Wampum

Past The Sell by Date

Think Progress is doing a marvelous job of analyzing the Frank Luntz Republican playbook.

One snippet caught my attention. When setting the tone to talk about tax reform, Luntz advises Republicans to:

Stress how badly Washington spends their money. “The only way to stop wasteful Washington s pending now and forever is to keep the money with those who earned it…If Washington doesn’t have your money, Washington can’t spend your money.”

The Republicans have controlled the House for 10 years. They have controlled the Senate for most of the last ten years. They have controlled the White House for four years and will for the next four years.

Exactly who is it that Republicans think the public should blame if Washington is spending tax money so unwisely?

Luntz and his friends may get a little more mileage out of that argument but, in doing so, it is trading short term benefit for longer term problems.

Eventually, Americans will wonder why if Washington spends money so badly, it is any solution to keep sending those same Republicans back to office.

The Luntz’s argument has passed or is fast approaching its sell by date.

Posted by Dwight Meredith at February 24, 2005 03:02 PM | TrackBack