In a
book reivew a few weeks ago, Kos talked about "frames", one aspect of which is words that look like they simply describe a subject but really advance a point of view. An example is "tax relief". If you repeat the words "tax relief", even to argue against it, you advance the Repug idea that taxes are a burden you must be relieved from. Reporters who use this phrase are essentially working to spread Republican frames.
Well look what the Republicans are saying about privatization of Social Security (quote originally found on Talking Points Memo and repeated today on Liberal Oasis):
Privatization' is a false and misleading word insofar as it is being used by Democrats to describe Republican positions on Social Security...
...It is very important that we not allow reporters to shill for Democrat demagoguery by inaccurately characterizing 'personal accounts' and 'privatization' as one in the same
Well first it is accurate because those accounts will be managed by private brokerages who will take a cut (which is a big feature for Republicans). Second, the advice is worth noting for Democrats: we shouldn't allow reporters to characterize the destruction of the progressive federal tax code as "tax relief". Now the Republicans can know how it feels to have the debate be over before it gets started.