Let's Reframe The Debate With The Religious Right [View All]

I know this has been discussed here in depth, however, I think it is important enough to examine one linguistic part of the debate.

The Republicans, as we know, have been very successful in reframing debates by inventing buzz words and phrases ("protecting marriage", "war on terror", "flip flop", etc) and using them so often and so consistently that the media picks them up and they enter the mainstream lexicon and they actually shape perceptions and opinions.

In that spirit, as a number of has have discussed, not ONE liberal or progressive elected official, nor any of us, should ever again refer to any of the leaders of the religious right without using the descriptive handle: Radical Cleric.

As in Radical Cleric Pat Robertson, Radical Cleric James Dobson, Radical Cleric Jerry Falwell. This should be used in letters to the editor, in discussions with workplace colleagues, everywhere and anywhere. The phraseology should become so commonplace that we force the media to adopt the language.

And this should just be the beginning. Any other phrases we should be using to retake the debate from the religious rightwingers?