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Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 07:48 PM Oct 2018

Why doesn't the Democratic Party demonize Republican leaders?

The Republicans have done it for years, and successfully, it seems. Pelosi Pelosi Pelosi! Feinstein Feinstein Feinstein! Hillary Hillary Hillary! Pocahontas Pocahontas Pocahontas!

They seem to zero in on women leaders. Tweety on Hardball had a segment on this.

So WHY doesn't the Democratic Party do the same thing? McConnell McConnell McConnell! Paul Ryan, Paul Ryan, Paul Ryan! And so on.

Would it not work for us?

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Why doesn't the Democratic Party demonize Republican leaders? (Original Post) Honeycombe8 Oct 2018 OP
I think the average dem is a different Phoenix61 Oct 2018 #1
Not trying to attract us or them but non voters, I think non voters should be scared of today's ... uponit7771 Oct 2018 #17
Voters who vote for republicans should be afraid of the republican party if they standingtall Oct 2018 #27
Yes. In fact it may turn off some Democrats LiberalLovinLug Oct 2018 #29
+1, the non voter is the biggest market that is up for grabs uponit7771 Oct 2018 #30
We do 'nice,' they do 'mean.' elleng Oct 2018 #2
I'd like to see that SWITCHED. calimary Oct 2018 #7
No kidding. The more we let them get away with it, the more they do it, and the more they win mtnsnake Oct 2018 #3
Yes, I just wonder. Honeycombe8 Oct 2018 #5
becsuse it isn't as appealing to people who are likely to be democrats JI7 Oct 2018 #4
Maybe so. I don't know. But it's true that any Repub Senator... Honeycombe8 Oct 2018 #6
That's it. TomSlick Oct 2018 #10
many independents are not really "independent". JI7 Oct 2018 #11
I think you are correct. TomSlick Oct 2018 #12
This is true. "Independent" does not mean "moderate." Some people think it does. Honeycombe8 Oct 2018 #23
That may be. But they don't have party loyalty, and are probably not cleanly aligned w/the parties. Honeycombe8 Oct 2018 #24
"Good guys always finish last." Fight hard, just don't be hypocritical demosincebirth Oct 2018 #8
They're already Demons to me. maxsolomon Oct 2018 #9
demonization won't work as well for us 0rganism Oct 2018 #13
tell the truth about them. that oughta do it nt msongs Oct 2018 #14
Since they MCConnell bdamomma Oct 2018 #15
They're too busy being their friends, biggest gripe with dems in congress is they don't try to choke uponit7771 Oct 2018 #16
"They go low, we go high." MadDAsHell Oct 2018 #18
Agreed. I thought it sounded great at the time. But it doesn't get you votes. Honeycombe8 Oct 2018 #25
"They go low, we go high." LenaBaby61 Oct 2018 #28
I think we need to look at what drives the demonization of Hillary and Pelosi... JHan Oct 2018 #19
We hold the moral high ground bluecollar2 Oct 2018 #20
we got more votes. the reason they control it is due more to the system which has allowed JI7 Oct 2018 #21
I agree bluecollar2 Oct 2018 #22
We have to WIN before we can change anything. Honeycombe8 Oct 2018 #26

Phoenix61

(16,955 posts)
1. I think the average dem is a different
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 07:52 PM
Oct 2018

type of person. The repubs tend to be angry, fear based folks and flaming the fear works to motivate them. I just don't see that tactic working for us.

uponit7771

(90,226 posts)
17. Not trying to attract us or them but non voters, I think non voters should be scared of today's ...
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 09:27 PM
Oct 2018

... republican party.

They are not a force for good.

LiberalLovinLug

(14,154 posts)
29. Yes. In fact it may turn off some Democrats
Wed Oct 17, 2018, 03:24 PM
Oct 2018

But they have to buck up, even if its distasteful, undignified, beneath them etc....and accept that we have to attract younger, and those whose eyes usually glaze over when the topic of politics comes up. Trump tapped into that 'market'. We have to too. Obviously not the exact same people, but those of that ilk brought up on reality TV, but that WOULD vote Democrat, if they ever did vote.

There needs to be a new messaging strategy to attract normally non-voters. Those brought up on sensationalist TV and movies. Is it crass? yes. But contemporary entertainment has changed, gotten more edgy, pushed the limits of what they get away with. Yet Democrats have deliberately remained outside the fray. They still want to think they are better than that, and eventually one day, folks will see that they are the proper choice. Sorry but claiming you are " better than that" is part of the problem with public perception.

If you can't beat em, join em. They have to use over-the-top outrageous language that causes Kelly Anne Conway to stutter into speechlessness. Put them on the defensive for a change.

The Repukes have opened the gates. Even their Christofacsists have no leg to stand on in regards to being the morality police anymore. What are we waiting for?!!!!

elleng

(130,175 posts)
2. We do 'nice,' they do 'mean.'
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 07:58 PM
Oct 2018

I agree, I'd like to see similar approach, but they say such outlandish things, hard not only to swallow, but to articulate.

We don't lie!

mtnsnake

(22,236 posts)
3. No kidding. The more we let them get away with it, the more they do it, and the more they win
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:03 PM
Oct 2018

When will we ever learn?

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
5. Yes, I just wonder.
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:09 PM
Oct 2018

"A vote for (insert Repub name) is a vote for Nancy Pelosi!" That's all they have to say. They don't have to use 100 words to point out his policies would be terrible. Just make the person equal to the "hated" Pelosi.

It's a GOP thing, too. They send out the talking point, so that it's done a LOT across the country. It helps win. It helps create a national fever against Pelosi, which is a double win for them.

Maybe like another poster said, it wouldn't work with Independents & Democrats. But I just wondered why we don't do that.

For Democrats to do it, we'd first have to create a fervor against McConnell and Ryan, which the Democrats have not done. So you have to do that, first. Repeatedly say that Paul Ryan is a weak leader, enabler of Trump's unethical actions and bizarre behavior, a mere lackey.

But we have McConnell there...who took opposing positions on Supreme Court Justice nominations, and who named a 13 person panel to create their health care bill, with all 13 people being white males...why not USE that?

JI7

(89,187 posts)
4. becsuse it isn't as appealing to people who are likely to be democrats
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:07 PM
Oct 2018

the attacks with for the republicans becsuse they are mainly about hate. that's what most of their supporters vote for.

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
6. Maybe so. I don't know. But it's true that any Repub Senator...
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:11 PM
Oct 2018

elected to the Senate, is going to do what McConnell tells him/her to do. So it IS true that a vote for (any Repub) is a vote for McConnell.

That's not necessarily true with Schumer and Pelosi. Democrats are more independent.

TomSlick

(11,038 posts)
10. That's it.
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:24 PM
Oct 2018

MAGAs respond to mindless personal attacks. Democrats respond to rational argument.

In 2016, too many independents responded to the Trump mindlessness. My hope is that they have learned the consequences of that decision.

JI7

(89,187 posts)
11. many independents are not really "independent".
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:26 PM
Oct 2018

they are just as partisan and have strong views as party members.

TomSlick

(11,038 posts)
12. I think you are correct.
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:30 PM
Oct 2018

I suspect that many independents are really Republicans who just cannot admit to themselves. Nevertheless, if they are thinking well enough to hesitate to admit being Republicans, it is still true the best approach is reasoned argument.

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
23. This is true. "Independent" does not mean "moderate." Some people think it does.
Wed Oct 17, 2018, 01:37 AM
Oct 2018

An independent is someone who doesn't want to belong to a party, for whatever reason. Sometimes it's because they are a little bit of this and a little bit of that, so they don't fit neatly into a party. Sometimes they just don't like the two major parties.

But they will, I believe, be more likely to vote for a different party than they normally vote for, than a Democrat or Republican would. One reason is that they don't identify with either party, so there's no party loyalty there. Also because of the fact that some of them don't fit neatly into either party.


Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
24. That may be. But they don't have party loyalty, and are probably not cleanly aligned w/the parties.
Wed Oct 17, 2018, 01:43 AM
Oct 2018

There is a reason they don't belong to a party. It's not because they want attention, as I've heard people say. But whatever the reason, they are different in that they don't want to belong to a party and don't identify with the members of the parties. I would say it's because they don't fit cleanly within either of the major parties...they are conservative on some issues and liberal on others.

Other indies just don't like the parties, thinking they're on the take or bow to special interests.

I do think the stats show that Independents are more likely to vote for either party more so than those who identify with the parties. The indies don't have party loyalty to get them to vote for a party, when they don't like the candidate much.

maxsolomon

(33,014 posts)
9. They're already Demons to me.
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:20 PM
Oct 2018

My niece was a Senate Page 6 years ago.

My request? "Kick McConnell in the nuts".

I'm trying to think of GOP Pol I don't consider hellspawn.

0rganism

(23,857 posts)
13. demonization won't work as well for us
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:33 PM
Oct 2018

conservatives are motivated by appeals to the lizard brain. displays of strength while demeaning the opposition are their calling card. it's what they do.

if we tried, at best, we'd come across as a pale imitation of the real thing. we have to take another approach: displays of genuine humor while staying on-topic.

they win by showing us as weak and slow. we win by showing them to be wacky and unhinged. in order for our tactics to prevail, we must (first and foremost) stay on topic when they try to distract, and not jump at bait when it's offered.

remember, ultimately, the progressive position is that people with substantial differences (physical, economic, mental) can cooperate to have a positive impact on the world. the conservatives' position is that such cooperation is impossible, or has negative results. if we engage in demonization as they do, we unwittingly contribute evidence to support their thesis of exclusivity.

bdamomma

(63,671 posts)
15. Since they MCConnell
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 08:51 PM
Oct 2018

and his band of thugs like money so much, if we can give any amt of money to those Democratic Senators to regain their seats again (Heidi Heikamp and Claire McCaskill), that will be our payback to McConnell.

uponit7771

(90,226 posts)
16. They're too busy being their friends, biggest gripe with dems in congress is they don't try to choke
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 09:26 PM
Oct 2018

... out as many republicans as they can see walk past them in the halls on a daily basis.

That's the attitude they should have right now, Lindsey Graham should be afraid to get that loud during any meeting cause he knows someone is going to choke his punk ass when he walks in the hall.

Bit of an exaggeration but it felt good to type ...

Either way, it seems like they prioritize getting along too much

 

MadDAsHell

(2,067 posts)
18. "They go low, we go high."
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 10:37 PM
Oct 2018

Great bumper sticker, absolutely awful political strategy.

I wish she’d never uttered the words. It makes me cringe when people still treat it like it’s gospel; whoever wrote that speech needs to never write again.

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
25. Agreed. I thought it sounded great at the time. But it doesn't get you votes.
Wed Oct 17, 2018, 01:48 AM
Oct 2018

You can't DO anything about the country, if you don't WIN first. People don't finesse statements that much. Negative ads work.

LenaBaby61

(6,965 posts)
28. "They go low, we go high."
Wed Oct 17, 2018, 03:53 AM
Oct 2018

Great bumper sticker, absolutely awful political strategy.

Yeah, I totally agree with you. Now you have thuglicans taunting Dems with that "You're going low..." while THEY taunt Dems Just like with the mob thing, and more folks on the right are in mobs. It's like thuglicans now have a license to insult, lie on Dems, take someone's health care away which will mean DEATH to many, yet when Dems say something and get heated (Like Alan Grayson rightfully did when he said that thuglicans wanted people to just go die or words to that effect, and thuglicans cried and pitched a fit over him saying that, and even some Dems at the times chastised Grayson GRAYSON was right, because thuglicans want to get rid of pre-existing, essentials and give people skinny tRump care which is like having NO health care. thuglicans accuse DEMS of taking a low road. Economist Austan Goolsbee said on Tuesday that by 2020, that thuglican tax cut for the rich will have us almost $700 BILLION more in the hole, and he said you know darn well thuglicans are going to blame that thuglican deficit-busting increase on Dems, who should be talking about it now. Yeah, tRumputin keeps big-footing almost everything of relevance in the media, and most in the corporate media go running after him like baby chicks even when he breaks wind and they continue normalizing him, but Dems still should keep repeating the truth about those tax cuts for the rich even if only one person hears it, or until they fall the fuck OUT. Yeah, let me stop before I'm reported again for 'criticizing' Dems. I mean, got damn, somebody's coming for your health care and your health is the most important thing that you have in this LIFE and if you lose your health care due to thuglicans taking it away and you/a family member gets chronically ill, that could KILL you due to medical lifetime caps, and Dems are supposed to "fly high" and be nice to THOSE murderers muthafukkers? Like you can reason with murderous sacks of shit like them?

JHan

(10,173 posts)
19. I think we need to look at what drives the demonization of Hillary and Pelosi...
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 10:48 PM
Oct 2018

Arkansas Project, and various other "conservative" activist groups don't care about truth or journalistic integrity. They're very comfortable with lies and politics of personal destruction for "the greater good". They may even feel sanctified lying about an enemy if it suits their purposes.

They also shunned legacy media and embraced right wing radio, and less stratified forms of media communication which proved very effective.

bluecollar2

(3,622 posts)
20. We hold the moral high ground
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 11:42 PM
Oct 2018

We have had to give up the White House, Senate, House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court in order to achieve our position of moral superiority.

I don't understand it but capitulation seems to be the order of the day these days.

JI7

(89,187 posts)
21. we got more votes. the reason they control it is due more to the system which has allowed
Tue Oct 16, 2018, 11:44 PM
Oct 2018

a minority of voters to control and have disproportionate power in the electoral system.

if we went just by popular vote and more proportional representation they would not have as much control.

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
26. We have to WIN before we can change anything.
Wed Oct 17, 2018, 01:50 AM
Oct 2018

The fact is that negative ads and a negative message seems to win these days.

But maybe the public is tired of the negative messages, except for the grandiose self-bragging by the Bragger in Chief. I know I am.

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