Why Isn't There a Left-Wing Conspiracy?

In 1998, then First Lady Hillary Clinton famously observed that a "vast right-wing conspiracy" was subverting her husband's presidency. A decade later, a similar gang of Republican miscreants has mobilized to bring down the Obama Administration and health care reform. Recent conservative attacks resulted in the firing of Van Jones. Didn't liberals learn anything from the coordinated assaults on the Clinton Administration? Why isn't there a left-wing "conspiracy" to counter the Kamikaze tactics of the right?

The conservative attack machine has three components. The first is political. Conservatives have adopted what Clinton adviser, Sidney Blumenthal, termed the perpetual campaign. As soon as Barack Obama was inaugurated, Republicans went on the offensive, aiming to diminish the new President's popularity and to increase GOP congressional numbers in the mid-term election.

The right wing reiterates a simple theme: Obama is wrong for America. Beginning with the economic stimulus legislation in mid-February, Congressional Republicans have dogmatically opposed every Obama initiative. Meanwhile, the conservative spin machine has cranked out daily messages that denigrated Democratic proposals -- Obama's program will lead to socialism -- and attacked members of the Obama Administration, such as Van Jones.

The GOP's daily messages are relentlessly negative and designed to evoke fear: Everything you hold dear is about to be taken from you. While some Republican missives seem nonsensical -- Obama is not an American citizen -- their thematic unity plays on visceral conservative emotions: People who are not real Americans are ruining the US.

As a result, right-wingers have begun to describe themselves as "patriots" and assert they want to "take back the country." Heavily armed, they favor "sovereignty," a blanket assertion of state's rights that would diminish the power of the Federal government and, they hope, put white folks back in control.

The second component of the right-wing media strategy is sociological. The conservative attack machine broadcasts to those who did not vote for Obama in November - 46 percent of voters who are overwhelmingly white, Protestant, and conservative. The negative messages resonate because Republican voters operate in an information "silo," where their news is supplied by reactionary radio hosts, Fox News, and conservative Christian ministers.

Since January, Republicans have solidified their base of McCain/Palin voters, who are overwhelmingly opposed to the Obama Administration and Democratic initiatives. More importantly, GOP attacks have spilled over into the mainstream media, where they've eroded Obama's support among Independents.

Finally, the right-wing attacks have a psychological component. George Lakoff's Moral Politics, observed that conservatives and liberals have different worldviews. The conservative view, the "Strict Father" model, is rule based: children are taught to respect and obey their parents and the rules they espouse. Conservative messages are framed from a rules-based worldview that encourages absolutist, "concrete operational" thinking. Obama is not a legitimate President because he didn't follow the rules about citizenship. Democrats aren't following the rules because they've allowed "giveaways" to special interests.

There are several reasons why liberals haven't been effective countering the right-wing spin machine. First, conservatives have an advantage because they only attack; they don't propose solutions to real problems or alternatives to Democratic initiatives. The right-wing spin machine aims to bring down the Obama Administration by maintaining that he is wrong for America. Therefore, conservatives blithely assert that whatever ails the U.S., government is not the solution, as the "free" market will fix all problems.

Second, while the Obama Administration has controlled the legislative agenda, the right wing has dominated the message agenda and, therefore, been more effective shaping public opinion. Until recently, the Obama Administration did not frame their message so that it resonated with average Americans. This is beginning to change. On September 9th, Obama began talking about access to health care as a moral issue, evidence of "large-heartedness... A belief that in this country, hard work and responsibility should be rewarded by some measure of security and fair play; and an acknowledgment that sometimes government has to step in to help deliver on that promise."

Third, while President Obama is a compelling speaker, it's not his role to counter conservative attacks. There has to be two aspects of the Obama Administration: one concerned with governance, running the White House, and a separate entity that's directing the liberal version of the perpetual campaign -- the left-wing spin machine. The latter has been missing-in-action since Obama's election.

It's not a question of money. Liberals can raise enough money to counter the vast right-wing conspiracy. Rather, it's a question of focus. After Obama's election, liberals turned their attention to repairing America. While Democrats have to propose solutions to the mammoth problems created by eight years of Republican incompetence, it's equally important to win the message wars.

Liberals must wage their own perpetual political campaign and use it as a vehicle to counter the vicious right-wing attacks. There has to be a liberal message machine that on a daily basis battles for the hearts and minds of average Americans.

Comments

[23DEC1913]

A solution ..

discard the whole left vs. right false dichotomy. There are many things all of us, as Americans can solve together.

The pols are quite happy that we are distracted with name calling and pigeon holing each other while they make off with our money and rob us all of our liberties.

We should put away the childishness that BigMedia and BigParty so-called leadership would have us devolve to.

[SWalkerTTU]

It isn't a false dichotomy. The differences between the two sides go down very deep, likely even to the level of brain function. (Facile joke: Ours on the left do function, theirs don't.)

It is impossible to solve a problem if you try to work with people who don't believe there to be a problem.

[wildedge]

"First, conservatives have an advantage because they only attack (...)" It occurs to me that those on the left don't attack anyone or anything much anymore; where are the attacks on Big Business? instead, "well, corporations have a right to make a profit..." Where is the outrage against racism? "well, the opposition isn't really racist, it's just frustrated­...." Where is the effort to reign in the vitriolic misinformation in the media? "well, Glenn Beck has a right to say what he wants...." And where is the strenuous effort to solve problems of poverty and social injustice Well, we're doing what we can, life isn't fair, you know...." The fact is, the Reagan administration so intimidated the left, and the Clinton adminisistration so co-opted it, that the left no longer has a coherent theoretical base nor the rhetoric derived from such.
You don't have to be on the left to be concerned about this, by the way - a representative democratic republic without viable alternative voices is in danger of withering into a real oligarchy of the right.
Perhaps we already have....

[Aaror]

actually, can we just ask any moral majority members not in the deep south to move there, and then declare unconstitutional the acts of the first republican president (Lincoln).
Give the wingnuts the south to run as a "free market paridise," while we solve our problems in the reality based community?
You know what happened the last time conservitives left the US in droves for another nation? Canada.
That is what happens when the Right actually is in charge for a while, they get smart and turn hard left.

(And yes, the conservitive Tories did leave the US in large numbers for Canada in the 1780s, leaving the liberal Patriots in charge of the nation. Why do I say that the folks defending the King and status quo were conservitive, while the people using a new government to solve problems, embracing new rights for people who didn't have rights before, and agreeing on the common dignity of man were liberals? Um, look up the meaning of the words, liberal is based on liberty, remember?)

[pyro]

It's kind of hard to stay focused when your getting thrown out of your home, forclosed, layed off, living in the dam streets, losing your investments of a lifetime. Sometimes I think the rethuglicans planned it this way.

[ItsMickeyBricksBaby]

You make good points Bob. Let's hope the DNC is reading and taking notes.

[Aaror]

DNC?
Sorry, any organization in DC is going to be right wing, regardless of the word Democrat. The DNC is the Blue Dog of the party.
What we need is a Democratic organization based out of Colorado or Nevada, that can appeal to the base of the party, not kowtow to monied interests and political insiders.
Heck, such an organization would be closer to hollywood and west coast tv stations, instead of the boring talking heads programs that only accept dino's as speakers to "give balance," to the republicans they invite at a 2 to 1 ratio.
We need to start our own political shows, not copied off of back and friends (sorry Rachel), but playing off the view. Imagine 3 to 4 liberal entertainers discussing the issues, including humor, and rotating one guest each week while the other chairs stay the same. Imagine the folks who stay there being chosen to have a diverse set of Democratic views (pro-gun vs anti-gun, religious vs agnostic, libertarian vs proactive).
Once we have something like the view promoting short, witty liberal comebacks to republican silliness, the housewives of america (the largest democratic block) will have something to say to get their silly husbands to listen to reason without hurting their pride.

[quiviran]

There is a left wing conspiracy. The problem is that it's only half-vast.

[Richard Pearce]

Why is it so much easier for the right wing to get its message out than the left?

Because it is easier to inspire fear than it is to inspire hope.

Because fear can be reinforced by both failures and successes, evne partial ones. Hope is only reinforced by total successes.

Because it is simpler to get everyone to agree on one thing when your message is "this cannot be solved". When your message is "this can be solved", everyone might agree to that, but disagree on how, and the attacks can be focused on the differences in how, and each how can be attacked seperately.

[qwerty911]

"There are several reasons why liberals haven't been effective countering the right-wing spin machine. First, conservatives have an advantage because they only attack; they don't propose solutions to real problems or alternatives to Democratic initiative­s."

Bob, I have read many of the "right-wing" proposed solutions. Why haven't you.
__________­__________­_______

"There has to be a liberal message machine that on a daily basis battles for the hearts and minds of average Americans.­"

Hey Bob, that liberal message machine is CNN & MSNBC and their ratings stink. Their ratings stink because FOX news, that bad "right-wing" conspiracy generating machine, is kicking their arse up and down those rating poles.
__________­__________­_______

And Bob, you liberals will always lose with your message. Why?
Because WE only attack. WE will never give up.

[Aaror]

You mention right wing solutions, but then don't present any (typical republican).
By the way, "the market will fix it," or "It is fine the way it is." is not a solution.

[qwerty911]

Aaror,

Why must a republican do all the research for you lazy liberals. Here, I'll point you to a website so you can read up on the GOP proposals:

GOP Solutions for America
http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare

Take your time (I doubt you will even glance at this site) and carefully compare the difference between the two plans.

[MrMaus]

Many of the posts here are correct, the left will not have an effective single voice the way they have positioned themselves. To get to that single voice they must abdicate any pretense to accommodate the center, which is what the right has done.
The problem is the two party system in place today, and I would be supportive of the Democrins taking the left and the Republicrats taking the right and an honest new party representing the center. So what is the center? I like to simplify. Two axis: one the moral issues, the other the fiscal issues. In the lower left hand corner are the socially liberal, fiscally liberal (if you must label, democrats). In the bottom right, socially conservative, fiscally liberal (Christian conservatives, rednecks). In the upper right socially and fiscally conservative (neocons, republicans). In the upper left, socially liberal, fiscally conservative (libertarians).
The bases as the upper right and lower left corners, so the question is “who can you convince to join your group?” The republicans have been effective in capturing the Christian conservatives by spending money we don’t have and making the war something “moral” (this is how to “protect America”). In doing so, they have lost the libertarians. Many of those voted for Obama (or at least, did not vote for McCain). The democrats are losing them now by pushing for a much larger unfunded government mandate. Why not make it explicit, move left, create a vacuum and allow for a 3rd party?

[Bitsko]

Why? Because we spend all our time stabbing each other in the back.

[ariveria]

it is way passed time to go after the right they go after reality.

they are not patriots they are anti american. we are the true patriots.

"a lie told often enough becomes the truth"
glenn beck
fox news information czar
the view 5/20/09

[oldgeek1]

Perhaps there now is!

Turn around is fair play.

[ladyv]

We're too busy working. It's the same reason we don't throw our own teaparties. We have jobs. Nobody who has a job has the free time to show up at teaparties. That's why all you see are disgruntled laid-off dudes with grossly misplaced anger, disgruntled retirees with grossly misplaced anger, and the occasional chirpy SAHM who's trying to avoid having to get a job now that her last kid has started kindergarten.

[AJH]

Getting democrats to agree on what the problem with is easy however agreeing on the solution isn't.

Republicans universally agree democrats are the problem and will follow whoever they decide is their leader in seeking a solution.

That, and the angry fringe of the democratic party got isolated in the green party.

[enochsmoky]

There is a coordinated left wing "conspiracy" which is trying to counter the "vast right wing conspiracy­.' Have you ever heard of George Soros? The 99% of college faculty who vote Democrat and push that agenda on unsuspecting young minds? The multitude of nonprofits who are an adjunct of the Democratic party? The mainstream media who conveniently ignored Van Jones and ACORN until average Americans started questioning their competence? The whole unionized workforce, especially public unions who benefit from bigger government? The left's problem is that their message does not resonate with the majority of the American people. This "vast left wing conspiracy" must have worked pretty good during the last election since we ended up with the most radical, inexperienced president in history.

[1izzard]

Ignore this poster, enochsmoky is just tro11ing with flame bait.

[Aaror]

Yeah, wasn't he singing about bombing a third nation while at war with two others?
Or was he the guy who decided what the US really needed was a two front war?
I get the rich white brats confused sometimes.