The Slimy Disease of Right-wing Framing

[G_j]

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/19969/

The Disease of Right-wing Framing

By Robert Cole, AlterNet. Posted September 23, 2004.


The media continually reiterates right-wing language when framing the debate over healthcare. The loser is not just John Kerry but also the American voter.

Here is a recent New York Times headline of an article describing a George Bush stump speech in Michigan: Bush describes Kerry's health care plan as a 'government takeover.' The San Francisco Chronicle republished the very same piece, except its headline read: Bush blasts Kerry's 'enormous price tag' for health care.

What's wrong with this picture?

To begin with, an unsuspecting reader might be led to think – mistakenly, at that – that John Kerry's health care proposals amount to nothing less than the creation of a socialized national health care system.

Then there is the more alarming fact that both of these headlines help further President Bush's partisan slams against John Kerry. These influential media outlets lent credibility to George Bush's false claims by using the same language – or to be more accurate, 'frames' – of the White House spin machine.

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[dumpster_baby]

1. The real question is, where are the LeftWing Frames?

THey are conspicuously missing. ANd I think I know why. The RightWing have chosen their frames according to their own basic motivations and best interests. Both the Leftwing cannot strike back with frames of their own because the best interests of the leaders of the Left and the best interests of their constituency differ. Of course the same can be said for the leaders of the Right and their constituency. But for some reason, the constituency of the Right do not see this.

But I suspect that if the Left went ahead with frames of their own, frames that speak their own natural advantages and strike at the disadvantages of the Right, they would open a Pandora's Box of populism. Once these frames get out in the open, it might engender a political awareness that would run counter to the interests of the leaders of the Left.

The leaders of the left just have no real interest in framing the real issues. We saw the same thing when the Clinton administration halfheartedly "tried" to reform healthcare. Same thing will happen this time if Kerry is elected--a halfhearted battle with no real frames from the Left.

The left is crippled by the interests and motivations of their leaders. Of course, to be really honest, there ARE rightwing frames because there is a Right, but there are no LeftWing frames....because there is no Left, at least not one that has any power or visibility....

[G_j]

2. mmm..

interesting post. In that the left is essentially crippled, I certainly agree that most of the 'leaders' are halfhearted and compromised and sometimes even worthless. As far as the whole concept of frames on the left, I'll have to think on that. The terminology itself is new to me.

[dumpster_baby]

3. kkkiiiiiicccckkkk