Responding to Conservative Name-Calling

George Lakoff, The Rockridge Institute: We were recently asked how to respond when confronted with the attack, "Aw you liberals just hate America."

This is name-calling with a destructive (and false) frame. There are times when it is necessary to have a retort, not for its own sake, but to allow you to shift the frame and say a lot more on any one of many topics. The replacement frame should express progressive views while revealing key truths hidden by the original frame. Here is one strategy:

"Aw you liberals just hate America."

• No. We love democracy and we want to return it to America. You want a presidential dictator.
• We love liberty and we want to return it to America. You want to tap our phones.
• We love equality and we want to return it to America. You think some people are better than others.
• We love honesty and we want to return it to America. You love lobbyists and corruption.
• We love fairness and we want to return it to America. You want to oppress the powerless.
• We love openness and we want to return it to America. You love secrecy and hiding the facts.
• We love nature's glory and we want to return it to America. You love the profit that comes from destroying nature.
• We love community and we want to return it to America. You want everyone to fend for himself.
• We love public education and we want to return it to America. You want to destroy public education.
• We love civilian control of the military and we want to return it to America. You want to militarize America.

LSB: Be ready to respond, because Repuglicans are like mad dogs with a bone - they never give up without a fight!