Silence is Golden

In recent weeks, Democrats have made progress with their leadership management skills. Here is what they have figured out: When your opposition is burning down, don't get involved. Sit back and allow it to happen. For example, when the GOP floats the story that Obama is building concentration camps to house conservative critics, just hush, sit quietly and let them tell that story. When Glenn Beck goes on the air to tell us about those new Obama concentration camps, don't interrupt him even when it's clear that those buildings he's afraid of are probably mental health facilities. Or when their party leader Sarah Palin suggests that Obama's health care reform plan includes a death panel that will condemn elderly Americans to die if they require too much medical care, remember; Sit quietly and let the lunatics loose on themselves. In fact, be jubilant when other GOP party leadership stands beside Palin and endorses her as she rambles incoherently about this imaginary ghoulish new death panel. The Democrats have recently figured out that the art of sitting silently when the opposition is so vulnerable requires incredible discipline. When gun-toting healthcare teabaggers are showing up at town hall meetings to shout, scream, and appear unbalanced, Democrats should make sure they schedule as many town hall meetings as possible. Allow it to unfold on the nightly news with regularity.

In politics, sometimes silence really is golden. So when opposition leaders like GOP Congresswoman Michele Bachmann tells the media that Obama has youth "re-education" programs in place to brainwash children into becoming liberals, make sure Democratic leadership does not disagree, comment, laugh, or shout ... just be silent.

If Democratic leadership ever begins to doubt the value of sitting silently as the lunatics define the image of the GOP, they should go online and google these words, "Orly Taitz implodes on MSNBC." What they will see in that video will tell the backstory about how difficult it has become for Republicans to contain the loon factor within their party.

Democratic leadership will easily conclude that Taitz who identifies herself as "a birther spokesperson," a realtor, and a dentist is helping to seal the fate of a GOP that is developing the image of a deep south regional party destined to wander farther and farther into the wilderness. As Democratic leadership watches wack-a-doodle Taitz implode on behalf of all conservatives, the key will be to ensure that Democratic silence is deafening.

The Taitz spectacle is no less of a gift to Democrats than the videos flooding the net that show a black woman being attacked at a teabagger town hall meeting for holding up a Rosa Parks poster. Or the video that shows immigration protesters shouting that illegals should be bused back to Mexico "after we put a bullet in their head." Public approval ratings of the new GOP are falling to levels that compete with those of Dick Cheney and Ann Coulter. The saying, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth," is a peculiar one. It simply means to hush, don't say a word and graciously accept a gift when it comes your way. These days those gifts are too many to count.

Follow Mike Papantonio on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RingofFireRadio

Comments

[BuckCarson]

Your premise that the conservatives are burning down, is simply incorrect. They are rebuilding, rebuilding with the help of millions of Americans that have never thought they'd be involved in politics.

The reality is that no conservative thinks "Death Panel" means that a group of people sit at a table and decide life or death fate. The reality is that Sarah Palin used this phrase to convey that government will be deciding the pro-rata of medicine. That is scary to them because of what they see with other government agencies.

We will lose this battle until we understand what is really happening. What we are seeing in the conservative movement is not huge, it is epic. When I hear Bill Marr talking about how dumb these people are, I realize the opportunity for change has passed us by. We are acting like spoiled angry children and they are talking about the real issues.

[clevelandchick]

Mike,

The problem with your theory is that too many DC bubble-dwelling Dems end up thinking the Tea Baggers are "the voice of the people" if the rest of us stay silent.

Obviously it's great when Beck, Coulter, Bachmann and these Tea Bagging lunatics get air-time..­..it exposes their idiocy for the world. But that does not mean we don't debunk it or mock it. In fact mocking it (see Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert) goes very far......w­e have to make them into the jokes they really are.

[Eris23]

Absolutely agree. Mock and mock hard. This, essentially, was the root of the Bush administration's strength. It becomes even more effective when you happen to have facts on your side. Most don't want to identify with, and thus be identified as, stupid.

[panamarine]

Ignoring the fools might be a good thing, but now and then a good zinger or two must be used to put them in check . Laughing at their bufoonery is also a good tactic---tells them that they are just a joke, not to be taken seriously. Just as you laugh or recoil at feaks in a circus side show, that's how it will make them feel. Look at how it has made Palin sooooooo irevelant, she can't be taken seriously anymore by the rest of the country. Nothing she says or do gets any traction, just derisive snickers and comments. And she is slowly fading away. They know how foolish they are acting and talking and some of them will get tired and go back under their rock.

[dakotawoman]

I think that silence from the President is great. Shows that he is confidently above the madness, intent on carrying out the duties of his office in the sane, reasonable, competent and gentlemanly manner he has adopted from the beginning. Same for his Cabinet.

However, the rest of us out here in the trenches should not cease from pointing out the mad ones frothing at their mouths -- if nothing else but to keep the images burning in everyone's consciousness.

THEN let them rage on as the rest of us stand dumbstruck and appalled, as well we should be.

[1comedy]

Hush! WE have the "moral majority in the ----room, value voters that remain after ------!

[Dandelion28]

Mike, I'm a huge fan, but you're overestimating the intelligence of the American public.

[clevelandchick]

I have to agree with you, I've heard some semi-intelligent people I actually respect mention the 'death panels' and when I set them straight; they tend to feel really foolish.

We don't have to shout back at them like their lunatics but the left needs spokespeople out there debunking the bull, so should the 'unbiased' media and both should castigating the right wing for their sick twisted lies.

We need the sunlight on these people, it always serves to erode their support.

[BuckCarson]

You said it. We are so much smarter than them, we need patience. The reality is that government knows best for us and capitalism has failed. These people have not realized this yet, but they will if we just hang on.

[Json]

The old "be silent and let your opponents look like fools" technique.

That worked like a freakin' charm for Kerry in 2004.

[Alex Smart]

I agree. While I believe Pap has his heart in the right place, I believe libs should at the very least point out where the teabaggers, birthers, and screamers are being simply ridiculous. Unfortunately, it seems most of the American populace doesn't realize how ludicrous some claims and statements are until someone (i.e. Maddow) breaks them down piece by piece to show just how empty and inflammatory they are.

[stagebandman]

We must follow the example of our president:

"Be cool".

[Collielady]

Love those Pap Attacks, Mike. This one in particular.

Smug Rethugs thought they had this battle in the bag as America watched the wingnuts spin out of control. Many of us were bursting at the seams waiting for the president to fight back, but his strategy remained calm and measured.

America has witnessed the tea bagging, gun toting, swastika sign carrying lunatic circus roll across the country and run its course. Now the adults will move forward with the strong health care legislation that the majority expects.

The Rethuglican Party retreats deeper to the South.

[Liberal Angel]

I can see how that would be good advice, if there weren't so many easily fooled people in this country. Honestly it seems like the average American really is an idiot. The "BIG FOUR LIES" about healthcare reform are believed by more than half the populace! There are too many idiots to support their lunatic leaders to stay silent. The GOP has already imploded, into a black hole that's sucking the life out America. All the Dems are doing with their silence is allowing spaceship America to be torn apart by the insanity and instability of the conservative movement. We need people speaking truth to stupid.

[DiogenesOfAlaska]

The advice surprised me as well, for very similar reasons.

But at least the decision making about policy issues now doesn't depend too much on what voters think. It rather depends on what representatives in congress think and know and understand.

In that sense, speaking truth to power and speaking truth to stupid is at least the same thing, when it comes to Bachman or Palin.

Oh wait, you're not supposed to do that either...

Well, well, I'm still thinking about it...

[lastcallmd]

As Barney Frank would say, "what planet have you been spending your time on?" Man, you need to come out of the cave and read a newspaper, watch the news (even if it's MSNBC) and re-connect with reality. Although, I suppose it is more comfortable to stay in the 4th dimension than to watch the Dems implode on health care, run the deficit to trillions, and Obama's support plunge. I mean, how completely disheartening to see your savior exposed for what he really is, just another politician.

To your point, keep it up and the Reps will pick up even more than the 20 seats expected right now. ROFL.

[Liberal Angel]

The Democrats aren't imploding on healthcare. With them it's always been like herding cats. I also don't know anyone who believes Obama is some "savior", I sure as hell don't. I live on Earth in the 21st Century, and I see what's happening. The 4th dimension is of course time. I suppose righties missed Einstein showed that fact a while back. The deficit was already run into the trillions by the previous criminally inept administration, with the blessing of people who claim to be "conservative". Obama's plunging support is well deserved. Liberals and left-leaning independents who got him into office are not happy with his pathalogical need to be friends with his enemies. What's disheartening is that righties are such hypocrites. We were called "unpatriotic" and "anti-American" because we (and anyone with base knowledge of the Constitution) had great grievances with Bush, and voiced our opposition to his lawlessness. lt was said we should "support" him because he's the POTUS and we are in 2 wars. Now, these same people are calling for Obama's head for what? Trying to stimulate the economy and keep a campaigne promise to reform healthcare? Yeah, it is disheartening.

[dakotawoman]

"truth to stupid"

Perfect!!!

[Shellly]

Yes, but the dems from the president on down aren't helping with the mixed messages..­. there must be a method to their madness.

[audiodramatist]

Strategies and tactics.
Hope this centrist President is right. Don't believe his party knows how to follow its leader.
I'm willing to wait a spell. After all i have socialized medicine, i'm attended to by the VA health system.

[gettingitright]

No, they shouldn't be silent; they should be strident. The rabble-rousers are getting all the attention and there are no counter-punches. Silence only works when most of your constituency operate on high levels of information and don't form opinions based on soundbites.

[mychagall]

Absolutely brilliant advice.

[devadasi]

Good points Mike....th­e dems need to chill a bit.......­but continue to write to their reps and attend town hall meetings, not bad mouth the President. The repubs are self destructin­g.....it's wonderful to watch. I love listening to you on Air America. You're one of the few who speak truth to power.