Memo to Dems: language matters

They've tried to kill SS for 50 years.

I’m listening to Obama’s press conference right now and getting a bit frustrated. If I could whisper in his ear, I’d tell him:

Don’t say  “I think this is what the American people want”.  Say “This is what the American people want.”

Don’t use the future tense, as “I”m willing to move in their direction”, be firm and say “We’ve already moved in their direction”

Dont’ say ‘entitlements’: We didn’t use to call SS and Medicare ‘entitlements’, because they were shared programs and everyone paid in; then 20 years ago the GOP carefully – and very successfully – injected that word into the mainstream.  And your Democrats? What did they do? Why they just went along and today you’re up there reading from their script, calling the social contract with the American people ‘entitlements’.

OMG! Fair and balanced? Do you know that’s FOX News logo?

And really, Mr. President, you keep referring to ‘raising taxes’. How about “its time to  remove outdated corporate entitlements but not starting until 2013. And for the very richest Americans, we’re asking them to pay Clinton-era marginal rates. That is all. Those rates are already historically low.” But he keeps using the words ‘raising taxes’. Even when you say you’re not doing it, phrase it differently!

Language matters, Mr. President. Language matters.

We’ll get to that job stuff later

Behind the curtain perhaps of the huge Egypt story, the House GOP is now offering up its first bills.  Like the Senate bill I referenced earlier this morning, this has no chance of going anywhere, but it’s necessary to appear to be giving the contributors something for their dollars.

So here we go – Steve Benen continues the yeoman work this morning:

“HOUSE GOP EYES PLAN TO GUT EPA, CLEAN AIR ACT…. This afternoon, Nancy Pelosi and the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee will host an event focused on job-creating proposals.

Around the same time, House Republicans will unveil their latest legislative priority, which, you guessed it, isn’t related to reducing unemployment.

In a sharp challenge to the Obama administration, House Republican leaders intend to unveil legislation to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases, officials said. They expect to advance the bill quickly. […]

Officials said the House bill, which was to be offered Wednesday, would nullify all of the steps the EPA has taken to date on the issue, including a finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health.

In addition, it seeks to strip the agency of its authority to use the law in any future attempts to crack down on the emissions from factories, utilities and other stationary sources.”