aliasofwestgate @ 85

A very blatent marketing operation, to those with any smidgeon of mass media training. Of which i am one person. It shocked me that they started on the one year anniversary of 9/11. It was so brazen and arrogant! I swore at the tv that day, i couldn’t believe it.

And that brings us to a couple of tidbits that could be used to the progressive benefit but usually aren’t. First, we know that BushCo looks at every issue as a marketing operation. Some of those operations have worked better than others (the Social Security reform marketing was a miserable flop; so was the 2006 election marketing), but these people actually approach everything from the same limited perspective. That means that with a little imagination, progressives could run rings around them at every turn. Look at the famous “Kiss Float”–a bit of utterly unmarketing-like guerrilla activism that I would call stunningly successful, no matter who finally won the CT Senate election.

Second, it should be clear enough by now that there is no point in trying to predict what tactic will be too utterly egregious for BushCo. No such thing exists; they are entirely without shame. And we can use that. Don’t try to imagine what they would think is too much and say you don’t have to worry about that–just try to imagine the most egregious abuse of reason, good taste, or common decency you can think of, and assume they’ll do it and try to sell it as candy. Then prepare for that outcome.

Don’t forget that the RightWingers are corporatists and that advertising is their propagandistic specialty. They are expert at it.

I think humour (think Daily Show) is a spin-buster re-framing bit of genius.

68 DefJef says:

April 15th, 2007 at 3:13 pm

Are the mass of people so shallow and mindless not see the fact that these frames and spin are paper thin?

Are we a nation of idiots? The Firepups see the BS a mile away. Are they a special breed of human?

I know this has been previously addressed. I would add that manipulation tactics are effective in the short run because they work on people on an emotional level. Even very smart people can be manipulated. It works because they are unaware that they are being manipulated. Once they know, it’s a different outcome entirely. I don’t think there is anything wrong with Americans wanting to give their new president or new News Channel (Fox) the benefit of the doubt at the beginning. But once they know their trust has been abused, out these sociopaths must go!

76 TeddySanFran says:

April 15th, 2007 at 3:20 pm

This is why I think rejecting the premise of the question is training our leaders and spokespeople should be steeped in. Incidentally, Cliff Schecter and Markos are very good at rejecting the premise.

I think if a premise is to be rejected, then the reason it’s being rejected should also be given. IMO, to reject a premise simply to divert attention into a new frame would be to engage in manipulation. Diversion is a manipulation tactic.

I’m a strong believer in Jujitsu, where you take the false words of the premise and turn it around against the spinner. Max Blumenthal did this brilliantly, in a visual way, when he approached Michelle Malkin to have her autograph a picture of a concentration camp where Japanese Americans were held.
Previously, Malkin defended the use of these camps. All she could do was backtrack on her position and physically run away from Max. It was a thing of beauty really. We want the manipulative Neocons like Bill Kristol and members of the anti-Democratic party to run from us, to know their BS no longer works.

Generally, I’ve been learning how to recognize when a manipulation tactic is used. That’s the first step in stopping this unethical, emotionally-abusive, covert-aggressive behavior. And the tactics may be used in different combinations, even together in a single statement–so it takes some work to recognize them. We need to be assertive (calling our their behavior) and not aggressive like them.

—————————
Here is a crash course in manipulation tactics to watch out for: *

Denial
This is when the aggressor refuses to admit that they’ve done something harmful or hurtful when they clearly have. It’s a way they lie (to themselves as well as others) about their aggressive intentions. This “Who… Me?” tactic is a way of “playing innocent,” and invites the victim to feel unjustified in confronting the aggressor about the inappropriateness of a behavior. It’s also the way the aggressor gives him/herself permission to keep right on doing what they want to do. A covert-aggressive personality uses denial to protect his/her self-image.

Lying
It’s often hard to tell when a person is lying at the time he’s doing it. Fortunately, there are times when the truth will come out because circumstances don’t bear out somebody’s story. But there are also times when you don’t know you’ve been deceived until it’s too late. One way to minimize the chances that someone will put one over on you is to remember that because aggressive personalities of all types will generally stop at nothing to get what they want, you can expect them to lie and cheat. Another thing to remember is that manipulators – covert-aggressive personalities that they are – are prone to lie in subtle, covert ways. Courts are well aware of the many ways that people lie, as they require that court oaths charge that testifiers tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Manipulators often lie by withholding a significant amount of the truth from you or by distorting the truth. They are adept at being vague when you ask them direct questions. This is an especially slick way of lying’ omission. Keep this in mind when dealing with a suspected wolf in sheep’s clothing. Always seek and obtain specific, confirmable information.

Selective Inattention
This tactic is similar to and sometimes mistaken for denial. It’s when the aggressor “plays dumb,” or acts oblivious. When engaging in this tactic, the aggressor actively ignores the warnings, pleas or wishes of others, and in general, refuses to pay attention to everything and anything that might distract them from pursuing their own agenda. Often, the aggressor knows full well what you want from him when he starts to exhibit this “I don’t want to hear it!” behavior.

Rationalization
A rationalization is the excuse an aggressor tries to offer for engaging in an inappropriate or harmful behavior. It can be an effective tactic, especially when the explanation or justification the aggressor offers makes just enough sense that any reasonably conscientious person is likely to fall for it. It’s a powerful tactic because it not only serves to remove any internal resistance the aggressor might have about doing what they want to do (quieting any qualms of conscience they might have) but also to keep others off their back.

Diversion
A moving target is hard to hit. When we try to pin a manipulator down or try to keep a discussion focused on a single issue or behavior we don’t like, they’re expert at knowing how to change the subject, dodge the issue or in some way throw us a curve. They use distraction and diversion techniques to keep the focus off their behavior, move us off-track, and keep themselves free to promote their self-serving hidden agendas.

Covert Intimidation
Aggressors frequently threaten their victims to keep them anxious, apprehensive and in a one-down position. Covert-aggressives intimidate their victims by making veiled (subtle, indirect or implied) threats.

Guilt-tripping
This is one of the covert-aggressive’s two favorite weapons (the other is shaming). It’s a special kind of intimidation tactic. One thing that aggressive personalities know well is that other types of persons have very different consciences than they do. Manipulators are often skilled at using what they know to be the greater conscientiousness of their victims as a means of keeping them in a self-doubting, anxious, and submissive position. The more conscientious the potential victim, the more effective guilt is as a weapon. Aggressive personalities of all types use guilt-tripping so frequently and effectively as a manipulative tactic. All a manipulator has to do is suggest to the conscientious person that they don’t care enough, are too selfish, etc., and that person immediately starts to feel bad. On the contrary, a conscientious person might try until they’re blue in the face to get a manipulator (or any other aggressive personality) to feel badly about a hurtful behavior, acknowledge responsibility, or admit wrongdoing, to absolutely no avail.

Shaming
Using rhetorical comments, subtle sarcasm and other techniques, covert-aggressives can invite you to feel ashamed of yourself. This technique is used as a means of increasing fear and self-doubt in others. Covert-aggressives use this tactic to make others feel inadequate or unworthy, and therefore, submit to them. It’s an effective way to foster a continued sense of personal inadequacy in the weaker party, thereby allowing an aggressor to maintain a position of dominance.

Playing the Victim Role
This tactic involves portraying oneself as an innocent victim of circumstance or someone else’s behavior in order to gain sympathy, evoke compassion and thereby get something from another. One thing that covert-aggressive personalities count on is the fact that less calloused and hostile personalities usually can’t stand to see anyone suffering. Therefore, the tactic is simple. Convince your victim you’re suffering in some way, and they’ll try to relieve your distress.

Vilifying the Victim
This tactic is frequently used in conjunction with the tactic of playing the victim role. The aggressor uses this tactic to make it appear he is only responding (i.e. defending himself against) aggression on the part of the victim. It enables the aggressor to better put the victim on the defensive.

Playing the Servant Role
Covert-aggressives use this tactic to cloak their self-serving agendas in the guise of service to a more noble cause. It’s a common tactic but difficult to recognize. By pretending to be working hard on someone else’s behalf, covert-aggressives conceal their own ambition, desire for power, and quest for a position of dominance over others.

Seduction
Covert-aggressive personalities are adept at charming, praising, flattering or overtly supporting others in order to get them to lower their defenses and surrender their trust and loyalty.

Projecting the Blame (blaming others)
Aggressive personalities are always looking for a way to shift the blame for their aggressive behavior. Covert-aggressives are not only skilled at finding scapegoats, they’re expert at doing so in subtle, hard to detect ways.

Minimization
This tactic is a unique kind of denial coupled with rationalization. When using this maneuver, the aggressor attempting to assert their abusive behavior isn’t really as harmful or irresponsible as someone else may be claiming. It’s the aggressor’s attempt to make a molehill out of a mountain.

* Excerpt from In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing With Manipulative People — by George K. Simon

I’ve also seen logic fallacies used for their arguments in addition to manipulation tactics, so brushing up on logic is very helpful too.

- Tom

thanks again to FDL and feldman.

The Michigan GOP is playing a nasty game of chicken over school funding with the Governer here, kathleen.

I don’t even Gov Granholm her job, but man she’s got to play this hard. From what i can see? She is. The GOP is attempting to frame the debate too. Allover it’s just a really harsh battle, with the potential of shutting down the michigan government temporarily.

I am aware it was bait. But I really do not know the Michigan situation. Though well aware of our school constitutional crisis here in Ohio that Gov. Strickland will resolve if he is able.

I see framing creeping into Canada by the Conservative Govt. People will get sandbagged here just the same as in the USA. It is as if honesty is gone from debate because unless the viewer is aware of the con of the “frame” it is like a subliminal message few can see. Watching from up here though, Jim Webb takes charge of debate (ie he doesn’t fall for the framed discussion), both he and Nancy Pelosi are very effective in counteracting Repub frames.

I agree. I have been paying more attention to Pelosi than to Webb, but she is fantastic.

Jeffrey would you call blogs a new type of “deliberative body”?

Jeffrey
I would call blogs deliberative bodies, even though they are not constitutionally defined. Participation in blogs is the most striking innovation in American deliberative democracy in my lifetime.

Jeffrey “Participation in blogs is the most striking innovation in American deliberative democracy in my lifetime”

Three cheers for firedoglake and all other open and socratic blogathons.

When I attended a conference here at Ohio University Scripps School of Journalism a few years ago about the MSM and blogs, and I heard some of the hot shot journalist expressing fear about blogs I knew it was a good sign.

I don’t even Gov Granholm her job, but man she’s got to play this hard. From what i can see? She is. The GOP is attempting to frame the debate too. Allover it’s just a really harsh battle, with the potential of shutting down the michigan government temporarily.

Feldman “And the person who develops the first international news site with news contributors worldwide will be the gate crasher.”

I believe Al jazeera was on this path. The broadcasters the MSM blocked them from crashing the gate. Al Jazeera has been blocked from broadcasting in the U.S.

Who cares about attribution.

The point is that Al jazeera is not blocked from developing the ability to simultaneously broadcasting its “news” in multiple languages nor is FDL. That technology exists within limited word domains and mainstream media does not have the cpacity to do that on vhf or uhf spectrum. But the capacity exists on the Internet and we have to go way beyond “entertainment” technology such as You Tube, etc to provide forums for information to be provided, for example, for every event in Iraq reported from the ground in Iraq in multiple languages simultaneously or for example a flashing multilingual neon sign counting every minute Bush spends in the gym and reporting his activities 24/7. Thw world needs to know what Bush really does on a daily basis.