Losing the Election One GOP Frame at a Time
by Chris Bowers, Sat Sep 25, 2004 at 03:59:52 PM EDT
The term "War on Terror" is a GOP frame invented by Bush's communications team in the rhetorical aftermath of 9/11. People who buy into that frame overwhelmingly support Bush. According to Zogby from earlier this week (emphasis mine):
Kerry continues to lead on four of five top issues but some possible worrisome details. Among those who say the economy is the top issue, Kerry now leads only 49% to 43%. He maintains wide leads among those who cite the war in Iraq as top issue (55% to 37%), those who cite health care (56% to 32%), and those who cite education (53% to 36%). But the President has widened his advantage over those who cite the war on terrorism to a 56 point lead -- 75% to 19%. This is still very close but has Kerry stopped the bleeding? Yet, despite this, Kerry and Democrats in general continue to use this frame, which can only serve to help Bush and Republicans. The more we are complicit with the most powerful GOP frame of this entire election, the more we will help prop up Bush in the only area where he leads Kerry. And we do it a lot. For example, the title of the campaign press release for Kerry's speech at Temple was Kerry Pledges to Fight a More Effective War on Terror. Not only that, here was the backdrop to Kerry's set during the speech:Good God! Why don't we just sign Bush's renewed lease papers for him? This is almost as bad as if the DNC were to start running ads calling Kerry a flip-flopper.
We need to come up with a new frame, and we need to do it now. Re-label the primary task of American foreign policy on terms favorable to progressive policy. Instead of either calling the term "War on Terror" idiotic (which it is) or simply being complicit with it (which we are) we should have been developing a new frame. We should have been doing it years ago. Do it now.









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