Time for Conservatives to Go on the Offensive in the Framing Wars
The left has figured out how to successfully push through its agenda by using one simple tactic: demonizing the right. Even if there is no truth to the cruel labels, the left has figured out they work. Repeat the words "bigot," "hate," "sexist" and "intolerant" enough and they will start to stick. It's known as the "framing war," and Republicans aren't very good at it, probably because we're too nice. We're the party of Judeo-Christian morality, so calling the opposition names isn't considered polite. Instead, we naively think we can stick to debating the substance of issues and the truth will win out.
We saw how a very small minority within the left, the gay community – less than three percent of the population – was able to implement same-sex marriage. A small group of radicals labeled anyone who disagreed with their approach as bigots full of hate. They launched a clever ad campaign with glamorous, photoshopped pictures of celebrities in white wearing No H8 stickers on their faces and duct tape over their mouths. The approach worked, and the movement picked up steam. Support for same-sex marriage increased from 27 percent in 1996 to 60 percent this year, culminating in last week's sweeping Supreme Court decision.
The irony was many of the activists were full of hate for anyone who disagreed with their methods - even libertarians who simply wanted government completely out of marriage. There was no room for compromise or alternative solutions. Christians found themselves on the receiving end of a barrage of profanity. But it didn't matter, the mantra had already been successfully set, that Christians were full of hate. In the biggest show of irony, the activists brazenly tweeted out profanity using the hashtag #LoveWins toward anyone who disagreed with their methods after the Supreme Court announced its decision.
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The left also had some success last week demonizing the right as racist over the Confederate flag controversy. But in reality, the Confederate flag is the legacy of Democrats, right up through recent years, and they should have been held accountable for the racism. Where were conservatives? Too busy apologizing to engage in the framing war.
The latest area the left is attempting to get ahead of the right through demonization is global warming. They've tried several sneaky phrases, hoping to get one to stick; the latest is "climate denier." The right needs to respond aggressively and place an unflattering label on the left where it belongs. Perhaps a phrase like "global warming mythmakers" or "manmade global warming liars," and use it consistently and often.
For years, when I didn't feel like engaging in an intellectual debate with someone, I merely responded with a personal attack directed at them, and it virtually always shut them down. Someone accuses me of being racist/sexist/homophobic? Instead of trying to defend myself, I respond back and point out how they are racist/sexist/homophobic. It usually catches them off balance and they end up trying to defend the indefensible, "have you stopped beating your wife yet?"
Part of the problem is the left substantially controls education and the media. Children are constantly bombarded by messages that the right is full of hate and bigots. We have a generation of Millennials who have grown up with this indoctrination. This is why it is even more imperative to counter that message with one equally as effective.
This is no longer the nostalgic era of the late William F. Buckley, Jr., where people only had a few political sources to choose from, such as reading National Review or watching Firing Line. Nowadays, there are thousands if not millions of news sources and people are overwhelmed with information. Have you seen how thin the print version of National Review is today? The right can no longer count on winning the debate with reasoned arguments alone. As we're preaching to the choir at Tea Party meetings, the left has our children captive in school teaching them we're haters.
The truth is, the far left does hate the right, so calling the left bigots is no longer a stretch. How many times have you been attacked on Twitter or Facebook with profane language or threats over your right-leaning viewpoints? I'm beginning to lose track of all the people I've had to block. The hate is increasing exponentially.
Bill Clinton was considered a genius as president for using the method of "triangulation" to get his agenda implemented. I would argue that Obama is even more of a genius. He successfully brought Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals into the White House, allowing him to accomplish his full left-wing agenda without resorting to the compromise of triangulation with Republicans.
While the right should use the Alinskyite tactic of vilifying your opponent back, they should not engage in Alinsky's crooked methods, such as lying. A Democrat activist friend of mine told me if he ever went public about all the corruption he's seen within his party, it would make a huge story. It is another reason we are at a disadvantage.
Yes, Jesus said to turn the other cheek. But he also threw the money changers out of the temple. Conservatives need to stop reacting and start branding the left. Repeat after me: I'm not a progressive because I'm not a hateful, racist, sexist bigot. Why are you?
