Anybody else not like the phrase: "Culture of Corruption"?

[Wetzelbill]

It sounds too test group-ish to me. I always hate when politicians start using words and phrases that did well when people were polled on them or they worked well in test groups. It sounds so fake to me. I bristle when I read or here them. Like when Bush says "Ownership Society." It all weirds me out, like a bunch of cheap salesman think I'm dumb enough to fall for a word that tests well. "Culture of Corruption" is supposed to resonate with millions of people? I never hear regular people talk like that. I say just call a rat a rat, don't mince words and use phony phrase. Typical Washington Dem: "Oh, the Republicans are mired in a (drum roll) culture of corruption." Like I'm supposed to jump up and say: "Holy shit, maybe they really are!" I would rather hear somebody say:" The Republican Party is full of rats who would sell out the American people for a dollar." Call an SOB an SOB, hell, Paul Hackett did, I think other Dems should too.

[billybob537]

1. This title is nessessary

Becouse it would take hours to cover all the lies and scandals covered by this Culture of Corruption. It's a modus operandi.

[SharonAnn]

2. I like it! It sums things up in a short, crisp phrase. Sound bites work!

[TheDonkey]

3. I think it's good. I also think the "ownership society" is a good slogan

it does seem stale and manufactured but the public gobbles up these mindless soundbytes.

I think if Democrats keep on pounding away about the culture of corruption the public will begin to naturally compare republicans with corruption.

[Wetzelbill]

5. yeah, it bugs me but the drones eat stuff like that up so I guess

it could work.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. I know what you mean, but ask yourself this .......

....... you don't like the phrase because it affects your innate sensibilities. And that's okay. I understand. Like me, I suspect you prefer to see things stated truthfully and fully. But then ask yourself if the phrasing works on the largely uninformed and uninvolved masses.

If it does, and it presents our side well, then it works and its a good thing.

The phrase is quite true in a literal sense. In today's America, there are two deeply divided sides. One of them, the Republicans, have for years lived by corruption. To be sure, there has also been corruption on our side. But today, Republican corruption has arguably grown to a complete cultural acceptance. And if that fact gets out and accepted because of the wide use of this (admittedly) catch phrase, that's a good thing.

But yeah ... I hear ya!

[safi0]

6. Your post

Got me thinking about a Lteer to the Editor I read in TIME yesterday. It complimented Republicans on there efficiency, it took them 10 years to exhibit the level of corruption that Democrats had after 40 years.

[Wetzelbill]

7. I prefer blunt speakers sort of like Brian Schweitzer or a Howard Dean

But, I suppose what works for me doesn't so much work for most people I guess. I think a good example might be Bush and the rest of the administration affiliating Saddam and al-qaeda and Saddam and 9-11. We all know it was bullshit but the implication getting pounded in everybody else's heads all the time worked. So I guess if you keep saying it enough it will resonate.

[MaineDem]

8. This is Howard's phrase

He's been using it for months and it's finally getting noticed.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. I'm pretty sure Dean was the first to use this phrase n/t

on edit .... oops ...... I see I repeated someone else!

[Wetzelbill]

11. yeah, It still sounds funny to me though

I like the wild and crazy Dean with the rolled up sleeves and everything. :)

[tk2kewl]

9. I would prefer "Corrupt Sons of Bitches"

:evilgrin:

[Wetzelbill]

12. see now that I can handle :)

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

13. I love it because it is so much more accurate than Culture of Life

that they have tried to claim.

And cause it feels so good to see them labeled what they are, instead of them brainwashing the masses with their so-called "culture of life."

[auburngrad82]

14. The GOP are masters of the catch phrase.

How often have Bush and his cronies used the term "culture of life"?

It's about time we started using terms that were easy to remember. It started with the 'nuclear option." The GOP hated it because it sounded bad for them to use something so drastic.

That's what it's about. Getting your message out in short, easy to remember phrases.

[TumorSupressor]

15. I love it... its perfect.

Fits on a bumper sticker nicely. "we need to change this culture of corruption and bring a sense of confidence compassion and competency back to our government."

[bunkerbuster1]

16. I hear ya too, but the thing is, repetition works.

Hammering home stupid phrases like "CofC" is part of the gig.

Ever watch the movie Bull Durham? Remember how the veteren Kevin Costner character advises rookie phenom Tim Robbins on how to talk to the press? Tim's character is pretty dim, but even he is choking on some of the idiotic cliches he's being asked to repeat, like "God willing, I'll be able to help the ballclub."

It's a great moment, because it's so true. You really do have to hammer home dumb cliches because they're the ones that get remembered.

[kywildcat]

17. cue up the Three Dog Night

I like


LIAR

one word, simple, sticks in the mind.

[aaronnyc]

18. Repeating a focus-grouped phrase is a successful strategy

Yeah, it sounds absurd to me also when I hear every single Dem politician go on TV and use the exact same phrase over and over again. Unfortunately, most people are so stupid that this strategy is necessary if you are going to get a point across. You have to focus-group people at what phrase is most effective and then repeat that phrase ad-nauseum, for people to actually digest the concept which you are trying to get across. This same strategy is used in almost all forms of advertising - and the job of Party leaders when they go on TV is to sell their Party (just as a salesman tries to sell their product).

It is unfortunate that this is the only way to drive a point home to the American people - but unless the people and media become more cynical about these sorts of political marketing techniques, I would not expect this to change anytime soon. When Bush repeated the same three phrases throughout the campaign the media applauded him for having a "focused message."

[donkeyotay]

19. I think we're all going to develop an ear for "canned"

or as you so aptly put it, "too test group-ish." The Democrats should stop being the me-too party. They catch on to spin right when spin is reaching a saturation point that will begin to cause a negative reaction. I think it's better to reach for the words. They might as well call them the petri dish party.