Ever since George Lakoff made "framing" a common term, we've become familiar with numerous right-wing attempts to make policy initiatives sound like the opposite of what they are. You've probably heard them all: "Clear Skies Initiative," "death tax," "Healthy Forests," pro-life," "family values."
In all of these cases, words are put together to convey an impression that is the opposite of what the words appear to be describing. But until now, we could at least agree on what the individual meanings of simple words were. No more.
Now it seems that the chutzpah on the right has reached new levels with the appearance - on NBC's Meet the Press - of Republican strategist Alex Castellanos along with Rachel Maddow. An amazing exchange occurred between Maddow and Castellanos on the subject of the willingness of Republicans to include "revenues" in the debt limit deal.
Unbelievably, Castellanos indicated that the Republicans were willing to accept revenues in the final debt ceiling deal. To her credit, Maddow asked him what revenues they would consider. After deflecting with references to JFK, Castellanos actually essentially answered: tax cuts! Yes, the "revenues" Republicans were willing to accept were the opposite of revenues. Maddow scoffed in seeming disbelief, trying to explain that "revenues" was a synonym for taxes.
Good thing most liberals know how to pronounce the word "chutzpah."
In all of these cases, words are put together to convey an impression that is the opposite of what the words appear to be describing. But until now, we could at least agree on what the individual meanings of simple words were. No more.
Now it seems that the chutzpah on the right has reached new levels with the appearance - on NBC's Meet the Press - of Republican strategist Alex Castellanos along with Rachel Maddow. An amazing exchange occurred between Maddow and Castellanos on the subject of the willingness of Republicans to include "revenues" in the debt limit deal.
Unbelievably, Castellanos indicated that the Republicans were willing to accept revenues in the final debt ceiling deal. To her credit, Maddow asked him what revenues they would consider. After deflecting with references to JFK, Castellanos actually essentially answered: tax cuts! Yes, the "revenues" Republicans were willing to accept were the opposite of revenues. Maddow scoffed in seeming disbelief, trying to explain that "revenues" was a synonym for taxes.
