Democrats must prove to non-voters that they are different than the GOP

[Bjorn Against]

Now before people flame me for that subject line please realize that I am not saying that Democrats are the same as Republicans. In fact I am not saying anything close to that, I realize that there are many huge differences between the two parties. Many voters however remain to be convinced of that, so instead of trying to convince me of anything you have to convince them.

If the Democrats try to follow the pundits advice on focusing their efforts on converting the white-male-southern voter they will have a hard time convincing people of their differences with the Republicans no matter what their voting record may show.

What the Democrats need to do to win is to go for the non-voters who want change but do not believe the Democrats are really working for that change. The way to do this is to fight, and to fight hard.

Call for Universal Health Care, call for a pullout from Iraq, call for Bush's immediate resignation. Do not try to triangulate on wedge issues, and show that you can be anti-gay too by saying that you oppose equal marriage rights even if you do not support a Constitutional amendment.

Stand up for your base and screw the "Southern State Strategy". I support the 50 State strategy, but I also believe we need to set priorities. We can't focus so closely on Mississippi and Alabama when we have Ohio, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona which are much closer to our grasp. Sure Florida is one we need to focus on as well, but that is a different culture than much of the rest of the South. To win these states we need a strategy that emphasizes the issues that effect ordinary Americans. Health Care, Jobs, the War, the Environment, and Wages. It is PROGRESSIVE ideas that are going to win the voters because people want better wages, access to health care, and they do not want to see any more of their friends die.

Focus your efforts on the base, and you will prove to the tens of millions of non-voters that you are indeed different than the Republicans.

You know you are different than the Republicans, now it is your time to convince the tens of millions who don't vote of that.

Edited to correct some minor grammatical errors.

[senseandsensibility]

1. I agree completely

I and many others on DU have been saying this for years. But if they won't do it NOW, when will they do it?:shrug:

[Old and In the Way]

2. If non-voters can't figure it out we are screwed anyway.

Mr./Ms. Non-voter-

Sorry, but it ought to be pretty simple to you. If you want change, vote Democrat. Don't go looking for Democrats to suddenly jump through rhetorical hoops to pass your personal litmus test for approval. You're way too late to get that consideration. You don't get the luxury to demand that- you have opted out of your constitutional responsibility to vote and suddenly Democrats must show you something? You want change, spare us the personal expectations and vote Democrat. We are in such a fucked up mess because you, Mr./Ms. Non-voter, didn't pay attention or couldn't be bothered to vote when Democrats had Congressional/Presidential power. You had other priorities and besides, things were going OK, back then. You kept hearing and started believing that there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between a Republican and Democrat, so why bother with the effort of voting? So why are you now suddenly paying attention, Mr./Ms. Non-voter? You have no one to blame for this but your collective selves. It's pretty simple. Vote Democrat if you want change. If you want to choose which Democrat, get involved in your Democratic Party.

[snowbear]

3. I agree they should let their differences be known constantly, but..

I'm actually impressed with Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy and think that we're going to wind up benefiting from it in the end.

At first I was skeptical.. :shrug:

But C'mon - when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is killed and the end result is that George gets a ONE POINT increase in his 30-something approval rating...

ONE lousy point...

....that's a pretty clear sign that this country is completely fed up with him.

The thing I've noticed about Dean (and I was never a "Deanie".. I came from the other side of the tracks, the "Clarkie" side ) .. but I've noticed that he's not taking his eye off the ball in ANY of the states.

Maybe it's all those years of being a great Governor? Maybe it's because he was an awesome physician? Or maybe as it turns out.. he just has a knack for what he's doing?

Whatever it is.. I say, rock on Dean!!! Do whatever it takes!

[samsingh]

4. dems are totally better and different than the gop

[guidod]

5. I'm beginning to think

Universal Health Care is a dem wedge issue. We bring it up just like the repukes bring up flag burning. I don't think we'll ever get it, all they do is talk, talk, talk. :shrug:

[Freedom_from_Chains]

6. That's a simple campaign. "We're not Fascist. n/t

On Edit:

Actually I like the "Had enough" platform better.