Occupy Wall Street

Republicans Learn How To Spin Occupy Wall Street

Igor Bobic | December 1, 2011, 10:09AM

Yahoo News' Chris Moody knocks it out of the ball park with his latest report from Orlando, Florida, where the Republican Governors Association met with top GOP message-man-turned-Yoda Frank Luntz. The crux of their meeting? Learning how to wiggle out of uncomfortable moments whenever questioned about the politically inconvenient Occupy Wall Street movement.

Staring down a crazed youth angry about inequality? Don't panic, says Luntz. Instead, follow this handy-dandy guide guaranteed to help pacify your subject, explain that things actually aren't all that bad, and that Republican policies can make it better.

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Financial Reform

GOP Echoes Luntz: Dems' Wall Street Reform Bill Will Lead To More Bailouts

Brian Beutler | April 13, 2010, 1:03PM

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Republicans spent much of the recess gaming out their strategic posture on the Democrats' push to pass a major Wall Street reform bill, and it looks like they've finally settled on one: The GOP will oppose the proposed new regulations on the grounds that they will make future bailouts of big financial institutions more likely. And in adopting that line, they've taken a page straight out of the playbook of one of the conservative movement's top message men.

"We cannot allow endless taxpayer funded bailouts for big Wall Street banks," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the floor this morning. "That's why we must not pass the financial reform bill that's about to hit the floor. The fact is this bill wouldn't solve the problems that led to the financial crisis. It would make them worse."

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Health Care

Game On: Party Strategies For Health Care Summit Emerge

Brian Beutler and Christina Bellantoni | February 24, 2010, 5:40PM

Sen. Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and President Barack Obama

Republicans asked to negotiate health care with President Obama in front of C-Span cameras, but now slam the bipartisan health care summit at the White House slated for Thursday as nothing more than a "photo-op," "infomercial" and "a taxpayer-funded media event."

The GOP has telegraphed its strategy in recent days, saying Obama is making a mistake by attempting to forge ahead with his own compromise version of the Senate bill as Democrats say they see the finish line ahead. The Republicans also are approaching it like a debate, setting up a war room and rapid response center within the Republican National Committee.

The Democrats are eager to wrap up health care and are closely coordinating with the White House on the summit agenda. A Senate leadership aide told TPMDC the Democrats' strategy is to "leave much of the heavy lifting to the president" because he has proven to be "very skilled" in similar situations.

"[W]e're confident that we have a strong hand to play and we're going to strike a tone of compromise and willingness to sit down and listen and negotiate while pressing forward to get health care done as quickly as possible," the aide said.

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Barack Obama

Luntz Memo: Obama Not So Popular...But Don't Attack Obama!

Brian Beutler | October 30, 2009, 11:46AM

A new Frank Luntz strategy memo may provide some insight into the Republican's playbook as the fight over reform enters its final stages.

The memo, which you can read here, is one of many similar memos that have been circulated to politicians and activists over the last several months, including by Luntz himself.

In his previous memo, Luntz warned conservatives not to tie health care reform efforts to President Obama--the President's name, he warned, helped buoy the overall level of support for reform. Luntz now says that's not true--but he nonetheless counsels reform opponents not to use the term 'Obamacare.'

"[y]ou can talk about opposing "President Obama's Plan," Luntz writes. "But don't. While you no-longer [sic] shoot yourself in the foot by criticizing the President, you would do much better to criticize Congress."

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