Forget about reaching out to Trump voters, Democrats thats a pointless, self-destructive strategy

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Link to tweet

I am generally reluctant to wade into the interminable internecine Democratic Party battles. My focus at the moment is on trying to document the atrocities of President Donald Trump and there are only so many hours in the day. There are legions of armchair strategists out there willing to fight and argue over it, so I doubt my two cents are needed in any case. My feeling right now is the same as it always is — that we should elect more progressives to office wherever possible. Trying to game out the future with any precision at the moment seems like a fool’s errand under this erratic, unstable, volatile administration .

Nonetheless I must admit that I find myself chafing at the constant drumbeat that I must be willing to “reach out” to Trump voters and summon up empathy for their plight. This New York Times article, which has been passed all over social media and commented upon by virtually every liberal pundit in the country, is just the latest in the genre. An intrepid reporter journeys deep into the heart of Trumpland and finds out that its denizens are just all-American folks who are fit to be tied that they’re being tarred as bigots, and it’s just not fair. The upshot of this particular article was that anti-Trump protesters were pushing these fundamentally decent people away with their resistance and that they really need to cool it if they expect to win over these voters at the polls.

I have no doubt that many Trump voters have good qualities and in their average daily interactions with people they are probably as polite and decent as can be. But their politics are, I’m sorry to say, deplorable. I cannot find it in myself to go out of my way to try to feel much sympathy for people who don’t think the following is out of bounds:


http://www.salon.com/2017/02/24/forget-about-reaching-out-to-trump-voters-democrats-that-is-a-pointless-self-destructive-strategy/

[DinahMoeHum]

1. The original story, from The American Prospect. . .

http://prospect.org/article/why-democrats-need-forget-about-reaching-out

The time for that will come—but it's not now.

(snip)
That's because their immediate electoral task (granting that they have even more pressing policy tasks, like stopping the repeal of the Affordable Care Act) is preparing for the 2018 midterm elections. And what matters in a midterm election isn't who you've "reached out" to, it's how your own constituents are feeling.

Right now, the Democrats' constituents are feeling horrified, terrified, and generally pissed off. Which is just what produces the kind of midterm election they need.

That's because midterm elections are all about enthusiasm—which almost always means anger. It's the reason the president's party usually loses seats in midterm elections: because the people who are angry enough to increase their turnout are the ones who dislike the president. Turnout in recent midterms has been in the 30s, meaning that nearly two-thirds of voters decide to stay home when there's no presidential race. So it's all a question of which voters get to the polls.
(snip)

[Wounded Bear]

2. There are a shitload of people that didn't even vote...

From the turnout at recent demonstrations, it looks like they may have learned a lesson.

We need to go after them first. Many of them live in red districts. I want a wave.

[struggle4progress]

3. I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told

I have squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles
Such are promises: all lies and jest
Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest

[Alice11111]

4. Beating our heads against the wall

Yeah, no matter what he said, his own lips, grabbing pussy, they defend him. I've tried, nicely, to talk to some. They get really threatened if you talk about real news and go nuts, screaming fake news. Maybe its because they are too lazy, ignorant, or scared to sort through real facts. I think it is a mix of bigotry, anti intellectualism, and intense hate for liberals... Hillary Haters. They are all comfy over there with their raging cunt t-shirts, being all Christian.

They will either come around on their own, if they see the other side for what it is, or they won't. We can do it without them if we turn out the vote. I suspect some will convert, maybe secretly, after all of the scandals, but it will have to be on their own. If they are open minded and want to talk, by all means, talk, and don't be condescending. I dont think we should ignore them when we campaign.

However, as far as chasing after them and validating or embolding their deplorable BS, we have many more important things to do.

[Bettie]

5. That man and his family

probably sit in the front row at church and then, over coffee and cookies afterward, talk about how civility and morality have disappeared from our society and it's all the liberals' fault.

I actually hate these people. It is not an emotion I am used to, but I am so disgusted and angered by them, that they make me feel nauseated.

I think that is what hate feels like.

[njhoneybadger]

6. They look like Zombies in that photo.

[Squinch]

7. Every face in that photo looks angry and self-righteous. I wouldn't want to meet any of them.

[sunonmars]

8. Exactly, we need to bring a gun if they bring a knife, you cannot reason with zombies.