How Karl Rove Gave the Democratic Party An Extreme Makeover
Somewhere when John Kerry was in the middle of a run-on
sentence, psychologist Drew Westen wrote Message Handbook for
Progressives From Left to Center, a how-to guide to change
liberal rhetoric to make in sound appealing to people in the
center of the country. With Republicans perched on wedge issues
like gay marriage and abortion more than ever, the book
redefines how to con people into having dinner with Bill Ayers.
Westen's strategies might be making a difference in close races
across the country.Emory University professor Westen crafted
Message Handbook for Progressives From Left to Center because,
he says, he wanted "to rebrand progressives using language
that's as evocative as the language of the other side, and stop
using phrases that just turn people off." If the resulting
document — which the Times reports is a must-read for all
Democratic operatives — makes you think of Karl Rove's taint,
that's probably a good thing:  How Karl Rove Gave t