The Right has framed the debate in their favor by changing the very language we speak; it is time we start to do the same. Yesterday, I posted my first draft of a set of guiding principles for Crushing the GOP. Today, my first draft of new language and terms to re-frame the debate in our favor.
Our response to the right's creation of distorted language has been defense. We whine, we argue definitions, we try to point out their hypocrisy. But the words are still there, and we even end up using them: "partial-birth abortion", "homeland security", "tax and spend", etc. We've let them turn "liberal" into a dirty word.
No more. We can can fight back best by responding in kind. Change the terms, change the debate. So, here are my submissions for a new lexicon for our side. We can debate them and add more, but the sooner we just start using them, the better. What is important is that more of us start using the same words, so they get firmly settled into the public consciousness. Start using them - NOW.
Politically acceptable terms: (Our elected officials can safely use these)
The Conservative Media. No excuses, no prevarication. Just use it. Between the profusion of rightist radio hosts and the papers - even WAPO - running pro-war stances on 1A and antiwar stories on 18A, we need no excuse for this term.
Borrow and Spend. Bring this one back; it's never been more apt. 'nuff said.
Obsession is our new word for "zealotry".
Judgemental is our response to "Liberal" becoming a dirty word. The right wing judgmentalism exists to persecute others, from Moslems to gays. The Bible teaches that Judgement is God's provenance, not man's. Judgementalism can also be used as a more powerful synonym for "hypocrisy" in many cases.
Revenge is paired closely with judgementalism and is in opposition to justice. It can be applied to the Right's obsession with Iraq as (misplaced) revenge for 9/11, and to their obsession with the death penalty. The judgementalists are obsessed with revengeand punishment at the expense of societal good, as they demand long mandatory prison sentences despite numerous studies showing that short sentences plus re-education/rehabilition costs less and reduces crime.
Big Government. With the ridiculous increase in spending and deficits, combined with the Democratic balancing of the budget in the 1990's, the GOP is now officially the party of Big Government. Times have changed, and the Republicans get to wear this label now.
Right and Wrong. Democrats tend to analyze nuance and explain policy. It is important that we continue to do so, but we also must add the language of morality to our convictions. Invading Iraq without enough soldiers to keep the peace wasn't just bad policy and bad planning - it was wrong and tens of thousands have died because of Bush's moral failing. As Democrats we support a social safety net not just because it is good policy but because it is the right thing to do. See this excellent article by Christians for Dean
The Golden Rule. Jesus' most powerful teaching. The Right has forgotten it entirely. We will remind them. Repeatedly. Every time a Democratic candidate supports a social cause, we should invoke the Golden Rule.
Authoritarian is our new word for "conservative". With the GOP's utter failure to maintain economic discipline, they are officially Authoritarian now. This will resonate with compassionate christians and rugged individualists in equal measure. And in a nation of freedom, authoritarianism is ugly, dangerous, and unwelcome. If they can call Kerry the most liberal senator, we can Delay the most authoritarian representative. The GOP doesn't earn or deserve the word conservative anymore.
The Christian Majority stands for compassion, faith, and love. They make up the majority of this country and they have learned Jesus' lessons about throwing stones, and turning the other cheek. They stand for everything the extreme right has forgotten in it's obsession and judgementalism.
The Surveillance State. The GOP and Ashcroft would put a camera on every corner, keep your children's DNA on file, and restrain anyone of their choosing without trial or charge. They will use fear as a lever, PATRIOT as the newspeak name for laws, and an authoritarian Supreme Court to create the world of Big Brother.
In-The-Trenches terms. We can use these the way the Freepers toss "Traitor" around. Except that ours are true.
antiChristians. Jesus taught compassion and forgiveness, and love for friends and enemies alike. He gave us the Golden Rule and "turn the other cheek". He kicked over moneyboxes in the temples and taught us to be wary of central "moralist" authority. He taught us never to throw the first stone, and to shun hypocrisy. The antiChristian right has forgotten every one of these lessons. Their lives are all about throwing stones and swearing fealty to a falsely Christian leader who invokes God's name to advance fundamentally un-Christian policy. Conversely, the mass of Christians who know better and which make up this country and know better are the Real Christian Majority.
The Department of Fatherland Security seeks to abrogate the rights of all Americans and leverage fear to build a surveillance state.
Fascist. The term is a little tired, but it is becoming increasingly accurate and I think it has room for growth in the trenches. Remember Fascism is characterized by: extreme blind nationalism and patriotism uber alles. Actions are considered right because The State does them, rather than the other way around. All opposition is falsely painted as unpatriotic and treasonous. Oaths of loyalty are sworn to the leader. Is any of this starting to sound familiar? Make no mistake ... theocratic fascism is in fact what we are up against.
Comments and thoughts, please. I will continue to revise and repost this list occasionally, and will start a campaign to distribute it widely once it's better congealed. Other terms may need to be added, and useless chaff should be removed. We want an efficient, terse, list of the words that will be most impactful.