Forum Post: Suggestion for responding to swiftboat attacks

The Swiftboating of the OWS movement is well underway. The best defense against these attacks is to speak your values firmly, clearly, and frequently when communicating in the forums, chats, blogs, tweets, and when speaking with the media. Don't dwell on facts, figures, and statistics but discuss the fundamental values underlying the movement. Unless this is done continuously, the perception of the movement in the minds of the wider public will be that of the swiftboaters and not our own. Use these words over and over:

Opportunity Fairness Freedom Equality Empathy Strength Responsibility Excellence Commonwealth Investment Protection Security - (not only military security, but economic security, environmental security, healthcare security, climate security, etc.) Justice Accountability Progress Decency Dignity   Helpful phrases: • Responsibility is both personal and social • We are Americans (useful when being called names) • An economy that works for all • The purpose of government is to protect and empower • The common good • Smart, effective government • We are all in this together • No one is on their own • Nobody gets wealthy on their own • Basic fairness dictates that those who have done well ought to pay a little more • We look out for each other • A progressive, just, carbon-free, equal-opportunity future • Solutions that work for all people, everywhere • Healthcare, (or clean air, affordable education, a just financial system, etc) is a necessity (not a service).   Develop narratives and stories that use these words. Use them to respond to questions, criticism, and name-calling. Example: "We need smaller government." Response: "We need smart, effective government that serves the common good. I don't want unaccountable corporations making profits on providing the necessities of American life."

Example: "Why don't you grow up and get a job." Response: "We are patriotic Americans doing the great work of restoring our democracy after it was taken from us by monied interests who have no regard for the common good. Your policies have eliminated jobs, destroyed the government's ability to serve the public, and ushered in government for profit."   To go on the offensive, replace the following common phrases with the ones below: • greed crisis in place of economic crisis • blessed immigrants in place of illegal immigrants • government for profit in place of privatization • public theft in place of tax breaks • failing citizens in place of failing schools • corporate cruelty in place of profit maximization • deadly coal in place of clean coal

http://www.knowyourvalues.org/occupy