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Politics : Mainstream Politics and Economics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: longnshort who wrote (10131)	2/23/2012 11:08:01 AM
From: Wharf Rat	1 Recommendation Respond to of 85487

"Al Gore and his supporters have changed their talking points from global warming to climate-change." Actually, Republican spinner Frank Luntz did that. Koch money well spent. = Luntz Memo on the Environment It’s common knowledge that high-powered corporate lobbying interests and their government allies use public opinion researchers March 2003 "The aide who tangled most often and most vociferously with Cheney was [Senior Counselor to the President and long-time confidant] Karen Hughes. ... as Cheney said in a speech in Toronto in April, while conservation might be a "personal virtue," conservation alone was not "a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy." Hughes strenuously disagreed. In the 1990s, the environment had emerged as a defining issue for millions of voters, and especially women voters. These voters did not want power plants and power lines built near their homes. They did not like or trust energy companies. They wanted to believe in the promise of conservation and alternative energy. — (The Right Man, pp. 62-63) by recently departed Bush speechwriter David Frum. It’s common knowledge that high-powered corporate lobbying interests and their allies in government use elite public opinion researchers to coach them on how best to mask their efforts with inoffensive language to advantageously slant public perception. However, it’s rare to actually get an under-the-hood glimpse of the formulation behind such propaganda. Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently obtained documents from a briefing book compiled by the lobbyists’ top public opinion researcher. Frank Luntz is known as the architect of House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s 1994 “Contract with America,” and he has a “who’s who” corporate lobbyist client list along with a large number of conservative politicians. The attached 16 pages are part of a briefing book for lobbyists and Republican politicians on how to spin a variety of topics to roll back environmental and public health protections while avoiding a public backlash — like the one they experienced in 1995-96. It was Luntz who helped sweep Republicans into power in 1994, and it was also Luntz who warned them a year later that they were overreaching on the environment: Republican pollster Frank Luntz, whose work steered much of the “Contract” campaign, warned GOP leaders in a memo last July that 62 percent of American voters — and even 54 percent of Republican voters — would prefer to see Congress do more to protect the environment rather than cut regulations. — The Plain Dealer, 10/22/95 Recent news accounts have reported that powerful monied interests are preparing multimillion-dollar advertising and public relations campaigns to support a renewed effort roll back environmental and public health protections. These efforts will be aimed at providing new and effective cover for long-standing influence peddling goals. The resulting advertising and PR messages will almost certainly reach your readers. We are providing you with this memo as a reporting tool, in case it proves useful to your readers in decoding the lobbying spin they will soon see. Highlights According to Luntz, when Republicans and lobbyists explain their positions “correctly,” (p. 136), 70% of the public agrees with them. While some parts of the document delve into sophisticated dos and don’ts, Luntz begins with advice that adheres to time-tested public relations maneuvers: “convince them of your sincerity and concern” for the environment” (p. 132) make use of broad, clear principles – promote “common sense” policy (p. 131); “people don’t understand the technicalities of environmental law – but they do understand the benefits of conservation of water, land, and open spaces” (p. 135) unite Americans by emphasizing our shared rights and beliefs: “we all want to move towards a healthier, safer future” (p.131); “we all want/deserve clean air/water” (p.134) Luntz advises that, “’Climate change’ is less frightening than ’global warming.’ ... While global warming has catastrophic connotations attached to it, climate change suggests a more controllable and less emotional challenge” (p. 142). ewg.org