We gain nothing by calling Republicans other dirty names. They love this country too. Obama and Bill Clinton say it best, “Every time we make it about us, we lose. When we make it about them, we win.” Calling Republicans racist pushes them away. It does not draw them in. You have to catch them doing something right. Shaming them when they do wrong is not helpful. It is why Kerry lost.
Here are some statements many Republicans are capable of agreeing with. None score a touchdown. They move the ball down the field. They are not going to agree that Democrats are better. They can agree that the Republican approach is not working though, especially, if you don’t describe what you condemn as the Republican approach. I simply help them along the way by asking if they can agree that:
- A tax break for people making less than $250K would help them personally
- It is more costly to treat an illness in the emergency room than a doctor’s office
- There are more anti American terrorists in Iraq today than there were before the war
- We are more dependent on more expensive energy
- Our generation is paying into a social security program that will be bankrupt before we retire
If they agree with any of the above, they can we agree that we need a change. It is OK if they don’t believe in a change to Obama and the Democrats. They just need to acknowledge a need to abandon the status quo (e.g. Bush’s approach) If we can agree on that, we can start talking about something new.
If you can get them there, you’ve caught the ball in the end zone and gotten it to the 50 yard line. That is progress.
Comments