How Alan Grayson and Michael Moore Changed the Conversation

It's not the answer that matters, it's the question. So when Alan Grayson suggested that the Republican's health care plan was for people to die quickly, he began a conversation that the Democratic Party couldn't lose and the Republicans couldn't win. Because then the question being debated was: Do Republicans want people to die quickly?

For the whole summer, the Republicans had managed to shift the debate from "should we reform the health care system in this country?" to "is the Democratic plan to reform health care a government takeover?" So, instead of the onus being on the health care industry and their Republican lovers to prove that we should maintain the status quo, the onus shifted to Democrats to prove that their plan was perfect.

This is an old trick of lobbyists (really well demonstrated in Thank You For Smoking). You change the conversation to a battle you can win. So, Rep. Grayson used their methods against them. And now the conversation we're having is whether the health care system is acceptable or if it leads to killing people for profit. Mission accomplished.

Michael Moore is doing the same in his move Capitalism. First, he is changing the conversation on who caused the financial collapse in the first place. Most people are acutely aware that it was the bankers, but not the Fox News audience. So, when he went on Sean Hannity's show the other night, he introduced that idea to them and then Hannity was stuck in the position of defending the bankers and blatantly blaming the victims and the poor. Instead of discussing how government was at fault, Moore started a conversation on how deregulation might have led to this mess.

But more importantly, he started a battle for the heart and soul of Christianity. He proposed in the movie and in his debate with Hannity that being on the side of the rapacious rich is un-Christian. He claimed his position is the more Christian position. For so long, the Republicans have simply claimed that they are more Christian without anything to back them up. They just shouted louder. Now, Moore is shouting just as loud.

By putting them on the defensive on how they are not good Christians if they help the rich crush the poor, he has once again changed the conversation. Are the Republicans bad Christians? It doesn't matter what the answer is, that's a question you can't lose with.

What the conservative movement has understood for a long time is sometimes it takes something a little inflammatory to change the conversation. You have to draw attention to you, so people can start discussing the topic you want.

This was perfectly demonstrated by the wild and angry town hall crowds. They were sometimes saying hideous things about Obama but they succeeded in shifting the burden of proof on to the Democrats. Now, it looks like we have a couple of guys that know how to play this game. And they have succeeded in shifting the focus back to where it should be. It's refreshing to have people who know what they're doing on your side.

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Comments

[norman60]

Mr "JLocke2010", this the answer to your question. Don't twist the scriptures. It says not "steal" but "sell" all you have and give to the poor. Mark 10.17-25. It is un-christian to crush the poor-or to be so rich and comfortable in the face of your poor brother. Don't you think you should own a good bible, yourself? Not the fake one The GOP is abusing.

[JLocke2010]

The ten commandments say "thou shall not steal". They do not say "thou shall not steal unless you give it to the poor or to rich farmers, bankers, or other middle class families or anyone else".

God gave us the freewill to help those in need if we so choose, and studies have shown that conservatives give far more to charity than do liberals.

The Constitution does not authorize the Federal Government any authority to take my property for the purpose of benolence. If you can find the article and section that does so, please inform me. James Madison couldn't find it and he is acknowledged as the "Father of the Constitution".

[davedave]

please take your own postal system, road building, police force and fire department and go to an island where you can read ayn rand in peace.

the rest of us will work within a constitutional framework for the public good.

d

[LettingGo]

[snip]...T­he Constitution does not authorize the Federal Government any authority to take my property for the purpose of benolence.­..[/snip]

Then please explain why steps were formulated in 2008 then put into motion late 2008/early 2009 to give away my property to bail out Countrywide, Bank of Merica, AIG, Goldman Sachs and a host of others without my approval? With no explanation when, if ever, it will be paid back. Another brilliant plan orchestrated in 2008 with the same 'exit plan' as other well thought out schemes... Just another example of a modern day Crusade I guess, all in the name of [insert name of favorite deity here]... Gawd bless us all...

[JLocke2010]

I have a question for the brilliant ones Cenk, Michael Moore or anyone less brilliant who can answer.

Since you know there is no Constitutional basis whatsoever for Federal Government involvement in health care, ......can someone please provide for me the quote in the Bible whereby Christ tells us that we should steal from one person for the purpose of giving it to another? I'd really like to be educated on that pillar of Christianity.

[aluxeterna]

in a democratic republic taxes aren't stealing. You agree to participate in the democratic process, choosing representatives that represent your views. Sometimes you win. Sometimes the other side wins. Sometimes, heck, the people you voted in don't do what they said they would do. But you agree to go along with the results if those results are shown to be fair and square, and if you don't like what happens, you vote them out next time.

If more people voted for the people who are going to raise taxes, then that is how the game is played.

Your side lost. This is not stealing. This is how our form of government works. Why do you hate America?

But nice try.

[SewaneeLeftist]

Very good points in this article. Need to keep on taking over the conversation like this.

[maxgen]

Our side is even more powerful because they are telling the truth - not lies. We have only to manage to expose the right for the liars they are to demonstrate their true nature.

[letgo-hate]

Grayson is my new Hero. I love that they are shifting the conversation. They are not the first. Many people are shouting. The problem is they are not powerful enough. The powerful usually get that powerful because money backs them, money often comes with coruption. Corporate greed is backing many, most of these that are powerful enough to speak up. That is why you don't hear them speaking out. When someone is powerful enough to speak up against these big Corps then we the people really need to back them. We need to group together and show our support.

[TSAQ]

[LUKE 16:19-31] - (RICH:Indifferent to others' needs]

[been2there]

Was it not Jesus who said, "The truth shall make you frree?" Keeping the conversation truthful will indeed make us free.

[sciphy]

The Republicans (esp. Grassley) do not just want people to die quickly, they want POOR people to die quickly. People of means, with better insurance, should drag it out awhile so that the insurers can increase their profits and then fund his campaign.
Understand who the enemy is here-- it's not the Republicans, it is BC/BS, Aetna, Cigna and others. They manipulate simple supply and demand so that no one ever knows what health care actually costs and how much we spend on it.

[devans00]

Who elected Olympia Snowe president, indeed.

I don't care what people call them, I want people like Michael Moore and Rep. Alan Grayson to keep telling the truth and not be cowed by bullies.

If we are really lucky, Grayson won't be one lone "wingnut". Instead, he'll start a trend of politicians who due their damn jobs. Represent the will of the majority of people. The people who voted the people into Congress.

[Shiral]

Me too! Grayson is my new hero. I wish we had 300 more Democrats with his backbone and courage.

[iMissMollyIvins]

WWJD? He'd drive the MoneyChangers from the Temple and put and end to the G.O.P.

[alumcreek]

He would have crucified Wall Street, especially the nominal christians who will glaldy steal your money and demand that you crawl off to die somewhere without asking for help if you are ill.

[iMissMollyIvins]

Jesus used to be so loving and merciful to the poor, but now He's a Republican. - Kurt Vonnegut

RepublicanJesus {a 501(c)(3) entity and Holy-owned subsidiary of the G.O.P.} does not provide for the healing of pre-existing conditions.

[JoAnnCr]

New title for Republicans: The party of "die quickly."

[alumcreek]

That's crawl off quietly and die quickly to you sir.

[Rosanneofpgh]

Great post as usual, Cenk. I agree that its past time for the Dems to grow a pair and fight back at the rethug liars and corporate puppets. Rep.Grayso­n has emerged as a principled politician, (an oxymoron in almost all cases.) Mr. Moore's films hold up a mirror to our society to help us see what is really happening in our country.

They are both heroes in a time when heroes are badly needed. Too bad there arent many more like them. There are other heroes as well; Rep Weiner, Sen. Feingold are two others who come to mind. They are also intelligent and principled and are willing to fight for the middle class and the poor.

Its kind of scary to know that only three politicians and one documentary filmmaker are all that between us and complete disaster.

[3dtrix]

Don't forget Rep. Sam Farr! He's my congressman - central CA - and I couldn't be more pleased...

[tessleaf]

Thank you for this great essay, Cenk. I'd been wondering when progressives and Democrats would take a page out of the GOP playbook and begin beating them at their own game.

Of course, it's not a game at all. It's just that the GOP treats it like one.

[DonRoberto]

It's good to know someone understands how the game is played. Too many Democrats and progressives think that having higher, nobler goals means playing the game by a higher, nobler set of rules; unfortunately, the real business of politics has never worked that way.

I think we're coming around, and it's good to see Moore, Grayson, and others understand the rules. Thanks, Mr. Uygur, for another great column.

[N2Sman]

I'm sorry to say "the game is rigged". Did not Pres Obama strike a secret deal with Big Pharma over 10 years-His explanation was to keep them at bay. Are not the Blue Dog Dems bought and sold by the Health insurance companies? Is Max Baucus a rightious man? Is the US system of Lobbying in anyway fair when tens and hundreds of millions are spent by Corporate interests to decide (not influence) policy. Is an economic system where 5% of the very wealthy controls 95% of the wealth intrinsically fair? Is not Capitalism a questionable ecomic system when prices forever go up and Mom MUST work to keep up? We need much, much more than the brave Michael Moore and Sen Greyson.

[DonRoberto]

Unfortunately, I agree with you. The game *is* rigged, which means we can't always win by playing fair. Politics really isn't pretty, and when something good is accomplished, we don't always want to know how it was done.

That said, I think the Big Pharma deal was inspired. It will save the US money in the short run, and it took a major opposition player out of the healthcare reform fight, thus making reform *possible* (which wasn't a given before the deal).

Bottom line, the system *is* unfair, but until we clean it up (if ever), we still need to win battles. Hence, the need to understand how the game is actually played.

[liberalOrgonian]

I commend both of these men for there willingness to stand up and speak the truth and turn the conversation on its axis. There is a need for MORE like minded to support the people of this country, by standing up and making themselves heard.
At this point it is:
We the corporations, in order to gain profits, needing to suck all money from the middle and poor classes of this country, in order to form more perfect opportunities to gain profits and insure the corporations ability to be rich beyond belief, regardless of the tragedy we cause. We are currently unconcerned that we caused the financial destruction of our country and the world. As long as we make profits and get our millions dollar bonuses we are almost content, for now.