Frank Luntz’s New Talking Point: “Checkbook Tax”

By GottaLaff

I have a talking point for Frank Luntz: Shut up. I doubt he'll include that one in his memos, though. He's too busy making up new misleading catch phrases that will be picked up by candidates which will then be picked up by punditiots which will then be picked up by news dee jays.

And that's how Frank's shiny new talking points become part of the political lexicon:

Since when have corporations ever paid taxes, fees or penalties? Employees end up paying in the form of lower salaries and benefits. Customers end up paying in the form of higher costs.

And in this case, every account holder will be forced to pay higher fees on their checking account and savings account. That’s you, my friendly reader. Can you say “checkbook tax”? I can, and I think lots of candidates will be saying it come November.

What was once the ever-popular “taxpayer-funded bailouts,” which is dead wrong, will now be "checkbook tax":

[H]e’s replaced it with the new claim that taxpayers will still pick up the tab when big institutions pass on costs in the form of a “checkbook tax.”

Watch for it on a Tee Vee Machine near you!

Video- What Frank Luntz Said

Just say it Harwood, they're freaking lying.

Frank Luntz hearts Newt Gingrich

By GottaLaff

Faster than a speeding bullet... more powerful than a locomotive... able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...

...

... in touch??

"He's more powerful than the entire Republican National Committee. He has a better e-mail list, he has better ideas, he's a better communicator and he's more in touch with what people think."

-- Pollster Frank Luntz, quoted by the New York Times, on Newt Gingrich.

Some-body has a man crush on the Newtieeee.

Video- Pollster Luntz inadvertently shows why Fox News prefers to call reconciliation the "nuclear option"

It's all wordplay and memes with them. Via Media Matters.

Frank Luntz: Obama had upper hand in GOP face-off

By GottaLaff

Luntz is right (did I just say that out loud?). You can see for yourself on this video of the entire exchange.

Greg Sargent has the scoop:

Pressed on who had the upper hand, Luntz conceded: “Obama had the advantage. But he always had the advantage.” He said it was a boon to the President, because he “demonstrated bipartisanship before a national audience.”

But Luntz said he’d counsel Republicans to do it again. “It was good for Republicans — it put them on the same level with the president and it will get their ideas heard,” he said.

Well, not exactly the same level. Not only was President Obama light years beyond them in his effort to reach out, but he is, you know, still the president.

What he did do was increase communication, not their stature. In fact, they diminished that all by their lonesomes by continuing to do exactly what Obama asked them to stop doing: Partisan bickering, negativity, and lies.

79% of NRA members believe Obama will ban gun sales

By GottaLaff

Gee, this isn't skewed to the right at all:

79 percent of NRA members believe Obama will definitely or probably try to outlaw gun sales, according to a poll released Thursday that was conducted by GOP pollster Frank Luntz and commissioned by Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

Obama's out to getcher firearms! Gaaa!

Wait. What's that I hear? Who's a-knockin' at my door? Why, it's the president! He's got a posse with him, and they're... they're... they're carrying ... guns!

Good thing I don't own any of my own, 'cause now they can't take 'em from me.

82 percent of NRA members support a law prohibiting individuals on terrorist watch lists from purchasing guns, while 69 percent of the group's membership supports closing the loophole allowing individuals to purchase guns at firearms expos without going through the legally-mandated background check.

There's more here. Feel free to wear your holster when you click over, you'll feel right at home.

Republican Guide to Undermining Health Care Reform

Shorter Frank Luntz strategy- Make sure the D's screw it up because the nation wants it and it's the right thing to do. Via Taegan-

GOP strategist Frank Luntz briefed Republican lawmakers this week "on his new plan for undermining Democrats' health-reform without making the GOP look bad," reports Mike Allen.

Luntz's 8-page memo is a fascinating read. He notes Republicans "still need to acknowledge the need for reform." He also says President Obama "is right: what Americans want is a solution, not continued political bickering."

However, Luntz says that once Republicans have "articulated the goal of bipartisanship, it is fair game (and according to our polling, supported by independents) to level a sharper attack on those who control Congress: 'The Democratic Party controls a 77 seat majority in the House and almost 20 seats in the Senate, along with the White House. If they cannot get a bill passed with such overwhelming control of Washington, it says there's something wrong with the legislation. Rather than forcing a bill through with only limited support, they should keep working until they can get a bill that represents the opinions of most Americans.'"

Here's the memo via Politico:

Roger Ailes for President?

Oh my lord, it couldn't get any better. It'd be like Jabba the Hutt vs Luke Skywalker. Plus, if Frank Luntz is behind it, you know you have a winner.

"Friends and associates are encouraging Roger Ailes -- Fox News founder, chairman and CEO -- to jump into the political arena for real by running for President in 2012," Mike Allen reports.

Said GOP strategist Frank Luntz: "I have known Roger Ailes for 29 years. No one knows how to win better than Roger."

Video- Pollster Luntz tells Fox & Friends hosts: "It isn't a death panel," Obama opponents have "gone too far"

Video- Fox Talkers Spin Cash for Clunkers Success as "Failure"

Via Newshounds.

VIDEO: Pollster Frank Luntz tries to convince focus group to oppose health care reform

By GottaLaff

"I know what rage is about," Luntz says. He sure does. He foments it:



Maybe he'll get fired... again.

Video- Focus group backfire! Guest tells Hannity protesters are "getting bad information from Fox News"

GOP parrots "Luntz Report" memes on health care

Luntz gives them the meme, they parrot it. Via Think Progress.

Added- Video fixed.

Quote-O'-The-Day: Frank Luntz, pre-Specter switcheroo

By GottaLaff

Priceless:

"I'm not as partisan as I once was. I don't like what politics has become."

-- GOP pollster Frank Luntz, quoted by The Wrap, on trying to change careers.

Uh-huh. You're about as credible as The Boehner's tan.

Quote-O'-The-Day: Frank Luntz edition

By GottaLaff

I'm not quite awake, so this is all I could process so far:

"Obama's team are the best linguists I've ever seen. Republicans aren't in his league right now."

-- Frank Luntz, author of Words that Work, in an interview with Politico.

This from a man who makes a living manipulating and framing the English language to benefit the Righties.

Quote-O'-The-Day: Frank Luntz slams McCain edition

By GottaLaff

"In terms of delivery, Stevie Wonder reads a teleprompter better than John McCain."
--Frank Luntz, GOP strategist

Come on. That's not being fair to Stevie Wonder.

Quote-O'-The-Day: Frank Luntz calling the election for Obama edition

By GottaLaff

Frank Luntz:

"I cannot foresee a scenario that John McCain is elected the President of the United States."

Audio here, with relevant segment at about 3:24.

H/t: Eve

FOX - Focus Group on Obama Infomercial

I saw this live, and agree with Shep. They're voting Obama.

VIDEO-- Frank Luntz: Obama will be next president

By GottaLaff

From last night's Real Time with Bill Maher, we see Republican tool pollster Frank Luntz call it for Obama at about 2:54:



To emphasize the point:

Obama Draws Record Crowd, McCain On Defense

"There was the feel of a political world turned upside down on Saturday as Sen. John McCain found himself defending North Carolina and Virginia, while Sen. Barack Obama was greeted by huge crowds in Missouri, which Republicans had also considered safe just months ago," the New York Times reports.

And:

Research 2000: Obama Holds Small Lead in North Carolina

A new Research 2000 poll in North Carolina shows Sen. Barack Obama edging Sen. John McCain, 46% to 44%.

GObama!