Framing the message - we've got to get better at it.

[Ms. Toad]

Although we are clearly the winner with the truth (Betrayus v. Petraius), it appears to me that we lost the framing the message battle. Unfortunately, in this sound-bite world, the message delivered may be all that counts.

Americans have been calling for withdrawal from Iraq, with a timetable.

Petraius carefully crafted a messages that the media can (and is) reporting provides a timetable for withdrawal.

Never mind the reality that the surge was intended to be a temporary increase in troops.
Never mind the reality that the timetable proposed only does what would naturally occur at the end of the surge.
Never mind the reality that all Petraius really recommended was that the troops be drawn down by next summer to the level before the surge.
Never mind the reality is that the recommendation is still the same old Bush plan.

Despite the fact that the recommendation does not change Bush's strategy one iota, Republicans who might otherwise have responded to their constitutents' demands to withdraw from Iraq can now point to their support for a timetable for withdrawal (of the added troops Bush sent to Iraq after the American public clearly voted for a draw down of the troops already there.)

On the other hand, our message (Betrayus) is truthful, but was delivered in a manner that makes it more difficult for the convinceable republicans to do anything other than defend someone they believe/hope has integrity.

Regardless of the truth of the message, Bush has learned (or his handlers have) that unpopular "truths" can be said in ways that make it easier to accept/defend, rather than harder. We seriously need to get better at it. I am not suggesting changing the message - just that to be effective we need to be smarter about how we frame it.

[yurbud]

1. Could you give a clear, forceful message if you are trying to please a rape victim AND her rapist?

That is essentially what Democrats are trying to do when they try to please corporate America and progressives, or any people who care about more than cultural issues.

[porphyrian]

4. It's time to choose either the rape victim or the rapist to please, then.

And there is already another party with an established record of pleasing the rapist, so the decision should be a no-brainer.

[Ms. Toad]

6. Not trying to please a rape victim AND her rapist

I'm trying to convince the jury.

In this case, a frame that would be more palatable to the jury is the Petraius recommendation is only a recommendation to return to the status quo that Americans found unacceptable last November. The status was made worse by the surge, and the recommendation is ONLY a recommendation to return from worse than unacceptable to merely unacceptable.

We don't need to portray the messenger (Petraius) as evil in order to get across that critical point - and to the extent we can avoid doing so the message will be easier for the jury - some of whom have respect for the messenger - to swallow.

On the other hand, if we want to keep losing jury trials despite the fact that people really are being raped - carry on.

[yurbud]

9. in the case of Iraq, even most critical Dems pull their punches to avoid hitting big oil

[msongs]

2. dear democratIC party - it is an OCCUPATION, not a war nt

[State the Obvious]

3. Even Bin Laden has a "media unit"...

Couldn't the Democrats hire some "regular people" to report what Republican messages are being spun and what the general public is seeing and hearing. Too easy? Fear of a cohesive strategy? What?

[Jim__]

5. The Dems can still frame this.

Another promise that things will change after another Friedman Unit is unacceptable. The Dems can frame that if they want. I'm betting they give bush his money with very little fuss.

The problem may not be framing, but intention.

[Ms. Toad]

7. I'm not counting on the Dems in Congress

to frame it. From what I've seen recently, they are mostly incompetent at it.

What I hope is that if we (on the outside) get better at framing they will have little choice but to follow.

[OHdem10]

8. When Gop calls Dems --Cut and Run.

why can someone not say. GOP plans to keep us at war for years.

Saying this over and over and evetyone saying it ---will force
the Gop to either set a timetable or admit we are there for
next 10 years.