Joe Biden forgot the lesson his mother taught him as a child. He recalled how, "when I got knocked down by guys bigger than me -- and this is the God's truth -- she sent me back out and said, 'Bloody their nose so you can walk down the street the next day.' And that's what I did."
Tony Soprano's psychiatrist gave pretty much the same sage advice. "People sense you're weak, they see an opportunity," Dr. Melfi told Tony, who wanted to stop and smell the roses after his near death experience. She suggested he do something to show he remains a decisive leader.
"Tony arrives at the pork store and sees the crew sunning themselves and playing basketball. Tony sizes up the crew, seemingly to try to determine whom is the most physically impressive. He chooses his young, muscular bodyguard, Perry. Tony tries to bait him into a confrontation but Perry does not respond, knowing exactly what will happen if he beats up Tony. With his crew looking on, Tony sucker punches his bodyguard, starting a one-sided fight that ends with Perry bleeding on the floor and Tony walking away seemingly unscathed."
Mission accomplished.
Everyone understands and responds to the emotional dynamic of a schoolyard bully. If you think it's something we all left behind with high school, you haven't been paying attention. Or, more likely, you haven't been watching Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, or reality shows that invite us to revel in the humiliation of others. You don't understand the appeal of professional wrestling or talk radio or why Howard Stern is considered "King of All Media." And more importantly, you don't understand why these shows remain enormously popular. Or why the Republican message still works.
Or why Joe Biden's early response fell far too short.
"They were like the kids, you know, when you went to school and you were very proud of the new belt you had and the shoes you had. And there was always one kid in the class who said, 'Oh, are they your brother's?' Remember that kid? That's what this reminded me of. 'Oh, I love that dress, is that your mother's?' You know what I'm talking about."
I sure do. But then you have to ask the next question. Do the other kids in the playground line up behind the bully or the object of the bully's scorn? No doubt, Dr. Lakoff could expatiate more eloquently on the emotional and linguistic dynamics of the bullying narrative, but time is running out. So here's my pitch to the Obama campaign.
The way to respond to a Republican is to talk like a Republican. You need to use stock phrases that insinuate your disrespect and contempt for the other side.
Here are the stock Republican phrases that Democrats should repeat over and over:
"He's running from his record..."
"He can't deal with ...(a) the facts, (b) the truth"
"Out of one side of his mouth he says.... out of the other side of his mouth he says..."
"He has a problem telling the whole truth..."
"His memory gets fuzzy when...."
"He needs to learn to focus..."
"Put up or shut up..."
"He's rewriting history..."
"He has a little amnesia..."
And to digress a bit, they should frame every comment on economic policy with, "I'm not like John McCain. My grandfather didn't own an oil company..."
If you want a role model, check out how Keith Olbermann does it. Olbermann gets the dynamic, because his background is in sports.
Check out the most disrespectful comment from Rush limbaugh about Bill Clinton and Obama today. It is sad no one chooses for their dad to abandon them , it is really cold and insensitive. I feel sorry for this country.
I have copied the comment in here.
God help.
"All I know is this: Barack Obama has something in common with William Jefferson Blythe Clinton -- they were both abandoned by their daddies. And people who have abandonment issues generally end up being like Bill Clinton: they want to be loved by everybody.""Joe Biden forced down on the 'superhighway of terror'. That is scary, Batman."
www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_091008/content/01125100.guest.htm
This is the kind of topic that can sink an election like the Swift Boat ads did John Kerry. You cannot assume that the American public will see through this lie -- too many Americans don't pay enough attention.
We live in a society of sound bites. KISS -- Keep It Simple Stupid.
Fight Back!
Fight Back with passion. Barack Obama needs to bluntly state on TV -- This is a lie, John McCain has no honor and I won't stand for it. It's okay to be emotional and angry when appropriate. Don't overthink as most Americans don't.
Fight Back.
If someone brings a knife to a fight -- don't ask them to play fair. Bring out a gun and end it. That is the Republican motto and the Democrats and Barack Obama need to adopt to the playing field.
Fight Back!
Obama IS attacking the republicans...on the ISSUES. Watch and LISTEN to his town-hall speeches. He has more than turned up the heat. Everyone thinks they know what he needs to do to win this election. What he needs to win is some confidence (and I'll admit, I've had my moments of doubt) from his supporters. Republicans are laughing their behinds off because, as usual, democrats freak out because the race is essentially tied after Palin's Convention (oh, McCain was there also). So what? Democrats have 11 million more folks than republicans now. OUR job should be making sure they get out and vote, and more importantly, making sure that absentee ballots are counted, making sure that voters (particularly minorities) are not purged from voter lists, and that people (minorities and seniors) aren't being disenfranchised come election day. If that happens, we WIN...so do your part!
They don't vote on the issues.
They vote on sounds bites, personality, bullsh_t.
This is something the Rs have known for decades.
You cannot win an election in America by appealing to the public's intelligence (that's a joke!),
honor or integrity.
It just doesn't happen.
That's how you really take down bullies (without becoming one yourself).
I cannot believe I just read that. So, we democrats, the party of diversity, should NOT have nominated a black man for the presidency because of some bigoted folk? Give me a break! This nation would still be under Jim Crow laws if not for some people willing to stand up and buck the trend. No one said this battle would be easy--but then again nothing worth having ever is.
You seem to be harping on the CANDIDATES in this election when your focus should be the ISSUES. This is NOT a "reality" show. Who gets into office this November affects ALL of us. I'm not sure if you noticed the last 7+ years, but they have been a disaster. If you REALLY want a democrat to win, then you need to be out doing your part to ensure victory.
I've said it before, I'll say it again. The problem is the ELECTORATE. Lies and slander only work with people naive enough to believe it and vote against their own interests. If you want to sit this one out because your candidate didn't win, fine. Do as you please. But move out of other people's way and let those of us who care more about changing the direction of this country than a particular candidate lead the democrats to victory in November.
"John McCain is a liar and his judgment is obviously poor - as anyone can see by looking at the record."
You Rock!! Thanks for confirming my thoughts exactly. This madness the Republicans are pulling will pass" a few interviews with their "Campain Model" Palin, and they will be done.
I will admit that he is a good guy, a very smart man and an important leader for our country. Seriously. But he's an ex-professor and as a former adjunct prof myself I can tell you that Professors have a tendency for mental masturbation and a real problem with decision making. Case in point...his 143 "present" votes while in the Illinois State Senate. For God's sake, make a choice, brother.
Putin is salivating over Obama, waiting for us to elect him so he can team up with Iran and Venezula, block oil to the rest of the world and then rebuild the soviet union while our economy goes into a depression because of $15.00 a gallon gasoline.
One, John McCain for me...and please supersize that with a Sarah Palin. Thank you.
Instead of adding to the attacks on Obama, why don't you point out that he stands up and provides a measured response. Why don't we paise him for calling McCain out on his hypocritical stances? Why don't you change you expectations. The "if they put one of yours in the hosipital, put one of theirs in the grave" may have been appropriate in 1930s Chicago, but when you are dealing with some one that has access to a nuclear arsenal, don't you want some one that is going to pause for a moment to consider the options before pressing the button?
Fighting back and punching some one in the mouth isn't always the answer. If you really knew anything about sports, you would realize the referees always penalize the person that retaliates not the guy that slips in the cheap shot. Would the world be a better place if we did line up behind "the object of the bully's scorn" and collectively callout the bully for who he is.
Instead of piling on Obama, why don't you write a piece called "McCain is a big, stupid, irrational bully that will get us into other meaningless wars?