Tracking the influence of Frank Luntz’s obstructionist health care memo.
Tracking the influence of Frank Luntz’s obstructionist health care memo.
In early May, conservative word guru Frank Luntz authored a messaging memo defining the Republican rhetoric on health care reform. In order to obstruct reform, Luntz offered a set of poll-tested words that he said “should be used by everyone.” Some of those words were “rationing,” “doctor-patient,” “takeover” and “bureaucrats.” Using the Capitol Words search engine, the Sunlight Foundation’s Paul Blumenthal has found that Republicans are following Luntz’s advice:
Over the past month, as the health care debate has really gotten off the ground, the use of these words in the Congressional Record has skyrocketed. See the numbers below:
“Rationing” goes from 18 uses in May to 90 uses in June. This marks the highest level of use for the word “rationing” in the Capitol Words database.
“Doctor-patient” goes from 6 uses in May to 20 in June. This marks the highest level of use for the word “doctor-patient” in the Capitol Words database.
“Takeover” goes from 13 uses in May to 106 in June. This marks the highest level of use for the word “takeover” in the Capitol Words database.
“Bureaucrats” goes from 53 uses in May to 78 uses in June. This marks the highest level of use for the word “bureaucrats” in the Capitol Words database.
Watch a compilation put of GOP lawmakers mimicking Luntz’ “doctor-patient” rhetoric:
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Curiously, “Obstruction”, ”Obstination” and “Obfuscation” were not highlighted in the Memo.
http://axisofreason.com/2009/07/16/republicans-real-health-reform-strategy/
July 16th, 2009 at 7:06 pmEvery time we see or hear someone using Luntz-speak, we need to push back hard, and call them out for being so easily led around by the nose.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:07 pmDo the republicans ever feel guilty about insulting the intelligence of average Americans ?
July 16th, 2009 at 7:11 pmZooey@2, Good advice. But everytime I watch MSM, I see right-wings hacks scaring the bejesus out of everyone with ‘Socialism’. Quite depresiing.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:12 pmFrank Luntz is the guy who said if you ask ten questions in a poll and you don’t like the answers to two of them, just treat it like a lawyer and only use the other eight. He is a biased, conservative, Republican pollster, and a master at manipulating language. He helped Newt Gingrich come up with the list of words to use when talking about your political opponents (like “sick” and “pathetic”.) And he knows how to frame questions to get the results you want.
Luntz dioes not believe in using rational, thoughtful arguments. He believes in getting people to react emotionally, so they won’t think.
Frank Luntz is, literally, the enemy of the thinking person.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:12 pmThe fact that the AMA endorsed the House health care reform plan should help further dispel Luntz’ sham GOP talking point about “protecting the doctor-patient relationship.”
July 16th, 2009 at 7:15 pmWell, they did get their talking points memo, the “Hive Mind” is just that way.
Doesn’t matter to them that they are lying…it’s what immoral, unethical cretins do.
Fcuk the Republic Fascist Party
July 16th, 2009 at 7:16 pmEvery time the Luntzites spout their evil little pack of code words they should be answered with a few of our own, such as
Death, as in the number of Americans who die every year from inadequate health care or no health care.
Profit motive, as in what has helped drive health care costs higher.
40% as in what is currently considered the amount of money might be able to save with a single payer plan.
50th, as in the United States ranks 50th out of 224 nations in life expectancy
I’m sure there are others, but you get the idea.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:19 pmEvery time they parrot the talking points, someone should ask them why they are willing for kids and old people to die for their commitment to ‘free enterprise.’
Ask them why they are willing to ignore the wishes of their constituents regarding a public option?
Ask them why they prefer rationing by insurance companies? And why they think insurance company bureaucrats are better able to ration care than ‘government bureaucrats”?
July 16th, 2009 at 7:22 pmThese buzz words can be neutralized by ads showing the Republicans who use these words and the money they have received from lobbyists for the insurance companies. The words to be used: Dishonest, uncaring, and in the hip pocket of insurance companies.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:31 pmafter reading what everyone has to say here – we are just ordinary folks (political junkies to be sure, but everyday folks) and we get it, most folks get it because they live it every day. I think they see thru these lies. Kinda gives me hope
July 16th, 2009 at 7:34 pmPowkat@11, You are right, but people in my own family couldn’t give a sh*t about politics. In fact, they blame Obama for everything. When I remind them he has been in office a couple of months and Georgie Boy presided over this disaster for 8 years, they turn a deaf ear. Americans have the attention span of gnats.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:42 pmThe GOPers wasted their money on Luntz because his lunatic speak is not working. So many people want a public healthcare option that the GOPers are being tuned out.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:59 pmThis is the proper way to respond to Frank Luntz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&v=If9EWDB_zK4
F’ U’ Frank Luntz.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:03 pmOT — But worth the gossip factor
Apparently the C-Street House/church for Repugniscum in D.C. was also the site of trysts on occasion.
Former Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS) and erstwhile C Street resident turned down Trent Lott’s old Senate seat so he could be with his mistress, according to the lawsuit filed by his estranged wife this week.
Trent Lott resigned in 2007, and Gov. Haley Barbour offered Rep. Pickering the seat. But the congressman turned it down after his girlfriend, Elizabeth Creekmore-Byrd, “insisted” that their relationship could not continue if he accepted the seat, as he would have to stay married for public appearances.
According to investigation disclosed on Rachel Maddow’s show, the C-Street House was named. The house seems to be a safe haven for those engaged in certain activities, as strict secrecy is required.
To make matters worse, apparently the residents/members of C-Street hold themselves above the rest of us mortals — they believe morals and ethics are “secular” matters and don’t apply to them!! This, as they preach morals, fidelity and family values.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:47 pmBack on topic — Frank Luntz is a whore.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:49 pmThere is no other explanation for this poor excuse for a human being. He is paid to spin and spin he does. He does not shy from admitting it either.
The question in my mind is since everyone knows he is a shill and a shyster, why does anyone believe what he says?
Over 70 percent believe we need a public plan with reform.If the gov`t runs things so $hitty why is the H.C. industry spending millions a day in lobbying?
Why have other country`s based their H.C. on our V.A. and our Medicare/Medicaid?
Why do over 18,000 people a year die in this country from lack of health care?
Why has H.C. cost gone up so much in the last ten years?
I like Dennis Kucinich`s state version and then move on to a National version just like Canada, start small end big.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:21 amBy the modern American Right’s logic the U.S Postal Service, public transportation, and the fire department should be and privately probably are derided as ‘Socialist.’
July 17th, 2009 at 3:42 amI had one of those conservative hacks spewing their fabricated polls at my place of work today. He said that cancer deaths were over 40 percent more common under Canada’s system than under that of the U.S. I asked that he show me this poll. When he pulled up the website from which he quoted this statistic, I wasn’t surprised to see that it was from Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:49 amConservatives can’t help but spew Rightist blather from their chosen authorities. Anything less is part of the “creeping” socialist conspiracy.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:50 amWhat we REALLY do not need is all of you telling us to support a BROKEN SYSTEM that you get for FREE !
GET RID OF EMPLOYER BASED HEALTHCARE !!!
July 17th, 2009 at 7:24 amMy American Friends,
I can tell you that our Canadian Health System WORKS!!
Do not believe the lies and half truths.
WE CANADIANS WOULD RIOT IN THE STREETS IF SOMEONE WANTED A US SYSTEM.
Any new system your government wants to impose just ask these couple of questions,…..
1. Will I have to pay co pays and deductables??? if yes…scam
2. Can I go bankrupt from this new system???? if you…scam
3. Is my policy portable and do I require to have a job for insurance coverage????? if not portable- scam and job to maintain coverage ?? if answer is yes…SCAM.
IF YOUR GOVERNMENT CANT ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ….IT’S ANOTHER SCAM PROVIDED BY YOUR FRIENDS IN GOVERNMENT AND INSURANCE INDUSTRIES.
Have a nice fu**en day….and stop the propaganda on TV about our system.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:13 pmSesli Sohbet
July 18th, 2009 at 5:44 amSesli Chat
Chat
Sohbet
Diyet
Makyaj
Güzellik
Egzersiz
NOLIESPLEASE says:
——————————————————————————–
My American Friends,
I can tell you that our Canadian Health System WORKS!!
Do not believe the lies and half truths.
WE CANADIANS WOULD RIOT IN THE STREETS IF SOMEONE WANTED A US SYSTEM.
**************************
But we Americans with good health insurance would riot if we had to wait in your damn long socialist queues!!!!!
BUT YOU RATION YOUR CARE! PRIVATE INSURANCE WE DON”T WAIT IN LONG QUEUES!!!!!!!!
July 18th, 2009 at 9:08 pm