The Luntz 2006 Republican playbook

The Frank Luntz 2006 Republican playbook and creating a new Democratic majority

There is a lot on the outsourcing U.S. jobs issue.

The Republican plan for 2006 is to talk about why U.S. companies go offshore - high taxes and excessive litigation. They plan to make trial lawyers the scapegoat!

Here is an excerpt:

"..the personal injury lawyer is the perfect foil. The truth is GREEDY personal injury lawyers
have cost more jobs than any CEO through their reckless abuse of the legal system."

One suggestion is to have 10 of the 100 Fortune 100 CEO's pledge to hire 10,000 new employess if tort reform is passed.

The Democratic party can't continue to take this stuff sitting down or we will never win. The Republicans are good at getting Middle America to deflect their anger where it doesn't belong.
They did this to welfare recipients in the 1990s who were too poor to defend themselves.

Big corporations spend billions of dollars on TV ads to improve their image - look at all the drug
and credit card company ads. The trial lawyers need to start a public relations campaign to improve their image - show how they have helped millions of Americans who were wronged.

The Republicans will also not focus on passing additional tax cuts but on preventing tax hikes thus making us out to be FOR tax increases on the middle class. Democrats need to passionately communicate that we do not believe the middle class should pay for additional programs.

There was also a reference that the reason for the "gender gap" is women voters found Republican
"too harsh." They think Bush's "compassionate conservatism" is the answer. They also said that women value time over money, so they need some policies to give women additional free time. We need to aggressively combat this one - today both
spouses need to work full time and perhaps a 2nd job and this is due to Republican trickle down economics. Make this all about family values.

I think its obvious their 2006 approach will be different from energizing evangelicals. They plan
to appeal to middle america next time, and we must be ready.

Its my opinion they are starting out with social security privatization because this issue is a plus for us. They will move on to tort reform to appeal to Independents and Supreme Court picks to appeal to their base in time for the 2006 mid terms.

•  Don't forget the minimum wage!

  You know why they go overseas? BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER period. taxes and litigation matter jack.  What does it matter if a product is made here or in china, people can still sue over it.

  Taxes still don't prevent people from making products here, as long as they have their tax haven headquarters in the Bahamas.

  They do it because the leaders of other nations would rather have companies pollute their air and nearly enslave their people just to gain a few more bucks.

  by FleetAdmiralJ on Fri Feb 25, 2005 at 10:26:43 AM PDT

  •  YES WE NEED TO RAISE THE MINIMUIM WAGE

    I agree. We need a living minimuim wage. If the minimuim wage had just kept pace with inflation since 1968 it would be $8.78 an hour!!!

    by erich398 on Fri Feb 25, 2005 at 10:31:29 AM PDT

    •  Well yeah, but that wasn't my point lol

      My point was that they'd be smarter in attacking wages as a reason for outsources since it at least has something to do with it.

      But I agree, we need to increase the minimum wage again.

      by FleetAdmiralJ on Fri Feb 25, 2005 at 10:33:46 AM PDT

  •  I second FleetAdmiralJ's sentiments

    Corporations are the enemy here, they support sweat-shop environments, low wages, and what I read as "over-the-barrel" work conditions.

    It never ceases to amaze me how many working class republicans support unions, because blue-collar repubs. feel the need to protect themselves against the very corporations they support. Stupid republicans.

    by NeoconSemanticist on Fri Feb 25, 2005 at 10:38:40 AM PDT

•  Why do corporations hate America?

  and love Bermuda for thier tax shelters?  Hmmm?  

  by pacified on Fri Feb 25, 2005 at 10:38:02 AM PDT

•  PI Lawyers?

  "..the personal injury lawyer is the perfect foil. The truth is GREEDY personal injury lawyers
  have cost more jobs than any CEO through their reckless abuse of the legal system."

  What a fucking LIE.

  Guess what, asshole...if corporations are not negligently injuring people, THEY DON'T FUCKING GET SUED!!!

  The American public bears the blame for swallowing this baseless propaganda.  I hope anyone supporting tort deform is injured by negligence and unable to find legal redress.

  by jre2k8 on Fri Feb 25, 2005 at 10:55:51 AM PDT