Frames, George Lakkoff, Democrats, Communications and Winning

In reading Paul Rosenberg's post at www.mydd.com:

http://mydd.com/story/2005/10/22/12642/086#33

I had this response to the question about Democrats and framing.  Rosenberg's post was in reponse to a few things but notably to a paper by George Lakoff that can be reviewed here.

http://www.frameworksinstitute.org/products/mind.pdf

More after the flip........

Lakoff lists following as models for action:

• The Example setter: lives by moral norms and promotes them by setting an example.

• The Mentor: helps others achieve autonomy.

• The Community builder: brings diverse parties together to get things done.

• The Leader of the work crew: gets the job done through cooperation.

• The Team Player does whatever the team needs, without considering self-interest. Or he may identify his self-interests with the team's self-interest,

• The Team captain: a team leader by virtue of being an exceptional team player.

• The Caretaker: Responsible for the children; committed to their future.

• The Protector - of the powerless and oppressed,

• The Respectful person: values the diversity of others.

• The Honest broker: Someone known to be fair-minded, who can help in negotiating disputes.

• The Pragmatist who cares: Faces reality; takes care of himself; does all he reasonably can for others and for the community

• The Partner: shares responsibility and risk.
  

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  I believe this is the frame Democrats need to operate within.  Although other models offer positives, the Pragmatist offers everything Democrats need to communicate to people who disagree.  American's inherently tend to view politics both domestic and international in a pragmatic frame of mind.  

  The mind set is rooted in the day-to-day lives of all people.  People are accustomed to thinking in this mode.  It offers Democrats an avenue to communicate and speak with the American people as opposed to speaking to them.  Accordingly, debates regarding all issues in the future will be viewed as discussions with the American people and not debates about topics that affect them but don't involve them.

  All decisions involve a little bit of give.  Dare I say, flip-flopping?  A Pragmatic frame allows Democrats a little wiggle room to make concessions to solve problems.  People know that sometimes you have to do things that may same a little hypocritical but need to be done nonetheless.  Working within the frame and using the language will neutralize or at minimum mitigate criticisms and organized opposition by Republicans.  People understand tough decisions and respect those who have to make them even when the finality is a bit contradictory to what was previously stated.  People don't understand those who change opinions as the winds do.

  Most importantly, I believe the Pragmatist frame will allow Democrats to be a big tent party.  Democrats in conservative areas won't feel alone from Democrats in liberal areas.  Democratic Leadership need not attempt to create an heir of being all things to all people but rather act, speak and lead like problem solvers who take differing viewpoints and build a consensus at minimum in philosophy across to the greater Democratic Party.

  Of course execution is the key.  Democrats can not pay lip service to opposing view points.  The work will be dirty in the sense that TV can not be the only medium of communication.  Town hall meetings at places of employment, supermarkets, and shopping centers are the key.  We need to remember that people generally hold the belief that politicians work for them.  Negative opinions tend to be rooted in politicians who seemed detached and disconnected from the people.  Bush was masterful at the, I'm maybe be dumb, not know how to explain things but I'm like you frame.  Taking it to the streets (TTS) strategy helps to reinforce the Pragmatist frame.  Democrats know that peoples' lives are too busy and stretched to the limit but that doesn't mean that people don't care and aren't concerned about the direction of the country.  If the party can adopt TTS, then people see through actions that politicians are meeting people on neutral territory, meeting people halfway, adjusting to the schedules and lives of those who are being served rather than those who are serving.

  Overall, the Pragmatist frame places Democratic Party as the Party who solves problems, considers all viewpoints and makes tempered decisions.  Independents, RINOs, and the base will can appreciate the Pragmatist frame. Broader conceptual frame, as opposed to behavioral frame as discuss in this post, should be Community Leader.