|
Edited on Mon Oct-04-04 04:27 PM by spooky3
you are going to reach people who don't yet realize this. WHY does it matter? What issues does it decide that can affect people's lives? Speaking in general terms does not persuade them.
I am not differing with you on whom to reach (please re-read my post). I am saying I believe that there are people who are currently undecided or leaning Bush who do not realize the impact that his right wing appointments will likely have on issues that AFFECT THEIR LIVES, rather than some esoteric topic they may not care about. You may not be aware of how many people there are FOR EXAMPLE (please note that I am using abortion rights as an example, not as "the" issue to discuss) who really believe that there is no chance abortion rights could be overturned by a less sympathetic Supreme Court, and who therefore do not realize that Supreme Ct. appointments are an important issue for them in deciding whom to support. For example, young, single men and women have a low voting rate. What will motivate them to get out and vote? If you want to articulate other examples, please do, but the general, no examples, no specifics argument will not convince people who don't care to care about this issue. If you can't identify some cases that are likely to come before the Supreme Court that in the past may have been decided by 5-4 or even 6-3 decisions and that matter, then you really have no way to persuade them that the Supreme Court matters.
Please note that I did not specifically mention gay rights as one of the issues I expect to be brought before the Supreme Court. I did mention civil rights, which is much broader and affects women, Latinos, African Americans, older Americans, as well as gays, and many others in this country, many of whom face discrimination in their jobs and feel alienated from the political process. And these people taken together are in the VAST majority.
You seem to assume (in your second sentence) that most if not all voters know candidates' positions on many issues as well as their own and vote for the best match. Unfortunately, research shows this is NOT true. It's certainly true for a lot of DUers, and probably you and me, but it is NOT true for many voters.
|