Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

WMAL EXCLUSIVE: Obama's New Rule For Political Civility
Wmal.com ^ | 9/7/11 | John Matthews

Posted on 09/07/2011 8:21:29 AM PDT by Evil Slayer

Original Title: WMAL EXCLUSIVE: LISTEN - Obama's New Rule For Political Civility.

WASHINGTON -- A top aide to President Obama says Americans must decide for themselves how to be civil with each other -- a rather sharp departure from comments that Obama has himself made in the past.

In an interview with the WMAL Morning Majority Wednesday, White House Communications Director Dan Pfieffer said the Obama administration is not going to be drawn into the "gotcha game" of reacting to comments made by Teamsters President James Hoffa, Jr. At a Labor Day rally in Detroit, Hoffa urged the President to use unions as his army to fight back against the Tea Party and "take these son-of-a-bitches out."

Pfeiffer told WMAL that President Obama is not going to "serve as the speech police for the Democratic party."

"What everyone should do is make their best judgment of how they be civil," said Pfieffer. "What I don't think makes sense is to distract from the major issues at hand to try to get everyone to go back and approve and disapprove of every single thing that every single person has said," he added.

(Excerpt) Read more at wmal.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: brianwilson; bryannehman; marykatharineham; marykatherineham; morningmajority; wmal
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last
To: Evil Slayer

O once again acting stupidly.


21 posted on 09/07/2011 10:25:15 AM PDT by Ratman83
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer

bfl


22 posted on 09/07/2011 10:26:42 AM PDT by tutstar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer

Rules for Radicals

In 1971, Saul Alinsky wrote an entertaining classic on grassroots organizing titled Rules for Radicals. Those who prefer cooperative tactics describe the book as out-of-date. Nevertheless, it provides some of the best advice on confrontational tactics. Alinsky begins this way:

What follows is for those who want to change the world from what it is to what they believe it should be. The Prince was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power. Rules for Radicals is written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away.

His “rules” derive from many successful campaigns where he helped poor people fighting power and privilege

For Alinsky, organizing is the process of highlighting what is wrong and convincing people they can actually do something about it. The two are linked. If people feel they don’t have the power to change a bad situation, they stop thinking about it.

According to Alinsky, the organizer — especially a paid organizer from outside — must first overcome suspicion and establish credibility. Next the organizer must begin the task of agitating: rubbing resentments, fanning hostilities, and searching out controversy. This is necessary to get people to participate. An organizer has to attack apathy and disturb the prevailing patterns of complacent community life where people have simply come to accept a bad situation. Alinsky would say, “The first step in community organization is community disorganization.”

Through a process combining hope and resentment, the organizer tries to create a “mass army” that brings in as many recruits as possible from local organizations, churches, services groups, labor unions, corner gangs, and individuals.

Alinsky provides a collection of rules to guide the process. But he emphasizes these rules must be translated into real-life tactics that are fluid and responsive to the situation at hand.

Rule 1: Power is not only what you have, but what an opponent thinks you have. If your organization is small, hide your numbers in the dark and raise a din that will make everyone think you have many more people than you do.

Rule 2: Never go outside the experience of your people.
The result is confusion, fear, and retreat.

Rule 3: Whenever possible, go outside the experience of an opponent. Here you want to cause confusion, fear, and retreat.

Rule 4: Make opponents live up to their own book of rules. “You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity.”

Rule 5: Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage.

Rule 6: A good tactic is one your people enjoy. “If your people aren’t having a ball doing it, there is something very wrong with the tactic.”

Rule 7: A tactic that drags on for too long becomes a drag. Commitment may become ritualistic as people turn to other issues.

Rule 8: Keep the pressure on. Use different tactics and actions and use all events of the period for your purpose. “The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition. It is this that will cause the opposition to react to your advantage.”

Rule 9: The threat is more terrifying than the thing itself. When Alinsky leaked word that large numbers of poor people were going to tie up the washrooms of O’Hare Airport, Chicago city authorities quickly agreed to act on a longstanding commitment to a ghetto organization. They imagined the mayhem as thousands of passengers poured off airplanes to discover every washroom occupied. Then they imagined the international embarrassment and the damage to the city’s reputation.

Rule 10: The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative. Avoid being trapped by an opponent or an interviewer who says, “Okay, what would you do?”

Rule 11: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. Don’t try to attack abstract corporations or bureaucracies. Identify a responsible individual. Ignore attempts to shift or spread the blame.

According to Alinsky, the main job of the organizer is to bait an opponent into reacting. “The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength.”

Rules For Radicals
http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/communism/alinsky.htm


23 posted on 09/07/2011 10:29:41 AM PDT by Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid! (“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,get in their face” B.H. Soetoro Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer
Just the usual Double Standard that we've all grown accustomed to (and weary of), as announced by a professional liar (with a translation from Obamaspeak® provided by me, at no charge):

Pfeiffer told WMAL that President Obama is not going to "serve as the speech police for the Democratic party." (but he certainly will for the Republican Party)

"What everyone should do is make their best judgment of how they be civil," said Pfieffer (whoever suggested otherwise?)

"What I don't think makes sense is to distract from the major issues at hand (as opposed to what you're doing right now?) to try to get everyone to go back and approve and disapprove of every single thing that every single person has said (a straw man argument consisting of a 'reductio ad absurdum')," he added.

24 posted on 09/07/2011 10:34:30 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh (America does not need to be organized: it needs to be liberated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer

What’s that they’re flinging at us?


25 posted on 09/07/2011 10:39:07 AM PDT by Tzimisce (Never forget that the American Revolution began when the British tried to disarm the colonists.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer
Obama has a big responsibility running the lives of all of the world's people...my hero! /s.
26 posted on 09/07/2011 10:44:13 AM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer
Obama has a big responsibility running the lives of all of the world's people...my hero! /s.
27 posted on 09/07/2011 10:44:13 AM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: al_c

There is more than some one killed under Obama and Holder’s fast and furious.Why is Obama not doing a UNITY IN DIVERSITY memorial campaign for Agent Brian Terry?

RIP Agent Terry!
http://www.odmp.org/officer/20596-border-patrol-agent-brian-a-terry


28 posted on 09/07/2011 10:48:42 AM PDT by Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid! (“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,get in their face” B.H. Soetoro Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: kburi; sofaman; BufordP; SE Mom; armymarinemom; HokieMom; MarineMom613; Tennessee Nana; ...

630 WMAL Ping List!


29 posted on 09/07/2011 11:16:49 AM PDT by SilvieWaldorfMD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!

“A good tactic is one your people enjoy.”

I infer from their behavior that Obama and company very much ENJOY both lying to the American public as well as lying’s close cousin, hypocrisy. They are masters at both, perhaps because they’ve had so much practice.


30 posted on 09/07/2011 11:58:06 AM PDT by DrC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer

Is it my faulty memory, or did McCain dispatch a talk show host who used Obama’s middle name?? Just used his middle name! No “sob,” no “barbarian.” My memory is that McCain was offstage at the time and didn’t hear the comments, but when they were brought to his attention, that was the end of the talk show host’s affiliation with his campaign.

Obama & Co’s hypocrisy knows no bounds.


31 posted on 09/07/2011 12:36:17 PM PDT by EDINVA ( Jimmy McMillan '12: because RENT'S TOO DAMN HIGH)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer; SilvieWaldorfMD; 3D-JOY; 50mm; AGreatPer; Bockscar; calcowgirl; ...
I always do my part to be civil. Wonever anybody says Obamy ain't fit to eat $hit I stick up for 'em. I say, "Yes he is!"

31½ posted on 09/07/2011 3:48:24 PM EDT by Larry the Cable Guy (I don't care who ya are. That's funny right thar! )

To: SilvieWaldorfMD; 3D-Joy; 50mm; AGreatPer; Bockscar; calcowgirl; cindyTrueSupporter; concretebob; ...
FUBO!

If you want off my ping list get over it!


32 posted on 09/07/2011 12:55:39 PM PDT by BufordP ("Drink me if you can't take a joke." -- Kool-aid)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer
how's this...???

33 posted on 09/07/2011 3:03:10 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: andy58-in-nh

Yon Pfeiffer is a dangerous man.


34 posted on 09/07/2011 4:29:48 PM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer; All

Since Americans can expect zer0 protection and zer0 information from zer0 and BigSis (imho) each of us should raise our level of alert and Be Prepared. Stay Safe Everyone, and please say a Prayer for Peace.


35 posted on 09/07/2011 6:08:50 PM PDT by no-to-illegals (Please God, Protect and Bless Our Men and Women in Uniform with Victory. Amen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reagandemocrat
"Obama demonstrating his leadership abilities again."

Leading from his butt rear again.

36 posted on 09/07/2011 8:57:18 PM PDT by cookcounty ("I love loving him," --brilliant Matha's Vinyud liberal explaining her support for Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BufordP

Good One. I also like the picture in Post 33

[Mr] T


37 posted on 09/08/2011 3:39:39 AM PDT by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer
In other words, the White House and the usurper-in-chief welcome Hoffa's support and thank him for his kind qords. I imagine they will take full advantage of his offer "when the time is right."

Bring it, you communist socialist union douchebags.

38 posted on 09/08/2011 7:28:57 AM PDT by ronnyquest (I spent 20 years in the Army fighting the enemies of freedom only to see fascism elected at home.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reagandemocrat

He’s not even voting ‘present’ on the issue.


39 posted on 09/08/2011 7:32:46 AM PDT by ErnBatavia (Obama Voters: Jose Baez wants YOU for his next jury pool.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson