Wall St Consultant Frank Luntz Pens Memo On How To Channel Economic Anxiety Into Protecting Wall St Abuses
Wall St Consultant Frank Luntz Pens Memo On How To Channel Economic Anxiety Into Protecting Wall St Abuses
Frank Luntz
The new memo instructs opponents of financial reform to simply lie about reform legislation, and to twist economic anxiety resulting from the recession into fear of any government effort to fix the underlying cause of the financial crisis. The most dishonest argument is that financial reform would “punish” taxpayers while rewarding “big banks and credit card companies.” In reality, top financial industry lobbyists are not only fighting proposed oversight regulations, but have said recently that they are opposed to “any regulation” at all.
Luntz, ever the publicity hound, leaks his memos out to the media to claim credit for the Republican charge against reforming Wall Street. While he is certainly a driving force behind much of the GOP misinformation, a closer look at his client list reveals that he is in fact being paid by the finance industry:
– Luntz client Ameriquest Mortgages: The proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) would eliminate predatory mortgages. Ameriquest, America’s “sub-prime leader,” has been prosecuted by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal for inflating property values so borrowers could get bigger loans, imposing upfront fees without reducing interest rates as promised, and intentionally deceiving lenders with hidden penalties and interest rates on final loan documents.
– Luntz clients Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns: Under proposed financial reform, big banks, like Luntz clients Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns, would face a new structure designed to police financial products, prohibit predatory ones, and require clear forms and disclosures. The CFPA would also help regulate hidden bank fees and other bank abuses.
– Luntz client American Express: The CFPA would regulate the credit card industry, preventing predatory interest rates and fees.
Nearly every attack recommended by Luntz is not grounded in reality. For instance, he calls for opponents of reform to label a CFPA head an “unaccountable” “czar.” But the legislation clearly states that the CFPA’s Director would be appointed by the President, and then confirmed by the Senate. Luntz also charges that reform advocates are behind “lobbyist loopholes” in the bill. However, the most controversial loophole was inserted by Rep. John Campbell (R-CA), whose amendment allows an exemption for auto dealers. Of course, Campbell still tried to kill financial reform once it arrived on the House floor.
Confusing the public is the point of Luntz’s work. In an interview explaining his smears against health reform, Luntz told the New York Times last year that it did not matter what the actual policy offered — he would still call it a “Washington takeover.”
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Wow. Getting paid huge bucks advising corporations and pols to lie to the American people.
That’s the essence of Republican conservatism.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:59 pmFrank Luntz + nearly unlimited corporate financing of campaigns against the politicians seeking to regulate said corporations = no actionable reform. Ever.
Luntz is extremely good at what he does; being a souless, malicious liar who’s sole purpose in life is to obfuscate, deny, corrupt, deceive and instill a sense of overwhelming fear into the public takes a great deal of innate skill.
I’m surprised he hasn’t started a consulting firm with Frank Gaffney.
Just imagine: Luntz instilling fear and paranoia through ceaseless corporate-funded ads about an imminent oil shortage or creating a whisper campaign about the “threat” of Iranians infiltrating our government…and Gaffney beats the war-drums for a tactical neutron bomb strike against Iran. Kill everyone in sight, leave the precious oil refineries intact. And all without a single American death! USA! USA! USA!
February 1st, 2010 at 3:59 pmcaption…
“Mommy, can I go to the mall with Dick and George?
February 1st, 2010 at 4:02 pmLuntz is a media pimp.
Repubs are his ‘Ho’s.
Trolls drive the Limo.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:04 pmsheesh,
some say ashley dupre was good…
how could they overlook mr. luntz.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:05 pmLuntz has released a new memo…which lays out the arguments and language Republicans should use to kill financial reform.
– - A review: “In his new book, What Americans Really Want…Really, Luntz dreams of a new era of “familial responsibility,” noting that “the family is the perfectly scaled security net for every human being.” If this doesn’t warm the heart of every “Leave It to Beaver”-nostalgic, Palin-crazed conservative out there, I don’t know what would.
But, like so many of Luntz’s assertions and interpretations, this prescription has less to do with the unvarnished views of the American public than with the ideological preferences of the author. I have little doubt that Luntz has come to believe that he has got the inside scoop on the American soul. But after reading his book, I am mostly convinced that Luntz continues to aggressively conflate what Americans really want with what he really wants them to want.”
February 1st, 2010 at 4:07 pmWow. Imagine being so hungry for publicity that one would actually leak memos advising others to lie — just to call attention to oneself. But I guess Luntz has nothing to fear — Fox News already demonstrated that lying is a protected right.
What amazes me is that even though these turds lie and admit they lie, the trolls still accept their word as gospel and will defend it with every post. What’s in it for them? It’s got to be something more than just a nickel a post.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:08 pmGads, he looks like a slightly grown-up Beaver – can I holler at him?
February 1st, 2010 at 4:08 pmWho dresses this evil dweeb?
February 1st, 2010 at 4:09 pmTRUTH! TRUTH? We don’t need no stinkin’ TRUTH.
This is the PR business! We’re molding the minds of America.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:12 pmSo, can this stuff be put into a 30 second infomercial and run 24/7 of Fox Noise?
February 1st, 2010 at 4:13 pm“We ain’t in the truth-telling business. We in the killing reform business. And brother, business is BOOMING”
With apologies to Aldo Raine.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:14 pmSounds like mass social engineering of the right.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:14 pmPeople might try to tell you that Frank Luntz is a person without honor, that he can’t be trusted, that whenever you hear him assert something you can be sure the opposite is probably true, that he would lie just to make a buck off your mother…
I’m sorry, the note I had stopped there.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:14 pmMore lies, deception, and attempted brainwashing from the right.
Government takeover.
Bureaucracy.
Lobbyist loopholes.
LOOK AT ME SHINY SCARY WORDS VOTE FOR ME I CAN TERRIFY THE NATION!
February 1st, 2010 at 4:16 pmThe sad thing is, Luntz admits how big of a scam he’s running; dozens of others will say so.
Guess what happens to the Neo-Con base when he throws out a little double-speak and a few buzzwords?
Answer: All of the stuff he says is right!
Neo-Con Sheople followers: “We must save the country from reform, progress, regulation and thinking!”
*Corporations nod with delighted feelings of the soulless shouting louder and louder*
February 1st, 2010 at 4:26 pmI’m not positive…
…but I think “luntz” is Yiddish for “A manure salesman with a mouthful of samples.“
February 1st, 2010 at 4:27 pmThere’s your modern-day Goebbels.
I think he writes the ‘newsletter’ I get from my rep. Every sentence contains at least one of those scary soundbite phrases that really doesn’t make sense given a second or two of thought.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:27 pmThis is exactly why the Dems need to keep their message simple. To counter Luntz’s attacks, the Dems should be calling the banks the Wall Street casinos. It is true,simple and to the point that people can latch on to. This message should be repeated every time the bank regulations come up.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:27 pmWill someone please buy that schlub a new hairpiece?
February 1st, 2010 at 4:30 pmI yelled out, “Yes!”, at the tv on Friday night while watching the Q&A on MSNBC when Obama called out Luntz.
But then it ocurred to me that Luntz is such an egomaniac that, even though he was being called out in a bad way, in his mind any kind of attention is good attention so he was probably pleased.
“So Mr. Luntz, what do you do for a living?”. “Lie”.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:30 pmHis mama must be so proud.
“In an interview explaining his smears against health reform, Luntz told the New York Times last year that it did not matter what the actual policy offered — he would still call it a “Washington takeover.”
And I noticed Mike Pence, in denying the “Party of No” label, still refers to heathcare reform as “a government takeover of health care.” Makes ya wonder if any of these politicians actually believe what they’re saying, or if they just don’t care that all they do is lie.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:32 pmFrank Luntz is just another Republican liar. You’ve got nothing but venom corporate boy.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:33 pmJane,
I’m going to go with:
“they just don’t care that all they do is lie.”
These men have no honor.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:34 pmThe Republicans will continue to use the words “government takeover.” This is why you have to beat them at their game. Dems need to come up with their own sound bites to keep Luntz off balance. When Dems words start sticking Luntz will lose his effectiveness and his job.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:44 pmBrad Friedman:
Frank Luntz is a Liar
(is that a toupee?)
David Sirota:
Frank Luntz: I Am A Paid Liar, But Aren’t I An Awesome One?
Last year it was reported that Luntz was going quit the lying-for-political-advantage biz and move to Hollywood:
Asked why he would give up a lucrative career in political manipulation, Luntz said, “I’m tired of selling reality. Reality sucks. It’s mean. Divisive. Negative. What Hollywood offers is a chance to create a new reality, in two hours time.”
February 1st, 2010 at 4:48 pmShorter Luntz: ‘That purity test wasn’t meant for ME!’
February 1st, 2010 at 4:49 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Conservatism needs to lay off the drugs is still full of shit.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:52 pmThis guy is the epitome of the Re-pukes and their IDEOLOGY which is…….HYPOCRISY,lies,Deceit and misinformation in other words party ideology first and country comes after the hypocrisy,lies,deceit and misinformation.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:52 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
pags2 says:
This is why you have to beat them at their game.
That was the best thing that came of out Obama’s “budget freeze”. It really wasn’t totally true but phrases like that stick.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:52 pmEither we have a poser here or a hopelessly brainwashed fool.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:53 pmHow does that slimeball look himself in the mirror every morning?
There’s a special place reserved for folks like Luntz.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:53 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Damn, he is one ugly redhead. He is so uptight, He needs to get laid. Are there any women on TP that would volunteer to do this wingnut? He is a typical rightwingnut POS who turns everyone off, especially women.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:55 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Conservatism is my Anti-drug,
February 1st, 2010 at 5:00 pmSo what do you think about Rush Limbaugh and his obsession with Dominican boys?
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
this country was built for strong willed god fearing white capitalists
Please stop sharing your masturbatory fantasies with the rest of the world.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:06 pmConservatism is my Anti-drug says:
that is just a rumor, if it’s true than hes a disgusting excuse for a human.
–
February 1st, 2010 at 5:07 pmIMHO if the rumor is true…that’s the not the top reason why Rush is a disgusting excuse for a human being. There are lots of things to pick from. Just saying.
that is just a rumor, if it’s true than hes a disgusting excuse for a human
He’s a disgusting excuse for a human even if it isn’t true.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:07 pmThis Wayne A. Schneider comment made possible by Zoloft says:
very true, Wayne… very true.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:09 pmIt just ocurred to me that Luntz is basically one big fat troll!
February 1st, 2010 at 5:16 pmOT- Great Budget Graphic from the NYT
Sorry if everyone has already seen it, I just found it.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/02/01/us/budget.html?hp
February 1st, 2010 at 5:16 pmWow. Pure evil!
February 1st, 2010 at 5:19 pmmary lacewing says:
That was the best thing that came of out Obama’s “budget freeze”. It really wasn’t totally true but phrases like that stick.
But the voters heard “budget freeze” and that makes it hard for Republicans to run on the big deficit. The voters have a short attention span and that works to benefit of the Dems in every district and state.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:25 pmConservatism is my Anti-drug@31 flagged for racism.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:27 pmI will never wear adidas again.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:33 pm@37 flagged for homophobia.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:55 pm“Hypothetical interview with any top GOP politician, pundit, or strategist:
“The bank bailouts and in-house bonuses on Wall Street have gotten out of hand. The Republican Party speaks for, and works on behalf of the Joe 6-packs and Sarah soccer moms out there.”
So you are in favor of major regulatory reform of the banking industry?
“Uh, no. The federal government should stay out of the affairs of big business.”
So what exactly ARE you proposing?
“Proposing? Nothing. It is not the role of the Republican Party to propose any viable solutions to the problems facing the nation. Our job is simply to oppose any and every proposal emanating from the White House.””
February 1st, 2010 at 6:30 pmConservatismisyour koolaid
My GOD you are a stupid, mindless pile of dogshit. I didnt beleive it possible to be so stupid and so brainwashed at the same time
February 1st, 2010 at 7:41 pmWith a hat tip to Penn and Teller:
“EFF YOU FRANK!”
February 1st, 2010 at 11:54 pmConservatism is my Anti-drug says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
sscncturn64 says:
Damn, he is one ugly redhead. He is so uptight, He needs to get laid. Are there any women on TP that would volunteer to do this wingnut? He is a typical rightwingnut POS who turns everyone off, especially women.
Sex crazed liberal butt fuskers make me sick
Hmmmm, UP TEH HOMO VIRUS INTAKE…He is having the wrong reaction to it…
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:22 amI’m glad we’re starting to see this information publicized before they float it to the MSM. This way they’ve got to think twice on whether they’ll be called on taking marching orders from a political hack.
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:45 amFrank, your mother called. She wants her stain back.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:58 amShouldn’t his mom be ashamed for having him?
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:31 amHere’s something we can do… get bumper stickers or window decals that say the following: “We Want Our Money Back. Tax the Big Banks”.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:44 amLuntz is a regular on FAUX. That says it all.
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So let me get this straight… There’s American citizens like Frank Luntz who believe LYING to the American PEOPLE is the right way to go. Rather than reform and regulate those that participated in the CORPORATE CRIME WAVE that almost destroyed the US economy.
I’ve been looking at the Luntz background and I don’t think we need any more proof this man is at best a HO for the rich and powerful, at worst a TRAITOR to everything the USA stands for.
I’ve researched the AM Radio Free Conservative/FOX News propaganda machine and it turns out spokespersons like Luntz, Beck, Hannity are working for foreign special interests that want to “divide and conquer” the American PEOPLE. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. is now controlled by Saudi Prince Alwaleed.
NOTE: (did you see the video of Ailes, O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck and the rest of FOX news puppets lining up t0 kiss the right shoulder of the Saudi Royals. It’s even more sickening than all the hand holding/kissing Bush Jr. used to do at the ranch in Crawford TX. Bush resembled a smitten school girl ever time he was in the presence of BIG OIL.
These Conservative morons are always preaching about fighting terrorism but they allowed the Saudi Royals and Communist Chinese to do a hostile takeover of our most valuable industry and resources.
Thanks for NOTHING you right-wing monkeys…
consciousmc.blogspot.com
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:29 pmConservatism needs tolay off the drugs is still full of shit.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:41 am