"Re-Framing" or Re-Thinking?

Here’s a fine piece of criticism by Marc Cooper taking on the theories of Berkeley linguist George Lakoff, who has become something of post-election guru for dispirited Democrats. Lakoff argues that the Dems simply need to “re-frame” the terms of the debate so that their policies will be more appealing (e.g. Republicans say “tax relief,” Dems should say “investing in America” or “membership fees”).

Cooper, himself a man of the Left and an editor at The Nation, says that this is really just liberal self-pity in the guise of political strategy (“There’s nothing wrong with us, it’s just that the stupid masses have been suckered by those evil Republicans!”). Instead, Cooper suggests, liberals and Democrats might want to consider making some actual changes in policy.