Now that Newt Gingrinch has crawled back into the public eye - and is reportedly considering a run for President - let's take a look back at his notorious 1990 GOPAC memo that is revealingly entitled "Language: A Key Mechanism of Control."
Ah yes, the authoritarian need for control. The memo opens with these timeless words:
As you know, one of the key points in the GOPAC tapes is that "language matters." In the video "We Are a Majority," Language is listed as a key mechanism of control used by a majority party... As the tapes have been used in training sessions across the country and mailed to candidates we have heard a plaintive plea: "I wish I could speak like Newt."
Oh, those plaintive pleas! They are deafening.
In outlining his "key mechanism of control," Newt lists handy vocabulary words for Republicans to use in describing dirty fucking hippies -- uh, Democrats. And it's all based on science!
"The words in that paper are tested language from a recent series of focus groups where we actually tested ideas and language."
Newt is so smart!
Now, wouldn't it be fun to use all this scientific knowledge AGAINST Republicans?
Okay, let's go! Here are some words that he says describes Democrats. Funny, though, how they actually describe Republicans, especially after BushCo's spectacular reign of error:
decay... failure (fail)... collapse(ing)... deeper... crisis...urgent(cy)... destructive... destroy... betray... consequences... endanger... hypocrisy... threaten... corruption... incompetent... destructive... impose... self-serving... greed... ideological... insecure... corrupt... selfish... shame... disgrace... bizarre... cynicism... cheat... steal... abuse of power
And here are the ones which actually DO describe Democrats:
share... change... opportunity... challenge... truth... moral... courage... reform... active(ly)... we/us/our... candid(ly)... humane... principle(d)... duty... care(ing)... tough... listen... learn...help... lead... vision... success... empower(ment)... citizen...activist... mobilize... peace... rights... preserve... fair... protect... common sense... passionate
So there is a quick guideline for Democrats on language to use in the upcoming debates and elections. Sometimes are oppoonents hand us tools to use against them. Let's use their own "mechanism for control" against them.
As the Newtster reminds us:
The words and phrases are powerful. Read them. Memorize as many as possible. And remember that, like any tool, these words will not help if they are not used....
Thanks for all your help, Newt!
Oh, and good luck with that campaign. You're gonna need it.