Persuasive rhetoric for Dems

[gulliver]

"Since rhetoric -- political and forensic rhetoric, at any rate -- exists to affect the giving of decisions, the orator must not only try to make the argument of his speech demonstrative and worthy of belief; he must also (1) make his own character look right and (2) put his hearers, who are to decide, into the right frame of mind." -- Aristotle's Rhetoric

"In urging his hearers to take or to avoid a course of action, the political orator must show that he has an eye to their happiness. " -- Aristotle's Rhetoric

"The honest rhetorician has no separate name to distinguish him from the dishonest." -- Aristotle's Rhetoric

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~honeyl/Rhetoric/

The Dems still don't have a decent, systematic rhetorical foundation. We need to be persuasive, accentuate the goodness of our character, sell the expediency and value of our way of governing.

The Republicans are all about destruction. It is very easy to destroy, so it is very easy to make history. Republicans destroy reputations, intra- and international comity, government effectiveness, and even the foundations of reason itself. To paraphrase a famous Republican line: They destroy something and while we are sitting around discussing the destruction, they destroy something else.

I wanted to see if we could brainstorm up a list of persuasive rhetorical themes for the Dems. Here are a few to get the ball rolling. Please feel free to criticize them on the grounds that they are dishonest (we are not Republicans), might backfire, or are no good.

Law and Order Democrats
We need to persuade people to be firm about the rule of law. Republican rhetoricians emphasize the flaws of our legal system. We need to remind people that the law is the basis of our ability to live in peace and security. We should encourage disrespect and disrepute for people who live to skirt the law or who try to pay to distort it.

Law and order democrats believe that everyone should obey the law. Republicans seem to want one set of laws for themselves and another set for everyone else.

Democrats are Good People
We are being judged unfairly as not being good people. Clinton committed his infidelity. Some tiny few of us are characterized as supporting abortion on demand right up to and including after the woman's water breaks during labor. Some rappers popularize songs full of vulgarity, violence, perversion, etc. I'm a Democrat, and I don't approve of any of those things. Most Democrats don't.

Democrats are good people. The current GOP leadership throws away consensus and compromise. They don't listen to anyone but themselves. They divide America and insult our intelligence. Democrats believe in honesty, faith, hard work, free enterprise.

Preventing Concentrations of Power
People have negative experiences with power every day. Get them to imagine what life would be like if their ex-spouse or asshole boss were to become an all-powerful president.

Democrats don't want America to ever be in danger of falling into dictatorship. That is why we defend the principles found in our Constitution.

Making Life Better and More Secure for Americans
Not just the little guy, not just minorities, all Americans.

A national healthcare system would allow Americans to more easily start businesses, to sell their skills more freely, to have one less thing to worry about...

Democrats are not Wasteful or Reckless
We don't sell the resources of our national lands for pennies on the dollar. We don't allow a wealthy few to pollute our air and water. We didn't start an unnecessary war in Iraq chasing after a futile fantasy. We don't spend money like a teenager at a Hollister.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Read Lakoff's "Don't Think of an Elephant."

It's an easy read, it's only about $10, and it'll change your life.

NGU.

[gulliver]

2. Read Aristotle's "Rhetoric."

It's a sometimes ponderous, sometimes easy read, and it'll change your life. ;-)

I've been meaning to read Lakoff, but I keep procrastinating, partly because of time and partly because I've read so much about it here and elsewhere that I thought I could just save the $10. I'm betting Lakoff read Aristotle.

If there is more to Lakoff than just "frame the issues to win" I guess I had better read it. Maybe I'll read it at Borders with a latte and not buy it.

[ClassWarrior]

3. It's about crafting a message, and truth vs. "Orwellian language", too.

I'm actually reading one of his more scholarly books right now. He posits that metaphor is at the very heart of how we think. Interesting.

And yes, I should read Aristotle. I don't think a latte at Borders will cover it tho. B-)

NGU.