Deny Deny Deny Then Accuse

Oh…and for good measure, after denying and accusing, use the sentence, “most Americans understand that…”. Yesterday, the GOP used all three prongs of this strategy. When the Prez visited wounded soldiers in San Antonio he denied wrongdoing re the NSA wiretaps. He said, "The N.S.A. program is a necessary program. I was elected to protect the American people from harm. And on Sept. 11, 2001, our nation was attacked. And after that day, I vowed to use all the resources at my disposal, within the law, to protect the American people, which is what I have been doing and will continue to do." Senator Mitch McConnell (RR-KY) said yesterday on Fox News that the main focus on the NSA wiretaps should be on finding out who leaked the information. "This needs to be investigated, because whoever leaked this information has done the U.S. and its national security a great disservice." And then the President used the most-favored, beatified and canonized locution in the GOP lexicon when he said, "I think most Americans understand the need to find out what the enemy's thinking, and that's what we're doing," In the past the Prez has affirmed that,"Americans understand we fight not a religion; ours is not a campaign against the Muslim faith. Ours is a campaign against evil." He claimed that all Americans want to own something or should want to own something: “All of us here in America should believe, and I think we do, that we should be, as I mentioned, a nation of owners. Owning something is freedom, as far as I'm concerned. It's part of a free society... It's a part of … an important part of America.” After the election, he said he knew what Americans expected, “With the campaign over, Americans are expecting a bipartisan effort and results.” Although he admitted he would ignore that expectation when he added, “I'll reach out to everyone who shares our goals.” Bush informed Jim Lehrer that he knew what Americans want to know: “I think the point that Americans really want to know is twofold. One, are we doing everything we can to protect the people? And two, are we protecting civil liberties as we do so? And my answer to both is yes, we are.” Deny, accuse and claim to know what people want. Does it work? The man who made the following statements knows whether it works or not: The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one; strength lies not in defense but in attack; how fortunate for leaders that men do not think; who says I am not under the special protection of God?