FRAMESHOP:FRAMESHOP: THE 'WASTING TIME' FRAME AND MINIMUM WAGE

There is a very interesting debate currently unfolding on the floor of the United States House of Representatives--shocking, but true.

The Republican Majority is attempting to pass a bill to 'protect' the Pledge of Allegiance from attack--which means they have a bill on the floor to advocate for keeping the phrase 'under god' in the pledge of allegiance--a phrase that is already there (yep).

The Democrats in the House have made the choice not to respond to this GOP nonsense, but to reframe the debate.

And they are doing a great job turning a debate about the Pledge of Allegiance into a debate about the minimum wage.  And the key to this success of this Democratic strategy is their use of the 'wasting time' frame.

Go House Dems!  You make us all proud, today!!

Since this debate is happening,  I do not have a transcript to include here, but kudos goes to Alcee Hastings (D - FL) for his amazing words in which he unrolled a litany of important issues--wages in particular--that were being ignored so the GOP leadership could attack the judiciary for striking down an unconstitutional law.

Check out the C-SPAN converage--it is a fascinating debate.

And it is a textbook example of how the House Democrats can reframe these GOP wedge issue debates to their advantage.

Your GOP opponent brings up 'protecting the pledge of allegiance'?  Respond by saying that he or she is 'wasting time' and that the real problme people want to address is the cruel fact that an American earning the minimum wage can work full time and still remain below the poverty line.

My framing hat is tipped, today, to the House Demorats!!!

© 2006 Jeffrey Feldman