The Perfect Response/Argument:

1. Is a story. ( I remember when, I was talking to X just yesterday, About 3 years ago, your my brother had
a serious heart attack and....)

2. Is you talking about your experiences from the heart ( This means that your emotional commitment to
what you are saying is obvious in your demeanor , your body language and your facial expressions. If
you just let it happen, let it flow all this will fall into place naturally.)

3. Starts with a moral claim about what is right and valuable ( I believe …..)

4. Refer to some common American myth(s) and or value(s) which we all share (See the Framing
Worksheet for details.

The short story – Robert Reich's Four American Parables: The Rot at the Top, or stories of corruption in
high places and conspiracies against the public; (2) The Triumphant Individual, or hard work pays off
more than class privilege; (3) The Benign Community of neighbors helping each other; and (4) The Mob
at the Gates, or how the society is coming apart from an excess of democratic permissiveness.)

The short value list:

`
Stronger America Stronger on defense, the economy, education ;
more effective in the world
Broad prosperity Markets that provide every American a fair
opportunity to prosper
Better future Investing in improvement of the economy,
education and the environment
Effective government Clean , honest, efficient, and effective
government working for a better future
Mutual responsibility Values of families and communities: caring and
responsibility

Biblical values:

Poverty - Aid the poor: Matthew 25:35-40

Truth-telling – Tell the truth
Honoring our obligation to social justice
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I
was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger
and you welcomed me, naked and you
clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison
and you visited me.' Then the righteous will
answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see
you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give
you drink? When did we see you a stranger
and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free
Mic 6:8,
You have been told, O man, what is good, and
what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the
right and to love mercy , and to walk humbly
with your God.
Test of Righteousness Matthew 7:16
By their fruits you will know them. Do you
gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

5. Use common place words and images which are easy to understand and make “common sense” ( fact,
not “empirically verified” , “The Fat Cats never have enough”. )

6. Use words with favorable implications for your side. ( We want to reduce costs, guarantee choice and
ensure quality care for all )

7. Is first of all why you believe as you do, NOT why you disbelieve the other side. ( I believe in a fair
chance for all of our children, and that means health care for all of our children. NOT Well, they are
wrong, we don't want socialized medicine )

8. DOES NOT use their language and words, but uses your/our language and words. ( Killing Granny ,
NOT death panels. The first makes fun of their claim about rationing health care for the elderly, the
second reinforces Palin's rant on the topic.)

Follow Up Resources

http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKI9be55N00

http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/

http://www.scribd.com/my_docs

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16403218/Some-Things-to-Help-You-in-Your-Work

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16403212/Available-Affordable-Heath-Care

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4604618/Progressive-Narratives

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4608394/Overton-Window

Texas Kos : Progressive Politics & News - Texas Style!

http://www.frameshopisopen.com/

Books:

Thinking Points by George Lakoff

Don't Think About An Elephant by George Lakoff
Tales of a New America by Robert B. Reich
The Predator State by James Galbraith
How to Argue and Win Every Time by Gary Spence
Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
God's Politics by Jim Walllis