Know the Stealth Neos: Frank Luntz

[blondeatlast]

Many DUers wonder why a few of us get so riled up at the use of “Democrat” as an adjective. Of course there are more important things to discuss and debate. But I care about my political party, I’ve invested time, money, and pride into it, and I don’t care to see it deliberately insulted. “Democrat” used as an adjective is indeed insulting. Its incorrect use to insult is not new, but with the advent of TV pundits and hate radio, it is now widespread.

It’s a great example of how Frank Luntz has influenced and perverted political debate.

This is the man who creates the talking points, polls them, discards the crappy ones and incessantly pushes the successful ones to the Right Wing Noise Machine. He’s young, ambitious, Karl Rove Junior, and possessed of an ego Donald Trump envies.

He also has a new book arriving in January and I guarantee (I have access to publicity details) that he will be hitting the talking heads shows--and he WON'T be talking much about the book. The book is just a way to get him on the tube yet again (and pad the NYT and Publisher's Weekly bestseller lists, many of you have read my explanation of how this is done).

Among his contributions to the political disaster that has been Neo:

The Contract On (er, I mean WITH) America

Pay for water? You betcha, and Mr. Luntz is the party responsible. From Source Watch:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=SourceWatch

In March 2004, Grist magazine reported on an emphatic Luntz memo (PDF) sent out in February 2004 discussing Americans' intense feelings on the subject of water: "Young and old, Democrat AND Republican, the demand for clean water is universal. More importantly, the public is willing to pay for it . An overwhelming majority of Americans - 91 percent - agree that 'if, as a country, we are willing to invest BILLIONS of dollars annually in highways and airways, we certainly should be willing to make the necessary investments in our nation's waterways. '" (The italic and bold flourishes are Luntz Research's own.)

9/11 changed everything; we must fight them there so we don’t… (ad nauseum)—yep, that’s from Mr. Luntz
Dictated the linking of “preemption, 9/11, (and) war on terror” with any RW speech about the US involvement in Iraq. The disturbingly cold document is linked here (again from SourceWatch): http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/2/2f/Luntz.pdf

This is his company (amusingly swallowed up by a bigger one in 2005)
http://www.luntz.com/Docs/OmnicomGroupPR071205.pdf

PBS Frontline: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/interviews/luntz.html


In honor of Mr. Luntz, I am hereby dropping the Con from Neo***.

[Shakespeare]

1. I just read a few days ago that that fucker made his editors go back through...

...the draft of his upcoming book and un-correct every instance of "democrat" (where it should be "democratic") that they had fixed. What a fucking asshole.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Oh, him . . . . the "consultant":

http://www.luntz.com/

[omega minimo]

3. Why drop the "con"? He's a CON Artist.

And it's been a real shame watching some Democrats embrace the same dirty tricks and "framing" techniques that Luntz has devoloped, from the bullshit compost pile of the Wise Use Movement.


Privatized water?

Pay for water? You betcha, and Mr. Luntz is the party responsible. From Source Watch:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=SourceWatch
In March 2004, Grist magazine reported on an emphatic Luntz memo (PDF) sent out in February 2004 discussing Americans' intense feelings on the subject of water: "Young and old, Democrat AND Republican, the demand for clean water is universal. More importantly, the public is willing to pay for it . An overwhelming majority of Americans - 91 percent - agree that 'if, as a country, we are willing to invest BILLIONS of dollars annually in highways and airways, we certainly should be willing to make the necessary investments in our nation's waterways. '" (The italic and bold flourishes are Luntz Research's own.)


If "an overwhelming majority of Americans - 91 percent - agree that 'if, as a country, we are willing to invest BILLIONS of dollars annually in highways and airways" by paying for infrastructure via government and The Commons, "we certainly should be willing to make the necessary investments in our nation's waterways'" means public funds for public projects NOT PRIVATIZATION. :puke:


=============

RE: "Democrat" used incorrectly. It IS an insult, it is an ignorant, arrogant, bully tactic-- sounding crude and ignorant on purpose, putting the Democrat in the no-win situation of pointing it out, or not. It's a big "Fuck you you don't like it Whaddayagonnadoaboudit?" and a "Nya nya nya NYAH nya." Slimy schoolyard chickenshit macho bully crap.

[blondeatlast]

4. Yeah, you can bet Luntz has the nation's best interest at heart.

He always does, :sarcasm:

[Strelnikov_]

5. Luntz And Boehner Apparently Do Not 'Get Along'

Probably over money, since that is really all they care about.

http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=129

When John Boehner (R-Ohio) was installed as House Majority Leader in February, Luntz took a powder ... sort of. According to Roll Call, Luntz, who has had disagreements with Boehner, sent an e-mail to the staff of his Alexandria, VA-based Luntz Research Companies, with the subject line "Where We Stand." The e-mail, sent after Luntz was excluded from a GOP House retreat, began: "By now, you are all probably aware that House Republicans have a new Majority Leader and he is not a fan of myself or my work. That's just the way it is."

Claiming that Boehner has "not always been an effective communicator" Luntz continued, "We have a long history that has not been pleasant. ... For 10 years, even though he was Conference Chair and a Committee Chair, I have actually had the upper hand. But now that he's in charge, I guess it's payback time." "I reached out to about 40 Members over the past two days. Of those that got the message, over 30 called me back, and every one of them was supportive. Think about that for a moment. ... We have more fans in Congress than any ‘outsider,'" he said in the e-mail, He also pointed out that he had been invited to speak to an upcoming GOP Conference.

Luntz's e-mail ended with: "I am not happy at all about the situation, but this is what politics is all about. When Lott lost his job, so did dozens of people. But after a few months, we found a way to integrate ourselves with Frist , and I will find some way to work through this challenge. Those of you who like the Congressional work will still be able to hone your skills. We just won't have the immediately impact we once had. We'll have to work a little harder and be a little smarter.”

"This is a good lesson. I just wish I didn't have to learn it now."