The Party of Economic Royalism in Full Panic Mode

Frank Luntz, on how Republicans should address the Occupy Wall Street movement:

1. Don’t say ‘capitalism.’
2. Don’t say that the government ‘taxes the rich.’ Instead, tell them that the government ‘takes from the rich.’
3. Republicans should forget about winning the battle over the ‘middle class.’ Call them ‘hardworking taxpayers.’

“They cannot win if the fight is on hardworking taxpayers. We can say we defend the ‘middle class’ and the public will say, I’m not sure about that. [Emphasis mine] But defending ‘hardworking taxpayers’ and Republicans have the advantage.”

The whole thing is worth a read. Luntz is basically admitting that, on the economic stuff, the Republicans are suddenly getting their asses kicked. The Republican Party’s real constituency is Wall Street and Plutocrats.

My favorite line from Luntz:

“I’m so scared of this anti-Wall Street effort. I’m frightened to death,” said Frank Luntz, a Republican strategist and one of the nation’s foremost experts on crafting the perfect political message. “They’re having an impact on what the American people think of capitalism.”

Be afraid, Frank. Be very afraid. Your world – the world divided between, on the one hand, a class of people who do the work, fight the wars, suffer the consequences and make all the economic sacrifices, and on the other hand, people who do none of those things and suffer no jail time even when they are clearly guilty of felonies and even war crimes – that world is ending.

Take one last look around, you lying miscreant. That world is going to be taken away from you.