MSNBC's Rachel Maddow - guest Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA04) discusses Wall Street reform

Run time: 09:09 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftAois2qeTk   Posted on YouTube: February 02, 2010 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 02, 2010 By DU Member: democracy1st Views on DU: 1083

 
The Myth Of The 'Permanent Bailout Fund'


Conservative message-maker Frank Luntz's latest memo, which lays out a rhetorical strategy for Republicans to defeat financial regulatory reform legislation, includes a dishonest talking point that's been around since before the bill came out of the House Financial Services Committee. It's the myth that the bill creates a "permanent bailout fund" to prop up failed banks.

It's the financial reform version of the "death panel" lie that Republicans used so effectively to drive the public against health insurance reform.

During floor debate in December, Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) railed against a "a permanent, TARP-like bailout authority." Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) said, "For the first time in history, Congress is authorizing perpetual bailout authority." Said Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), "Rather than ending the bailouts, this legislation institutionalizes them." And so on.

But it's just not true. The bill does set up a large fund, but the money is to be used to take big banks apart if necessary, not keep them propped up.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/01/the-myth-of-the-permanent_n_444817.html



Frank Luntz Pens Memo To Kill Financial Regulatory Reform


Nine months after he penned a memo laying out the arguments for health care legislation's destruction, Republican message guru Frank Luntz has put together a playbook to help derail financial regulatory reform.

In a 17-page memo titled, "The Language of Financial Reform," Luntz urged opponents of reform to frame the final product as filled with bank bailouts, lobbyist loopholes, and additional layers of complicated government bureaucracy.

"If there is one thing we can all agree on, it's that the bad decisions and harmful policies by Washington bureaucrats that in many ways led to the economic crash must never be repeated," Luntz wrote. "This is your critical advantage. Washington's incompetence is the common ground on which you can build support."

Luntz continued: "Ordinarily, calling for a new government program 'to protect consumers' would be extraordinary popular. But these are not ordinary times. The American people are not just saying 'no.' They are saying 'hell no' to more government agencies, more bureaucrats, and more legislation crafted by special interests."

In Republican circles Luntz's words, which have helped the party score win the message wars over health care and other legislative battles, are often treated as gospel. Already, some of the advice he's offered on regulatory reform has found its way into the political discourse -- with a proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency seemingly on life support under Republican objections.

In addition to tying regulatory reform to a massive government takeover, Luntz's memo includes several other data points and messaging suggestions as a blue print for the legislation's defeat. Opponents, he writes, would be well served to link the package to the financial industry bailout (which, it should be noted, is fundamentally not part of the legislation). According to accompanying polling data, 52 percent of voters said they would be "much less likely" to vote for their member of Congress if they voted for a financial reform bill that contained a fund to bail out banks and Wall Street.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/01/frank-luntz-pens-memo-to_n_444332.html



Frank Luntz's "The Language of Healthcare 2009"


THE LANGUAGE OF HEALTHCARE 2009
By Dr. Frank I. Luntz


This document is based on polling results and Instant Response dial sessions conducted in April 2009. It captures not just what Americans want to see but exactly what they want to hear. The Words That Work boxes that follow are already being used by a few Congressional and Senatorial Republicans. From today forward, they should be used by everyone.

You simply MUST be vocally and passionately on the side of reform. The status quo is no longer acceptable. If the dynamic becomes “President Obama is on the side of reform and Republicans are against it,” then the battle is lost and every word in this document is useless. Republicans must be for the right kind of reform that protects the quality of healthcare for all Americans. And you must establish your support of reform early in your presentation.

THE 10 RULES FOR STOPPING THE “WASHINGTON TAKEOVER” OF HEALTHCARE

(1) Humanize your approach.

(2) Acknowledge the “crisis” or suffer the consequences.

(3) “Time” is the government healthcare killer.

(4) The arguments against the Democrats’ healthcare plan must center around “politicians,” “bureaucrats,” and “Washington” … not the free market, tax incentives, or competition.

(5) The healthcare denial horror stories from Canada & Co. do resonate, but you have to humanize them.

(6) Healthcare quality = “getting the treatment you need, when you need it.”

7) “One-size-does-NOT-fit-all.”

(8) WASTE, FRAUD, and ABUSE are your best targets for how to bring down costs.

(9) Americans will expect the government to look out for those who truly can’t afford healthcare.

(10) It’s not enough to just say what you’re against. You have to tell them what you’re for.

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/may/frank_luntzs_the_l.php


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am I the only one who couldn't keep up with that convoluted mess of wandering thoughts?
Flame away, but my expression during the video was not unlike Rachel's...

I though that only repuks were that stupid. He does not wear dentures. Republicans hate him because they don't have anyone with his brain. Barney is the best thing since sliced bread. I love him.

It is the content of what he said that is important.

as does Dylan Ratigan.