“Framing” refers to how a thing is to be presented.

Pick any controversial topic and you will notice that MSNBC will “frame” (present) that issue in ways that highlight Democratic party talking points, while Fox will “frame” the same issue in ways that highlight Republican party talking points.

Abortion: “reproductive freedom” vs. “rights of the unborn”

Gay marriage: “marriage equality” vs. “defending the family from assault”

HHS mandate: “Women’s health” vs. “right to religious conscience”

And so on.

How a question is framed can indeed influence actual voting behavior. Also, how a question is set up makes a difference in poll results, as well.

Which details you recognize or even choose to emphasize, which you minimize or even neglect to mention – that is what people mean when they speak of “framing”.

Or think of the witch from Stephen Sondheim’s “Into The Woods”, at that point in the second act when the narrator argues desperately that if they choose him as the sacrificial victim, they’ll never know how the story turns out: “Some of us don’t like the way you’ve been telling it….”

Are the two phrases essential the same, or am I simply “framing the issue” by my distinction?