Rules for Conservative Radicals #1
Rule One: Whoever controls the language controls the debate.
Liberals have been much more effective at controlling the language of debates than conservatives have and it allows them to win even though they always have the losing argument. Let's look at the abortion debate as an example. I'm not personally taking sides in this debate, I'm just using this to illustrate a point. Liberals have been able to control the language of the abortion debate by using terms such as Pro-Choice. Now, who in the world could be against a person's right to choose? That would just be downright unfair. People don't stop to think about choose what? But if they do, the liberals will counter with "The right of women to control their own bodies." Again, who could possibly be against that? But, that's not what's really happening is it?
Now assume that instead of being anti-choice, you change the language to anti-feticide, thereby making your opponent pro-feticide. It's much harder to justify why one is pro-feticide and it doesn't look good as a t-shirt slogan or bumper sticker either. By controlling the language of the debate one can control the debate. The important lesson is to remember to call things what they actually are and avoid falling into the politically correct language trap. Never debate against euphemisms. Insist on calling things what they actually are and you will win every debate against liberal opponents.
The recent defeat of Republicans on the "Health Care Reform" act is a case in point. This bill does not reform health care; it transforms our health care system into a system of socialized medicine, and that's exactly the debate that should have been taking place. Do we want socialized medicine in this country? That's a completely different debate than the one we just had. I saw hundreds of polls, but I don't recall seeing even one that asked: "Are you in favor of socialized medicine in this country?" We should have been asking that question over and over again. We must learn from our losses and avoid making the same mistakes over and over again.
