Fox & Friends hosts Frank Luntz to decry Pelosi "rebranding" the public option

Why am I thinking about a bully with a bloody nose, bawling about being punched?

Luntz complaining about "rebranding"?

Luntz's whole raison d'etre is how to change words to convey the wanted impression for the political right.

They even introduce him as the "Word Doctor" for God's sake, but here he helps them whine about the Dems changing frames. Schmuck.

That's funny, because I seem to remember several people. including Frank Luntz, on the right who wanted to "rename" the Public OIption to the "Government Option."

Oh and look, MMfA has even provided us with examples of that in the form of links right under the video.

So, Gretchen thinks that it's okay to call it 'a government takeover of healthcare', 'cause, you know, that's what FOX Propaganda is all about. But Pelosi changing from 'public option' to 'consumer option' is clearly a sign that they're trying to save a dying plan? Well, I'm glad there's just the one standard that everyone is held to, Gretchen. By the way, Frank Luntz's job is propaganda, and the Orwellian twisting of words to suit political ends, but you already knew that, right?

I can hear the conversation eight years ago. "We can't call it the Fascist Takeover of America through Spying on the Entire Country Plan. Just too long. I got it! We'll call it the Patriot Act! That's easier to remember, and it sounds a heckuva lot better than the truth!"

FOX Propaganda: Hey, at least we're consistent!

Hold on, hold on, I need calirification...

Is this FOX News story "opinion" or "news"?

As a public service FOX should run a continuous crawler on the bottom of the screen indicating whther what the viewer is seeing is news or opinion.

Thank you... ;>)

Oh come on, this is the network that put effort into distinguishing itself as the media outlet that tried to "rebrand" suicide bombers as homicide bombers.

As for the substance of Luntz's comments:

Well look, a lemon is a lemon. You can call it an orange or an apple. And I have a simple question for people out there who are watching right now, what you should call it: who created it, the public or the government?

Luntz is, of course, not actually trying to give a reasoned answer or explanation. What he's doing is offering a model to the viewers of FNC for how to argue this point in their own lives. And of course since he isn't challenged by the interviewer, the implication to the viewer is that Luntz's rhetorical strategy is sure to silence even a critical opponent.

In real life, anyone who tried Luntz's argument would be met with the point that all legislation is created by the government, and in a representative democracy the people elect legislators to create their legislation on their behalf. But that's not important for FNC. What's important is giving the impression that its arguments are undeniable. Glenn Beck's silly "Arguing With Idiots" book is marketed in the same way, as a toolbox of foolproof talking points that will magically protect you from that frequent feeling of shame you feel every time you lose another argument about politics.

It's an incredibly condescending and patronizing approach that FNC, its commentators and hosts take when addressing their audience: it's an approach designed to relieve the viewer of the burden of thinking.

Hilarious coming from the "Homicide Bomber" network.