Powerful Labels: "GOP War on Women"

One of the themes that we have been discussing in class lately, is how types of advertising, or labeling become more powerful when more provocative words, with much more powerful connotations are used to back up their message.

One such example of this would be the labeling of a proposed Inheritance tax as the "death tax", a scheme that has been deployed by the GOP since the early 1990's as a way to scare off potential congressional reforms to the flawed tax structure.

Something that was slightly touched on, was the fact that the GOP seems to have been much more successful in the past with how they label certain projects or beliefs, and how that has effected the direction of voters support. This is not to say that Liberals cannot use powerful labels, or that they have not used them in the past, it is only to put forth the fact that the Conservative project has been much more successful.

Yet as much as this remains true today, there is a liberal project every now and again that catches peoples attention and recently I discovered one example that I think is important to share.

The "GOP War on Women" as it is has been labeled, is term used to call out Republicans on comments that are inherently anti-women's rights/progression of equality.

One such example of this rhetoric is a recent radio broadcast done by personality (if you can call him that) Rush Limbaugh, who wanted women "to post videos (of the sex they will supposedly be having) online so we (him and his purported audience) can all watch" in relation to forcing employers to cover birth control medications.

This harsh insensitivity is evident in the rhetoric of many Conservative "personalities (most emphasized in the rhetoric of men, but also evident in that of women as well... cough cough Bachmann, cough cough Palin) which they justify through a constructed lens of "family values" that they see fit to push on their supporters.

Yet this problem has an impact outside of the rhetoric that is being used solely against women; Limbaugh chooses to brand women who support the advancement of equal rights legislation as "feminazis".

This literal connection to the Nazi party, I would argue, has a societal impact as its use engenders hatred not only towards women of activism, but also towards the Jewish population, the Jewish race should no longer be forced to serve as the scapegoats of society - end the Women's rights movement - but do it for the Jews!

This relation to the fight for equality makes an uneducated and hate-filled person seem knowledgeable as they are relating something we know little about to something we fear - that is a manipulation that should be punished in some way.

Do you see any labels around you? Have you been persuaded in the past based solely on powerful (and/or hateful) rhetoric?