing moral about those values and when they use them to describe the motivations of voters who elected Bush - they are perpetrating further violence against you and me. They are creating a new reality that will become the conventional wisdom for 2006 and 2008. Don't let them do it.

The media are going along with the same framing strategy that they have played into ever since Gingrich invented such a great way to marginalize any voter or politician who wasn't sufficiently biggoted for his ends.

I know this won't do much good - but we should at least be aware of how we're being screwed.

[Stephanie]

1. BIGOTRY IS NOT A "VALUE"

.

[KittyWampus]

Bigortry Is Most CERTAINLY A Value- A Negative, Divisive One

[Stephanie]

8. Okay, then BIGOTRY IS NOT "MORAL"

How's that?

[KittyWampus]

24. Well, Bigotry Isn't Moral According To MOST Spiritual Traditions

though it seems Religous dogma and those who slave under it hypocritically endorse such things.

[ClassWarrior]

2. Amen Ms!

Everyone needs to read "Don't Think of an Elephant" by George Lakoff. We need to re-frame the debate.

NGU.

[pelagius]

9. Lakoff Kick!

Must reading.

"Don't Think of An Elephant" is an excellent introduction. "Moral Politics" goes into more depth.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-0060435-5383136

[ewagner]

3. They always speak in code

It's like some kind of secret handshake....

remember during the second debate, Dubya spoke of the Dred Scott decision, which was pure fundamentalist code for "overturn Roe v. Wade. We need to call them out on the use of code everytime they use it.

[ClassWarrior]

18. It sounds like code because we don't share their worldview.

Read Lakoff. He explains it much better than I could in a post.

NGU.

[ewagner]

19. Thanks for the advice n/t

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. "Moral Values"

In truth, it encompasses far more than just those two things. Dark things we once thought we had put away forever.

The troubles come.

[wtmusic]

5. Don't let them co-opt that phrase just like they did the flag..

moral values are a good thing.

We need to ask what defines morality. Is is invading a sovereign nation without cause? Is it denying basic human rights based on sexual preference? Is it denying freedom of speech?

[msmcghee]

12. Yeah, we can help a little . .

. . but we're up against a big well-financed Rovian operation that comes to work every day with the goal of spreading the memes that will guarantee their iron lock on political power for the foreseeable future.

Do you think any dems in the leadership have taken Lakoff's book to heart and are doing someting about it?

I hope so. But I haven't heard any dem interviews in the last day or two where they even seem to know that this is happening to us - much less a well-designed counter meme to oppose it.

[wtmusic]

15. The talk is conciliatory

and it should be, in the short term. No one likes the taste of sour grapes.

We just got beat. We have discovered there is no way via communication to drill into the right's consciousness the coming evils--they will have to learn the hard way, through experience.

A post yesterday urged an international boycott on American products, and I would like to see this take off. It would spread in a non-violent yet effective way the idea that yes, we do in fact need international support.

[democratreformed]

6. My reaction.

I am so proud that the American people have clearly shown that, while their government is exempt from ethical and moral values, we are indeed united behind upholding our ability to tell every citizen of this great country how to live their lives. (sarcasm off)

After reflection for the last 24 hours, this is what I have decided. I was too wimpy. I let them fear me into keeping my mouth shut. No longer will I whisper my dissent while looking around me frantically to see who might overhear. They wanna come after me for being American and voicing my opinion? Let them come. After there are enough of us, we can no longer be ignored. And the very first person who suggests that I am unpatriotic or un-American for disagreeing with death and destruction can kiss my ass. I WILL NOT play their game any longer.

They wanna talk about Christian values? Well, one of the ten commandments says "Thou shalt not kill".

That's all I'm gonna say for now. Considering that this board was infiltrated by the enemy, I will no longer openly discuss ideas or strategy publicly on this board.

[Rose Siding]

7. That's one of two important lies that must be combatted

The other is the whole idea of a Bush mandate. A 3% margin in the electorate, with tens of millions not voting, doesn't place us anywhere near mars.

If loud mouthed liberals are good for anything, surely we can get the word out on these two myths.

[sui generis]

10. behind you, 100%

"family values" means hate anyone who isn't legally married and has 2.5 human children.

"moral values" means hate anyone who isn't exactly like you.

the next time you hear someone use the word "values" in a sentence, ask them to define what a value is for you. It's quite okay if they use the word "moral" in the definition.

Then ask them why they think their values are better than your values. Ask them to tell you what they think your values are, and why your values are bad.

Finally. The bible has 10 commandments, clearly spelled out. Ask them where their values are clearly spelled out, particularly when it comes to homosexuality. Where are they written down? Why aren't we stoning gays and people who eat pork and shrimp and pregnant women who've been raped because of their own fault?

Why do they think that only half of America gets to tell the other half of America what they can and can't do with their bodies and their daily lives?

The other term we need to erase IMMEDIATELY is "mandate". There is no mandate here, and don't ever let anyone tell you differently.

[SeanQ]

11. Great point! I'll stay watchful!

:kick:

[sldavis]

13. I'm sick of it

Like you, I'm sick of being told that the conservatives are winning because of moral values, when the majority of what I see from them is hatred, fear, and repression. I just don't get it! Whose moral values are those? I certainly don't share them. And neither do most Americans, or so I thought. But when the message of conservative = moral/family/traditional values is parroted throughout the news media, its going to take some serious work on the part of the democrats to challenge it.

[allemand]

14. But criticizing "moral values" would be wrong.

You have to redefine it instead, so that it is no longer a code for "imprisoning homos and criminalizing abortion".

[74dodgedart]

16. The use of the term "Moral Values" is an attempt to frame the discussion

Voting for Kerry does mean you lack "Moral Values" it just means your "Moral Values" are different than Bush's.

"Moral Values" is a code phrase, like "Death Tax" and "Pro-life".

[DBoon]

17. Gays are the Jews of the new Nazis

"We are all gay"

[Lorien]

20. It's the media's strawman. The issue was FEAR

look at Rove's ads and don't be sold the media spin!

[ClassWarrior]

21. But it's not about "issues" - fear or otherwise...

...it's about people's identities, and how we can speak to those identities. We need to realize that people don't vote on "issues" anymore, nor do they vote their economic self-interest. They vote for someone with whom they can identify. Read Lakoff.

NGU.

[Lorien]

25. Fear works every time

Read about the rise of the third Reich. Read Orwell. Most of the people I know who voted for this monster didn't "identify" with him-they were cowardly bed wetters who felt that by starting wars overseas, * had sucked all the terrorists away from our shores.

[msmcghee]

23. I think fear was the . .

. . psychological factor that caused millions of otherwise sensible people who were not either committed liberals or conservatives - to shift to conservative side, psychologically.

After 9/11 they suddenly felt safer by embracing leadership that seemed certain and did not see the world in ambiguous terms.

Rove knew on 9/12 that victory belonged to him for the foreseeable future. He used that awareness very skillfully to frame the debate in terms of the dark fearful world of terrorism vs. Bush's clear certain "moral" opposition.

[Snellius]

22. Code for "Conquer the heathen and make them holy."

Abortion and gay marriage is just their smoke screen.

[nonconformist]

26. Excellent idea.

It's the same idea of making a point to say "anti-choice" in favor of "pro-life" because it's the accurate description. The far right fundies love to label their causes and ideas with warm comfy sounding mantras - but they're NOT and we need to stop parroting them.

So, much like "pro-life" is "anti-choice" (which needs to be used more by the way, even DU'ers say "pro-life" sometimes), we should call "moral values" what they are depending on the subject at hand:

'Bigoted Ideology'
'Racist Ideaology'
'Theocratic Aspirations' - my favorite
'Fascist Support'
'Blood-Thirsty Goals'

I bet others can think of more.

Replace any of the above in any articles you see mentioning 'Moral Values' as the reason for Bush support and it becomes far more accurate.

I have morals. Morals are what I live my life by. Bush supporters, you have no morals.

[msmcghee]

27. Good points.

How about we speak of the "Hate Values" of the right whenever we can?

[emma_wonders]

28. I'm Bitter.

This thread has absolutely hit on one of my hugest rants about the Repfreakans..
I am a very moral person and I don't need to abide by their own versions. I am watching the Bush speech right now and just heard him say "If you chose not to worship-you're not less of a patriot....I don't think you should read into the politics that says that America is divided b/c of religion..."
People are asking him direct questions about the entire faith aspect of this politic campaign..and I hope that the press gets tougher and tougher on the Christian Taliban movement in our country. OUR country.
I agree completely with using those labels nonconformist...
The only problems is we look 'negative' (LOLLLL) if we use those- but I will gladly start using some of those.

I am so damned bitter. Bitter. Bitter Bitter. I'm depressed!!!
I HATE HIM! I HATE BUSH!

THANKS,
I need to get a punching bag now...

[74dodgedart]

30. Use "Fundamentalist Values"

Replace "Moral Values" with "Fundamentalist Values" or "Fundamentalist
Ideology".

[DemMother]

29. Absolutely! I've been writing to everyone who uses the phrase "center

right values."

The republicans have hijacked the term moral values. They are redefining values as bigotry, hatred, greed and selfishness. They won this election by appealing to people's worst natures not their best. Homophobia was a key to their victory.

[oscar111]

31. "Bigot Values" include racism too

Our alternative term for "moral values " has to be short, and the alternates offered so far are a bit long.

Long terms just dont stick in the mind.

I am convinced the white backlash against ethnics is continuing, just not a poll question... thus we tend not to think about it. The "framing" of poltical analysis thought has excluded racism.

"Moral Values" probably is chosen as an answer to polls by racists as their reason for proBushism.
Racial Purity, to them, seems like a moral value.

Purity has a moral "feel" to it.

Bigot Values as a term, would cover antiGay and Racism. I think Racism is a far bigger factor than antiGay or abortion.

We can nix racism by:
... geting all antiracism studies together on one fact sheet.
... offering a plan for Jobs for All, ending the fear of ethnics grabbing jobs from rednecks.

http://www.njfac.org

Clinton's sec of labor, rbt Reich, advises the site.
...offering a fed guarantee of house value, ending fear of blockbusting crashing the value of one's house.