Have the dems ever ginned up a controversy from nothing?

[vi5]

By that, I mean like what the republicans are doing now with illegal immigration, the 14th amendment, etc.?

As loathsome as it is I have to give them credit for political savvy.

Take an issue that nobody is really thinking about in any pressing manner whatsoever.
Have a few people (pundit types, writers, etc.) suddenly start talking about it as though it is the greatest threat to the republic EVER.
Have elected officials suddenly start talking about it as well, and introduce some sort of legislation.
Continue beating drum until a majority of the people are convinced despite all evidence to the contrary, that if this problem is not fixed immediately, that horrible consequences would happen.

Is this only possible if you traffic in divisive wedge issues and appeal to people's racism? Or would it be possible to do it with a democratic/liberal issue?

Or is it pretty much all attributable to the media and their willingness to entertain this type of stupidity and give it a forum, and even if Dems were willing (which by and large they definitely are not) to do this, there would be no forum for it to get such a message out?

[babylonsister]

1. I think it's calculated; the rethugs don't want anyone

examining them too closely, so this is their effort to make everyone 'look over there'. And you're right, it works.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Welcome To The "Big Lie"...

It's a simple strategy the GOOP has used for decades. If you say a lie often enough and loud enough people will soon begin to believe it as the truth. Over the years the GOOP has been able to take issues such as racism, privilidge for the rich, homophobia and overall class warfare and put it on bumper sticker type slogans that get repeated so much it gets ingrained in the political "debate". Tax cuts for the rich are a perfect example...talk to a rushpublican and they're all but convinced the rich create the wealth and labor...especially organized labor...are wastes of money...even when they're a worker themselves. It allows them to vent their codewords and dog whistles mainstream...those who are tuned to the lie always know the meaning...it's all but Pavlovian now.

For the most part these tactics have been successful...fabricating "controversies" such as the current "illegal alien" (codeword: we hate Mexicans) or DOMA (dogwhistle: teh gays are gonna force me to have sex with animals). It doesn't need to be said outright, just the slogans and insuiations do the trick.

[FSogol]

3. The best example is their repeating of the phrase "liberal media" over and over

for 30 years until the media is so scared of itself it becomes the conservative media.

I believe the term was first used by the old Washington Star as a marketing ploy in the mid 60s to distinguish themselves from the much better Washington Post. The GOP picked up the term and ran with it.

[Johonny]

4. see Gibbs and professional left

nothing issue, completely dominated the DU for days.

[Sinistrous]

5. +1

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Most of them are 'social' issues or 'values' issues, which really means non-issues used to divert

attention away from the serious ones affecting our country.

[Scurrilous]

7. Some Dems.

See Robert Gibbs.