Maybe this is a cliche, but facts don’t matter too much in U.S. politics. This is essentially possible because individuals will consider facts to be of secondary importance when those facts don’t match their worldviews and premises. This is normal - to an extent. But the image/substance distinction is becoming a thing of the past. Although this is a bipartisan phenomenon, it is the core of Republican strategy, as well as the reason for their success. I understand that people disregard facts when they don’t match their worldview – I do it myself sometimes. But are we really so stupid and devoid of thoughtfulness that even the most obvious facts can be disregarded? Consider these core Republican arguments:
- The jury is still out on the theory of evolution.
- Republicans are for small government.
- Public assistance increases poverty.
- Gun ownership decreases crime.
- The Republicans are the party of family values, religion, and morals.
- Democrats are “elite snobs” with contempt for ordinary Americans.
- Opposing (or even questioning) the war is unpatriotic and “anti-troops.”
- Gay marriage threatens everyone else’s marriage.
- If Congress cuts war funding, our troops will be defenseless.
- Affirmative action is unjust racial discrimination.
These are not arguments, like abortion, that are subject to debate and personal opinion. Nor are these even bullshit arguments, such as the "liberal media bias," that are impossible to disprove. These are – there is no other way to put it – lies. Most of them are obscene lies. Besides being untruthful, they are all simply tools to increase (or stabilize) Republican power and support by setting, both directly and indirectly, the premises and agenda of public political discourse.
So, in the spirit of competition, I think it is high time that we as progressives fight back and establish our own premises, and so here are my proposals for the Democratic “talking points” throughout the 2008 election campaign:
- Republicans hate the terrorists because the terrorists hate our freedom, but freedom hates Republicans because they hate terrorists.
- Heterosexual marriage is a threat to gay divorce.
- The science on the earth being round is questionable, and so if the terrorists try to “follow us home” after an Iraq withdrawal, they might fall off the planet.
- School vouchers are just food stamps with a fancy wrapper.
- Social Security is an incentive against suicide bombers.
- The second amendment is only the right to wear short sleeves.
- Tax cuts are strongly favored in the Koran.
- Republicans doubt evolution because it doesn't affect them.
- School prayer is a slippery slope towards school prayer five times a day.
- Federal spending helps the economy, because the government goes shopping.
