The outrage against Planned Parenthood is ongoing, and the third video released today. Thus far, the pro-life response has been vigorous, coherent and good, but unless we are careful, the outrage might begin to sprawl.
Before I make some tactical suggestions to help keep it all focused, I suggest you watch the third video. Here it is:
That said, here are three sets of hashtag strategies I would like to encourage everyone to use.
1. First, let me introduce a web site that can help us coordinate our efforts — Cleaning House Clearing House.
For example, one of the principles of war is concentration, and we do need to keep this focused. It would be far better, in other words, for everyone to be contacting the same corporation in the same week, instead of randomly. We can do this while keeping track of those corporations that distance themselves from Planned Parenthood. The speed with which some corporations have already done this indicates this is an achievable goal. Since it is clearly an achievable goal, one of the things we should do is achieve it.
2. The first Republican presidential debate is being held in Cleveland, a week from this coming Thursday. The first debate is being hosted by Fox News, and the questioners will be Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly, and Chris Wallace.
I would like to encourage everyone to use the following Twitter handles to nominate a question that we would love to see asked at that debate — so ask @BretBaier, @megynkelly and @FoxNewsSunday. Here is the question:
“If elected prez, would you consider the Medal of Freedom for David Daleiden, the man behind the Planned Parenthood videos?”
In addition, tweeting about this would be good as well — #MedalofFreedom and #DavidDaleiden together.
3. Continue to use hashtags that have already made a mark. If something has been trending, keep it trending. If you see something begin to trend, pick up on it. Some in common use are #DefundPP and ##PPSellsBabyParts. Another I have seen is #ProLifeSummer.
When you see a meme, or a blog post, or a news artcle on Facebook that relates to this subject, like it, and share it. Our goal, as I have stated before, is to keep this story alive and active in the news feed of everyone you know.
I have no social media accounts, but I am seriously considering getting one if for nothing else but to join in on the action. I don’t know how quickly you can get friends to share stuff with, but I’m texting everybody I know about this already. Someone in the comments at some point posted a link to how hash tags work. If whoever that person was could repost it I would greatly appreciate it.
Im fairly new as well – though I’ve had a facebook account since nearly the beginning, just not very active. But I recently started tweeting solely for this purpose. I’m a bit fuzzy on exactly how the hashtag system works, but it serves to aggregate and link different posts, tweets and other social media – a sort of digital association which has parallels to the idea of strength in numbers.
It’s still a “number sign” to me…or maybe a “pound sign.”
Sigh…I don’t know if I’ll ever gin up the ability to call it a — what was that new-fangled phrase again?
This issue has motivated me to finally join twitter, too. Here’s a help link: https://support.twitter.com/articles/49309#
Twitter is a low-time investment / attention strategy. You have limited time and attention, “they” i.e. the companies with paid social media monitors have somebody monitoring the stuff constantly.
Also, there are twitter ‘addicts’, journalists and bloggers who use it to drive traffic and narratives. You can help them via ‘likes’, ‘follows’ and ‘retweets’ .
Ergo, your 1/2 hour tweeting has an outsized effect on things.
I still feel like an old man fumbling at these “newfangled gadgets” when I look at sites like Twitter, and I’m only 28. Maybe isolating myself technologically for years wasn’t the best idea…
I’m right there with ya (I’m 30). I used to be good at this stuff. It feels so out of body to be asking for help with technology.
Keep the orders coming General. I’ll fall in line.
I love the idea of using social media to get a question into the debates. But is the question you propose really a viable one? It’s provocative, sure, but it doesn’t seem like the kind of question that would ever get asked. In all honesty, it’s not the kind of question that *does* get asked. What if we instead asked a more reasonable question and got a storm of people behind it? Something like: “Should Planned Parenthood continue to receive federal funding? How will you support your position?”
Basically, I think a more strategic question would be similar to the one you proposed asking the United Way.
A simple defunding question is a softball for all of them. The Medal of Freedom question asks them to celebrate and honor the destruction of PP in a much more aggressive way. It forces their hand. If they say ‘yes’ to the M of F, they have advanced beyond normal conservative complaints about PP. Therein the tactical gain. And they can’t really say no, can they? Seems innocuous and easy, but it is in fact a dumb-like-a-fox question. Even a pro-choice candidate could agree that PP shouldn’t get funding…
I think I’ve read your comment at least 20 times, and I still don’t follow. 1. The way Melissa’s question was worded was more than “simple”…by asking them their reasoning, one can tell better the strength of their arguments or passion for the cause. 2. I just keep thinking questions ought to tackle the most important questions/answers to hold them to. While a medal is all grand and cool, that isn’t going to give us something to hold them to in their very pointed actions. I wonder if David would be more concerned about a medal or getting straight (as… Read more »
Alex, David Daleiden is being investigated by the DOJ right now. The Fox News debate is happening next week. It seems safe to assume that Fox is going to ask the candidates about funding PP, especially since at least two of the candidates are Senators who are pushing for defunding. If this question comes as a follow-up, the candidates could give a big hand to David right now. Imagine if you were working for the DOJ to investigate David. You hear that every single GOP candidate believes that David Daleiden is a hero who ought to get some medal. Would… Read more »
So you mean just the question itself being asked is a big hand…not the easy “yes” answer. Even though it is “political” and an exaggeration of what the DOJ needs to be doing, I think our side might do similarly should it be one of our “pet projects” or “holy grails” being accused and having hearings concerning them. “All’s fair in…” :) Given the nature of politics, I’d be thinking about my job security anyway with a GOP candidate…but then again, given the pragmatic unprincipled nature of the GOP these days, I might not be overly worried :) Anyway, thanks… Read more »
I see your points and generally agree. However I like Pastor Wilson’s question. I think politicians are a generally untrustworthy lot. Republican politicians have been offering big campaign talk for years and follow through has been quite anemic. If I’m going to vote for one of the political jack-wagons, it’s because I think he’ll do something, or at least try – really try – to drastically curb abortion. Any one of them could stand up there and spout the same old shtick we’ve been hearing for years, then when they hit the Oval Office, it’ll be a different story. But… Read more »
Agree, agree, agree…so saying they’ll “consider” a Medal proves they are more trustworthy than the rest in being willing to “drastically curb abortion”? I guess that’s where we differ…you might see it as a strong word to the left and the drtbe that “we’re not done yet” whereas I see the question as “backward” in order of importance, nonthreatening, and an “easy out” of any substance. I guess as Krychek (sp?) said of Happy or Not so Happy Talk, time will tell :)
You worded this concern a lot more tactfully than I could have which is why I didn’t try. Of all the questions… Anyway. Thank you.
TIP
For those so motivated and have the time.
In facebook click on the hashtag.
This will send you to some of the posts by pages and walls that have that particular hashtag. (Sometimes contrary posts use the same hashtag though.)
LIKE those posts that seem good to you. Many are sharing the same stories. Also SHARE any that you read that are worth it.
The more interaction a post has helps it to have more visibility.
Any other ideas?
I’m not a social media expert, but when you share someone else’s link, feel free to post an affirming comment and then use the same hashtags. Today #WomenBetrayed is trending thanks to the 50+ rallies happening. So if you add something like: #WomenBetrayed #PPSellsBabyParts #DefundPlannedParenthood #ProLifeSummer to the end of all relevant posts and shares. My operating assumption is that trending metrics require a certain number of posts, and not a certain percentage as with SEO. Also: Going through comments and liking every good pro-life comment is good as well. For many people who are only getting on board now,… Read more »
How about #PlannedParenthood #DeathEaters.
Geeks give us heads up explain the hashtag process to us learners please?
Its very simple. Anything that starts with a ‘#’ is a hashtag. If you are tweeting, then just add the text “#DefundPP” to your tweet (without the quotes, of course). The same is true for Facebook. Just add #DefundPP to any post you make and it will be included in the trend.
Thank you David
For those interested, several news outlets are reporting protests in 50 US cities: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/07/26/womenbetrayed-over-50-cities-to-hold-rallies-against-planned-parenthood-tuesday/
Does “@” send the tweet to the person? What does “#” do?
The hashtagged word (or topic) makes it easy to “search” for that topic in twitter and join conversations. More help: https://support.twitter.com/articles/49309#
I just joined – that’s really all I know. :)
Thanks.
Instead of just “Defund Planned Parenthood” why are we not demanding “Prosecute Planned Parenthood”? I recognize that we have a U.S. Attorney General who will not touch it but we should nevertheless make the demand.
This is the point that needs to be made more. I love the hashtags and defunding ideas, but why don’t we investigate, prosecute, and throw these people in prison if they are selling human parts. Selling human parts is currently against the law, whereas abortion is not. We need to demand investigations at the federal and state/local levels. If a dozen or so of the higher ups of an organization are imprisoned for wrongdoing then the defund argument gains considerable strength.
It is unlikey that what PP is doing is illegal. The gov’t doesn’t recongize the fetus as a human being. Guilty of barbarism for sure, but not something that will get you jail time. Remember PP apologized for the tone, not the act.
“but why don’t we investigate, prosecute, and throw these people in prison if they are selling human parts. Selling human parts is currently against the law, whereas abortion is not.” that’s what the congressional hearings are to be for, right? an initial investigation to see if it needs to go further? to confirm the definition and allegation of selling, etc. along with altering techniques and compare it to federal law… “We need to demand investigations…state/local levels.” I’ve wondered this, too. Why more states aren’t initiating investigations. Perhaps they are waiting to see how it pans out on the federal level… Read more »
I would suppose the main reason some state and local governments are not investigating this is because the state/local govs do not have a law on the books against the trafficking of human body parts. If they do have such a law then we should demand an investigation. An investigation for a human trafficking crime is certainly not premature given what the videos have demonstrated. In terms of the congressional hearings, that is not for investigation of a possible crime, but for a review of funding. Congress has no power to initiate a criminal investigation (other than on it’s own… Read more »
That’s what I suppose, too. Laws different per state . In light of it all, it would be an opportune time perhaps to tighten or make laws. “In terms of the congressional hearings, that is not for investigation of a possible crime, but for a review of funding.” Defunding can be done apart from hearings, so that isn’t the sole function of the hearings. Though what is learned from the hearings can strengthen the argument for defunding or further criminal investigation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_congressional_hearing “Investigative hearings often lead to legislation to address the problems uncovered. Judicial activities in the same area of… Read more »
Well said and synthesized. My central point is that a congressional “investigation” is not much like an actual investigation that the FBI, IRS or local law enforcement would do. So I doubt that any additional facts will be uncovered. What I am saying is we need search warrants, statements being taken, and records being subpoenaed and gone through. For instance, get three things (1) the invoices for sold body parts showing revenues, (2) bank statements reflecting the deposits of this money, (3) the costs of transportation and storage of the human body parts. If these three don’t match up then… Read more »
Because the prosecutorial authority is entirely in the hands of the Obama administration, but congress has the ability to defund. They don’t even need to worry about a veto if they refuse to write it into the budget in the first place.
But yes, it would be proper to issue the call for prosecution even though it will not be heard.
I tried to look up the rule and couldn’t find it. Please link
This website made it super easy and fast for me to contact all my elected officials at once. Pretty cool. http://www.afa.net/activism/contact-elected-officials
Very nice! Thanks for posting.
This is fantastic! Thanks! I am adding this link to my own material
A physical letter is best. A phone call is #2. Email is the weakest choice.
I agree with Melissa Dow. Her question is much more viable / reasonable / pertinent / useful.
Fox asks for questions here:
https://www.facebook.com/FoxNews/app_665293576939321
Question submitted. Thanks!
“Planned Parenthood has enlisted high-profile Washington public relations firm SKDKnickerbocker as it scrambles to deal with the ongoing scandal and release of a third undercover video Tuesday showing a clinic’s staff handling fetal tissue after an abortion. “Planned Parenthood is a longtime client, and we are proud to help them push back against these extremist attacks from people who want to end reproductive health care for women in this country,” a SKDKnickerbocker spokesman said in a statement. The group circulated a memo to reporters and producers late Monday that discouraged them from airing the undercover videos, arguing that they were… Read more »
Why does SKDKnickerbocker (as an aside: seriously?) hate courageous journalists and hard-hitting investigative journalism?
PR firms to some extent are like defense lawyers…except they don’t have to deal with evidence, they just promote a certain view of clients who pay them money.
PR firms to some extent are like politicians.
Does anyone have the journalistic ability to put SKDKnickerbocker in the spotlights? E.g finding a list of other individuals or organisations which need to use a group that tries to make commercial child killers look good
If we expose this sin and change actually comes, of necessity it will be because many have come to see it as sin and to grieve over it. This makes way for real repentance, which is unlikely to remain confined to this one issue. If we do all we can and nothing happens, our labor will serve as a judgment on this hard hearted land, and still our God will be glorified and His kingdom will advance. If you need some help getting started, my wife and I have put together a packet that includes how to contact legislators and… Read more »
New one: #DefundDems
Do you feel as though you’re in the middle of a ‘Mr Smith Goes to Washington’ moment, working against the Taylor outfit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9voK2NSHnE
Interesting fact: Cecile Richards serves on the board of the Ford Foundation. This foundation completely cut ties with Ford Motor Co. quite some time ago. But the Ford Foundation has donated to PP quite recently. Which makes you wonder if this was the reason that PP listed Ford as one of their sponsors. Since PP has pulled the list, I don’t suppose we can know exactly what they were claiming.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Foundation
Helen, thank you so much for providing that link!
Real missed opportunity for #tactics to be the name of this post. Or at the very least Hashtagtics.
Come on Ben, even GK Wilson has the innate ability to miss the obvious.
Another useful article.
“While some claim “you cannot legislate morality”, all laws in fact legislate morality.”
Excellent, yes. As much as some argue they want to be free from “our morality”, they are then imposing their own. And then you get into varying definitions due to bias and bent as to whether laws or legislating morality or immorality.
#maybePPcouldsellthoselionparts
#unplannedparenthood is starting to gain steam and is very moving. Its people telling stories of how they are grateful they or their family chose life.
Here’s a hashtag that’s making quite a stir on the national scene. Not quite the same tactic, but it puts a VERY human face on the issue!
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/421740/unplannedparenthood-twitter-pro-life-hashtag
Wonderful!
Important discovery today:
If your Facebook settings are on private (So like mine, where only friends can see my wall posts) then *your hashtags are also only visible to those friends*
If you want to be a part of the trending, apparently you have to be public. Or at least designate each individual post as public.
thank you!
David French (a PCA member) at National Review Online suggests the following question:
Are you as dedicated to life as the Democratic party is to death?
In a unrelated matter, I just read that StemExpress won a temporary restraining order against CMP so that they don’t release any videos showing the leaders of StemExpress. I hope that alternate channels of distribution have been considered
I have long perused,enjoyed, and been edified by Pastor Wilson’s articles (non-Calvinist that I am), but this is my first posting. While watching the 3rd video this morning, I became nauseous and started weeping for the unborn child reduced to mere tissue for harvesting. I am now at the point of being ready to endure the judgement on this nation and the costs that will entail for me and my family, praying that we will be like the righteous remnant the Father preserved for Himself in Israel during their times of judgement. I also found myself wanting to know which… Read more »
I couldn’t make it to the end of the video…I knew what was coming. My soul weeps with great remorse. And now I read that a California judge has issued a cease and desist order to the Center of Medical Progress. “Thou shalt not expose evil!” is what how that order reads to me. If there were EVER a time for folks to say “We shall obey God rather than men” this is it! It might also be helpful if millions of Reformational Christians emailed CMP with requests to post their series of videos FOR them. Let that bastard judge… Read more »
They’re desperate and resorting to lawfare: Court bars anti-abortion group from releasing new videos of Calif. company officials.
Edit: more news.
This from my representative. I need the facts about PP’s federal funding. “Thank you for contacting me about the recent unauthorized videos concerning Planned Parenthood. I appreciate the opportunity to respond. The videos show the callous way that Planned Parenthood officials talked about the collection of fetal body parts for medical research. This is a gruesome topic, even if the targets of the secret films had shown appropriate concern and care. The real issue is abortion. America has remained deeply divided on abortion since the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade confirming a first-trimester abortion as a constitutional… Read more »
The Planned Parenthood hack may have been Planned. http://thefederalist.com/2015/07/30/planned-parenthood-hacking-sure-looks-like-an-orchestrated-pr-stunt/
4th video. “Another boy!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWQuZMvcFA8
See, this is why you need web developers around. When a group of “extremists” decide to take a site down, they’ll send a DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack. The site is flooded with an overload of traffic and nobody can get to the site. These nefarious hackers left PP the ability to make an “Under Attack Campaigns” group of templates and link to a donation page.
http://thefederalist.com/2015/07/30/planned-parenthood-hacking-sure-looks-like-an-orchestrated-pr-stunt