The Obama Code

While the pundits are shrieking at each other over what President Obama said and whether Bobby Jindal is really Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock, George Lakoff, the linguist, published a really interesting piece called "The Obama Code," just hours before Obama addressed a joint session of Congress.

George Lakoff is a professor of linguistics at UC Berkeley and was insistent that the reason why Democrats weren't getting through to voters was that their messages weren't framed with underlying values. He deconstructs what he means by this in "The Obama Code," and quite clearly exposes the values Obama is communicating without expressing them explicitly: values over programs; progressive values are American values; new bipartisanship (yes, he is really trying to end some of those useless battles despite Bobby Jindal and Michael Steele's stupidity this week); government that works; morality and economics fit together, etc. It's a good read.

In conclusion, Lakoff says: " The Obama Code is based on seven deep, insightful, and subtle intellectual moves. What President Obama has been attempting in his speeches is a return to the original frames of the Framers, reconstituting what it means to be an American, to be patriotic, to be a citizen and to share in both the sacrifices and the glories of our country. In seeking "bipartisan" support, he is looking beyond political affiliations to those who share those values on particular issues. In his economic plan, he is attempting to realign our economy with the moral missions of government: protection and empowerment for all."

I'm so excited: my Kindle just arrived, a gracious gift from some friends: Thanks, Runi, Dev, Christine, and Rob. I've already downloaded my first two books: The Ascent of Money and The Outliers. I won't be blogging for a few days since I will be off to New Hampshire to a retreat to discuss social justice issues.