Many have been bemoaning the right's success in getting the "blame game" meme traction in the media. I have a simple antidote--every journalist, every politician, every person who is confronted with the "blame game" meme needs to answer with a single voice "IT IS NOT A GAME."
When Scott McClellan says "we're not here to play the blame game" every member of the WHite House press pool should respond "Scott, the only one playing a game here is you. The rest of us are trying to get some accountability for a very serious situation. There's nothing funny about it." Get THAT talking point on the air and the blame game meme will wither and die.
The problem with the "blame game" meme is that it spins the illusion that if one is placing blame, one is playing a game. By de-coupling the game from the blame, the meme dies. "Blame game" is a frame that's being used to paint the LEFT as the party that "played games" during the disaster. It will stick if it is not confronted and destroyed.
The fact is, nothing is wrong with assigning blame in this situation. In fact, it is vital to do so. It's not funny, it's not even fun. No one on the left is enjoying this. If any games are being played, they're being played by the professional obfuscators of the right. We need to make that point and make it loud and often NOW before the right-wing frame gets too stuck in the public consciousness.