Frank Luntz and Republican Dishonesty

In today's New York Times Paul Krugman unmasks what seemed obvious to me as soon as I heard Mitch McConnell's remarks yesterday. McConnell and the Republicans say they want financial reform, and they say they're going tough on the big banks; both are lies. The Republicans want to avoid financial reform at all costs, and they are working with the big banks to develop their strategy.

Here's the thing. If you watch McConnell's performance carefully, you'll see that he's basically speaking from a script. If you watch his several speeches, it's the same script over and over. Whence the script? Frank Luntz, the consultant who provides Republicans with 15-20 page "Words That Work" memos.

Here's what Luntz has to say about financial reform. Compare his points to the Republican of your choice.

1. Acknowledge that there's a problem. People are hurt, angry, and scared. Luntz: "When addressing the crisis, never forget its impact on your audience. Above all else, never EVER minimize the pain. "
2. Acknowledge the need for reform. Luntz: "You must acknowledge the need for reform that ensures this NEVER happens again. " (Pay attention to "never again" in McConnell's rhetoric.)
3. Convince people that government is the greatest danger -- especially government bureaucrats. Luntz: "If there is one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the bad decisions and harmful policies by Washington bureaucrats that in many ways led to the economic crash must never be repeated."
4. Tell people that you're against bailing out the big banks. Luntz: "Taxpayer-funded bailouts reward bad behavior. Taxpayers should not be held responsible for the failure of big business any longer. If a business is going to fail, not matter how big, let it fail." (Again, listen to McConnell, who has been meeting with the big banks and other Congressional Republicans.)
5. Finally, oppose "lobbyist loopholes." The Republicans have been making hay out of minor exceptions for businesses like casinos and the like. (Bob Corker has already praised McConnell for calling out loopholes in the bill.)

What's the upshot? Luntz's memo reveals what the Republicans really want. They say they want reform, but they will oppose any reform measure that has any bite. They haven't offered a single contribution or proposal for financial reform.

In other words, McConnell is doing exactly the opposite of what he says he's doing. He's not seeking reform that would hold big banks responsible; he's working with the big banks to avoid reform.