Community | December 01, 2011 | 30 comments

Top GOP Strategist Admits He's 'Scared' Of Occupy Wall Street Because It's 'Having An Impact'

source: http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/12/01/379365/frank-luntz-occupy-wall-street/

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WakeUpPeople
The Republican Governor’s Association met in Florida this week and featured pollster Frank Luntz, who offered a coaching session for attendees about how they should communicate to the public. Yahoo! News’ Chris Moody was there, and captured some of Luntz’s comments on Occupy Wall Street.

Luntz told attendees that he’s “scared of this anti-Wall Street effort. I’m frightened to death.” The pollster warned that the movement is “having an impact on what the American people think of capitalism.” So the pollster offered some advice for them about how to fight back. Here’s a few snippets of what he said, according to Moody:

– Don’t Mention Capitalism: Luntz said that his polling research found that “The public…still prefers capitalism to socialism, but they think capitalism is immoral. And if we’re seen as defenders of quote, Wall Street, end quote, we’ve got a problem.”

– Empathize With The 99 Percent Protesters: Luntz instructed attendees to tell protesters that they “get it”: “First off, here are three words for you all: ‘I get it.’ … ‘I get that you’re. I get that you’ve seen inequality. I get that you want to fix the system.”

– Don’t Say Bonus: Luntz told Republicans to re-frame the concept of the bonus payment — which bailed-out Wall Street doles out to its employees during holidays — as “pay for performance” instead.

– Don’t Mention The Middle Class Because Americans Don’t Trust Republicans To Defend It: “They cannot win if the fight is on hardworking taxpayers,” Luntz instructed the audience. “We can say we defend the ‘middle class’ and the public will say, I’m not sure about that. But defending ‘hardworking taxpayers’ and Republicans have the advantage.”

– Don’t Talk About Taxing The Rich: Luntz reminded Republicans that Americans actually do want to tax the rich, so he reccommended they instead say that the government “takes from the rich.”

Frank Luntz is no minor pollster. He is considered to be one of the top political communications experts in the world, having provided consulting to many of the world’s top corporations, politicians, and special interest groups. That Luntz is admitting the impact of Occupy Wall Street and the 99 Percent and telling closed-door meetings of Republicans that it frightens him is a huge victory for the movement.
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30 comments // Top GOP Strategist Admits He's 'Scared' Of Occupy Wall Street Because It's 'Having An Impact'

  • letsliveinpeace
  • RevKen
    • +1
      RevKen  

    • When The conservatives begin to use this rhetoric we need to throw it back at them.

      When they use free market instead of capitalism tell them we are not against capitalism, we are against corruption, we are not against free market so long as it is fair trade.

      When they say "I get it" ask them to prove it?

      When they use performance pay instead of bonuses, tell them we are all for performance based pay. When their performance produces positive results they deserve more pay. When their performance bankrupts our nation they deserve a criminal investigation.

      When they say hard working taxpayers instead of middle class remind them that our hard earned tax dollars pay their salaries.

      When they say take from the rich instead of tax the rich, tell them that if we all give a little no one needs to give a lot.

    • 6 months ago
  • Argon18
    • +1
      Argon18  
    • RevKen:

      All good advice then throw in some "accountability." "fairness," "justice" and "rule of law" in there too just to drive home the point. Jesse LaGreca came up with some other tips to use also.

      http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/21/1038117/-Some-easy-debate-tips-about-Oc...

      "Statement: "Occupy Wall Street protesters are (insert distracting Right Wing talking point about socialism/anarchy/personal insults here)"
      Answer: "Don't change the subject. Conservatives who hated Martin Luther King Jr used to say the same thing about him."

      Make sure to dismiss insulting talking points as fast as you can so you can get back on message about the good things OccupyWallStreet is working to achieve. Then tell your story about the good things and good people you have seen at OWS.

      Statement: "Occupy Wall Street protesters should get a job"
      Answer: "We would love to as soon as Republicans stop filibustering job bills so they can blame President Obama on the bad economy George W. Bush left him. We Occupy for Accountability. Why are you afraid to talk about corporate accountability?"

      Frankly, I have ZERO patience for Republicans who scream "GET A JOB!" while Republican politicians do everything they can to filibuster and block job bills and stimulus bills. Remind Republicans that they helped create this mess and shift the conversation back to OWS in a positive way by discussing accountability for corporate politicians and corrupt big business.

      NOTE: Occupy Wall Street is NOT about Democrats or Republicans, it is about ALL of us. Republican voters are hurting too, we are here to help them as well."

    • 6 months ago
  • RevKen
    • +1
      RevKen  
    • Argon18:

      I would like to add one more thing, if I might? When they bring up the homeless people in the Occupy Camps, tell them we welcome the homeless and support them. They are part of the 99%. Then ask them why they propose legislation that harms the homeless and under privileged?

    • 6 months ago
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  
    • RevKen:

      Or turn it back around on them to avoid distraction as Jesse suggested

      "Statement: "Occupy Wall Street protesters are dirty and need a bath."

      Answer : "Don't change the subject, we are talking about reforming the banks and our government. We need to clean up Wall Street and Washington DC. That is more important than what you are talking about."

      Remember that it is important NOT to let a conversation about OccupyWallStreet become a discussion of petty side issues. Immediately shift away from side issues and get back to the BIG issues of bank accountability and the corporate lobbyist influence over our democracy."

    • 6 months ago
  • RevKen
    • 0
      RevKen  
    • Argon18:

      I see your point, however, we should always respond to their questions and/or statements first and then go into our message. Any person that only goes for the message without addressing the other person first tends to look bad in the viewer's eyes.

      I hate interviews when a question is asked but the other person never attempts to answer it they just go for their talking points. Tactful transition through the conversation is the only way to control the situation and win over the audience.

    • 6 months ago
  • Paratus
    • -1
      Paratus  
    • RevKen:

      Many at the OWS have stated that they are against capitalism and want it replaced. Most cannot state what it should be replaced with however. There are already laws against corruption.
      A company using whatever pay structure it decides is not for the public sector to decide. It is up to the Board of Directors of the company int he case of a CEO or the CEO for others. Bailing out bankrupt companies that have paid huge performance bonuses when there has been no performance is a government problem. The bailout should not have been made. Bonuses are paid per contract. If the government elects to pay knowing that the contracts are in place, as in the case of many "stimulus" payments, the criminal acts, if any, took place on the government side.
      The "hard earned tax dollars" come from everyone who works and pays taxes.
      The "rich" give a lot. 53% of the taxpayers pay all the Federal Income Tax. For everyone to give a little we need to remove the progressive tax system we have now, Marx would turn over in his grave, and institute either a flat percentage applicable to everyone or a minimum percentage for everyone if they fall below a threshold.

    • 6 months ago
  • Ambill94
    • 0
      Ambill94  

    • And this information will circulate among the choir and be totally ignored in the MSM...hopefully Keith will jump on this and maybe Rachel...

    • 6 months ago
  • TimohyM
  • CreditFigaro
  • noxidereus
    • +1
      noxidereus  

    • Luntz is a virus infecting humanity with a blight of ignorance intended to keep the masses enslaved within our corrupt systems, as are all deceivers and their enablers and the beneficiaries of such deception.

    • 6 months ago
  • bike10
    • +1
      bike10  

    • So typical of the Tea Bagging/GOP. He must have graduated from the Karl Rove School of dirty politics. Those who follow Fox News will take this just like read the Bible.

    • 6 months ago
  • VoyagerFilms
  • lazloman
  • Leen61
  • Omle_Du_Fromage
  • OlBlue
    • +1
      OlBlue  

    • Hey Frank, in the alternate Romeo & Juliet, Miss.Capulet says:
      "What's in a name? That which we call a turd
      By any other name would smell as foul."

    • 6 months ago
  • RevKen
    • +1
      RevKen  

    • This is one of the biggest problems that liberals have. The GOP re-brands negative words and phrases to appeal to voters. Liberals get caught in the nets and never fight back.

      First thing to do is re-brand in the same way. The second step is to stop using the re-branded words and phrases the GOP comes up with.

    • 6 months ago
  • EmperorThan
  • Argon18
    • +4
      Argon18  

    • http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/400559/october-24-2011/co...

      Luntz is scared because no matter the attempts at twist and spin the actions of the GOP can't be hidden. He couldn't even get Stephen Colbert to follow along with his "method of messaging" it just makes the GOP look even more insane to ousiders.

      http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/01/1041370/-Der-Spiegel:GOP-Freakshow-Dama...

      "Did you ever have a crazy relative - an Aunt Mabel from Tupelo or an Uncle Archie from Queens - who made you cringe whenever he or she would open their mouth? When they came to visit you would live in fear that a friend or classmate would drop in and overhear some racist or inappropriate comment your relative would make, and then everyone would know the secret that your family is really crazy. That's how I feel about the Republican Party.

      I just wish the rest of the world wasn't watching as well, for the GOP performance this election cycle diminishes our nation in the eyes of the It's horrifying because these eight so-called, would-be candidates are eagerly ruining not only their own reputations and that of their party, the party of Lincoln lore. Worse: They're ruining the reputation of the United States.

      Then there's Newt Gingrich, the current favorite. He's a political dinosaur, dishonored and discredited. Or so we thought. Yet the US media rewards him with a daily kowtow. And the Republicans reward him too, by having put him on top in the latest polls. Mr. Hypocrisy, the bearer of his party's hope.

      The world is shaking its head in amazement. What happened to a once great nation that a charlatan like Newt would be taken seriously as a "Leader of the Free World"? "

    • 6 months ago
  • Arizona_Huey
    • +7
      Arizona_Huey  

    • Sadly (and not surprisingly) instead of actually listening to, learning from, and legislating for the 99%, they are trying to word-smith ways to screw them every way they can without looking like they are! Pathetic

    • 6 months ago
  • Argon18
    • +6
      Argon18  
    • Image
    • Arizona_Huey:

      So far it IS a huge victory over the circumstances of last summer where only deficits were being discussed and now the income inequality has grabbed attention away from it.

      http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/29/1040940/-Occupy-scores-victory-against-...

      "Republicans in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday threw their support behind a payroll tax cut extension, trying to blunt charges ahead of 2012 elections of favoring wealthy Americans over middle-class workers.

      Until Tuesday, Republicans had been lukewarm on extending President Barack Obama's payroll tax cut for workers, indicating they were open to negotiating it but never explicitly backing a measure, which the White House says will boost the country's sputtering economic recovery.

      In the world where Occupy had never happened, Republicans would've held these tax cuts hostage without suffering any ill repercussions. Why would they? The chattering class and Beltway media would be droning on endlessly about deficits and other things that didn't matter.

      In this world, Occupy has thrust income inequality to the forefront of the political debate -- so much so that typically immovable Republicans are afraid to feed that narrative.

      In other words, a ragtag bunch of hippies with supposedly no demands have done what Democrats have never been able to do -- get Republicans to cry "uncle".

    • 6 months ago
  • PressCore
    • +2
      PressCore  
    • Arizona_Huey:

      That's a good sign they're at the crossroads of decision making though.
      As show biz actors needing direction to convey a pretense, they've shown
      themselves up to be incompetent to handle the situation of people simply
      peacefuly protesting. Can you immagine how they'd fold up their traveling
      snake oil pedaling if people were in open revolt ??? Thank God it hasn't
      come to that, yet. The OWS people won't be fooled with such charlatanism.
      It's the sheeple who're used to being brainwashed by Corporate TV who're
      stirring from their induced sleep, asking questions from these status quo
      Republican marionettes. Once they're fully awake,and no longer brainwashed
      then the fur will realy fly. The OWS protest movement isn't going away.
      Not any time soon, nor at all. Once Spring 2012 rolls around there will be
      enough momentum to realy call for action for the 2012 elections. In the
      words of that Crosby Stills and Nash song: It's been a long time coming.
      it'll be a long time gone,. I can't wait to hear some crowd will have thrown
      rotten vegetables at that swine Gingrich, and bood him off his stage. In
      Shakespeare's day, the play's the thing, but the actors had it tough too.

    • 6 months ago
  • Wyley_Wombat
  • Arizona_Huey
  • Arizona_Huey
  • Scott_Pert
  • Argon18
    • +5
      Argon18  
    • Scott_Pert:

      The goods news is that there are those that recognize what Luntz is trying to do and that is a BIG part of why he's scared of OWS because they can defuse his efforts and counter-act his impact.

      http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/01/1041452/-GOP-Pollster-Luntz-Tells-Rs-To...

      "As a follow up to both my own diary and Ministry of Truth's diary, I want to expose the Republican strategy for dealing with OWS. I see the OWS movement as part of the battle against exploitation.

      OWS's message on economic inequality is resonating and growing. It has a life of its own, separate from OWS, which I think is good. But overall, I do not think OWS will follow the line espoused by Luntz, albeit for different reasons."

    • 6 months ago
  • Conniepae
    • +1
      Conniepae  
    • Argon18:

      The 'truth' scares them. If people get a platform to point out facts, people will listen. Sadly, the only way they can get a platform is by protesting. The possility of physical harm, standing up for truth and stating facts.

      Ordinary Americans know things are wrong! Numbers matter! The larger the crowd, the larger the voice. I personally don't want to camp as a form of protest, but I do understand the motives of those who do.

      If Occupy Wall Street have marches in my area, I am going to be one of the numbers, just so the powers that be can see, we are here. If people would stop 'moving along to the wrongs', we could shame them into being honest.

      Facts matter! The truth matters more!

    • 6 months ago
  • rossmick
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