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12/11/2003 Archived Entry: "Oh, this is good."
Oh, this is good.
This was sent to me at TBTM, but I figured I'd post it here, because Dame and Cam have seemed to unlock the equation for making Bill O'Reilly shut up.
Cam'ron And Dame Dash's 9 Rules For Success In A Hostile Political SettingRule # 1: Don't Fall Into The Trap Of trying to be right all of the time. The biggest mistake that many liberals and progressives make when speaking to conservatives, and others for that matter, is that they seem to have an emotional need to be right, at any cost. The "I have to be the smartest person in the room" syndrome usually leads the one suffering from this disease into convoluted arguments and arrogant sounding presentations that violate the sensibility of the spectators who are often only interested in an entertaining dialogue and experience, not a lecture. The goal is to tell the truth in a way that wins the audience to your position and personality, not in a manner that alienates the listeners. (One of the most striking things about the liberal/progressive "search" for an answer to Rush Limbaugh is that in typical tone-deaf fashion, those pursuing the mythical progressive-liberal talk-show savior, fail to listen to the hints that Rush has given for his own success. He once, over the airwaves of his own show said that one of the reasons that liberals haven't arrived at the right formula is because, "they don't realize that THEY are the entertainment"). You, personally, have to be entertaining and charismatic, regardless of the truth that comes out of your mouth, if you are to succeed in this rugged terrain.
Rule # 2: Act Like You Have Seen A Microphone Before. Take your time and make only a couple of sharp points. There is no need to shove all of the facts into a few minutes of back-and-forth. It is impossible. Accept that fact before your appearance and resist the temptation to feel that you have to save the world in one talk. But most importantly, lose the vanity and pride. If you are worried about being embarrassed you will too easily be placed on the defensive.
Rule# 3: Ask Questions To Expose Contradictions, Punctuate Points, And Interrupt. Questions are to the speaker what the jab is for the boxer. It sets you up for everything else. Questions shape the thinking, no matter how a person seeks to avoid them, so use them liberally. If a person does not answer they look evasive; if they do, you have shifted the debate in your favor.
Rule # 4: Stay In Your Lane. If you are an intellectual don't try to be a comedian. If you are naturally quiet and soft-spoken, don't try to sound like Rev. Al Sharpton. You can't become a new person overnight and project that with credibility on national television. If you use broken-English, don't try to talk like William Buckley or William Safire. If you are genuine, don't worry about how you are perceived - even if you are an outsider to political debate. The goal is to show integrity and consistency. In other words, people should be able to feel that you are being yourself.
Rule # 5: Recognize Indigenous Nuances (AKA: Political Ideologues Don't Understand "The Streets".) This is a major failure of Black liberals and progressives who elevate their ideology over their understanding of cultural sentiments and the details of the Black community. No conservative (or liberal or progressive) can ever handle an articulate Black person who understands the "plumbing" of the Black community. Political ideologues are more concerned with sounding right than they are in seeking the truth or being bothered with the societal realities that obviously challenge (or contradict) their ideas and theories. So expose that their research process, in the service of a predetermined conclusion is flawed. Expose that they don't know something important about the Black community and you will make them look irrelevant, more arrogant than they already are, and immediately defensive.
Rule # 6: Have a Sense Of Humor. Especially if you are viewed as an outsider you have to be able to relax, roll with the punches and be colorful. You will catch 90% of the uptight political commentators off-guard with this approach and technique. If you normally talk about a variety of politically-incorrect subjects; don't stop now. Anybody on television has grown too comfortable with guests who are scared to say the wrong thing. They also are worried about ratings, censors and target market audiences. Use this against them and expose the weaknesses in their incomplete worldview and philosophies. Go where they can't go when on offense; and laugh or at least smile, with them if they make a good point, even at your own expense.
Rule # 7: Two Heads (especially "Kin") Are Better Than One. If a political commentator ever makes a foolish mistake like bringing you on their program with a person you know intimately, it is a wrap for them. Make them pay. There is nothing as disarming and unnerving as two "brothers" or "sisters" talking around and over you, in a language that does not require alot of words. Make it worse for that person by laughing at them. A little giggling is very disarming. It can show the public that you know something the host doesn't. Hyper-sensitive and defensive intellectuals can't handle humor at their expense. This method also allows you to generate praise for yourself (note the point in the exchange where Cam'ron makes a point and in hilarious fashion gets silence from O'Reilly and Mr. Thomas-El, but earns applause from Dame who decides to talk over everybody: "DASH: That was a good point, Cam. CAM'RON: Thank you.")
Rule # 8: Challenge The Self-Righteousness and "Objective" Status Of The Host. If the host styles themselves as an impartial judge of sorts, expose the contradictions in their "ruling" and words. Better yet, imply that they are getting emotional [ Cam'ron has perfected this technique notice how he needles O'Reilly after the host cuts off Damon Dash. The transcript misses some of the exchange, so, here, you really need the audio to see how Cam'ron uses voice inflection and a child-like teasing tone to chastise Bill O'Reilly saying, "Why you don't want to let him (Dame Dash) talk? You're maaad, you're maaaad (laughs). You maaaad!" Then, Cam'ron gets personal, challenging the professional credentials and objectivity of Bill O'Reilly, even threatening to expose him "Where did you get your start - A Current Affair, right?...I got dirt on you doggie. I'm a get at you in a minute; I'm a get at you in a minute". It is a total success, as the arrogant Bill O'Reilly looks ridiculous using slang saying, "You go ahead. You get at me." Then, after Bill O'Reilly brings the discussion back, Damon Dash diverts him again, skillfully questioning his integrity: " O'REILLY: Listen, you guys, you're looking at a guy who teaches inner-city kids and who is telling you face to face that he has problems with kids based upon the rap music, and you're rationalizing it all up and down. DASH: I thought you were going to mediate O'REILLY: I am. DASH: No, what you're doing is you're giving opinions. That's not being an objective mediator now, Bill." This is great stuff.]
Rule # 9: Stop The Conversation, Throw Down A Challenge, And Call A Bluff. Few things are more effective than this. If you are in a position to follow-through on your word, make a public challenge that involves deeds and not words that emphasizes all of your previous points and which if declined, reveals the bankruptcy of your opponents argument(s). In one dramatic moment you show that talk is cheap and that you are a "do-er" while others can only "talk". This allows you to end the debate on your terms and place your opponent on the defensive. It also shows indirectly that you are closer to reality than those criticizing you, possibly from an ivory tower. [See Rule # 5: Recognize Indigenous Nuances (AKA: Political Ideologues Don't Understand "The Streets".)]
Much more (including a transcript) at the link. They most definitely kick O'Reilly's ass.
Replies: 5 people speak up
Well, this is just key. A handbook against asshats. Blah3 entertains and informs the Damfacrats. Righteous.
Posted by Dr. Damfa @ 12/11/2003 02:24 PM NY
yeah, i caught the tail end of that interview, it was great. the rapper i would lie to see on orielly is Paris ( http://www.guerillafunk.com ) becuase he actually has some important things to say
Posted by justin @ 12/11/2003 04:19 PM NY
i just went through your archives and copied and pasted everything i wrote on this blog over the past year or so, because im thinking of writing a manifesto or something.
i have to say, i think i may be the biggest blowhard who posts on this site, i had no idea how many pages of stuff i have posted here. 22 pages, single spaced, times new roman 12 point font, and that is just the political rants, not the off hand conversational ones. damn, i need a hobby or something
Posted by justin @ 12/11/2003 05:25 PM NY
Yes Justin, you are definitely the most prolific poster on this blog. Get a life, a hobby, or pay more attention to that pretty young thing you call your wife.
Posted by Stentor @ 12/12/2003 03:16 PM NY
well, its actually quite helpfull to write down ideas. i suppose a word file would probobly be the proper forum for that though... i actually pay plenty of attention to my wife, but she has a job, so i have plenty of free time....
Posted by justin @ 12/13/2003 10:41 AM NY
