When Ben Carson is their nominee, MSM will love him.

[pnwmom]

They'll compare his sunny personality to Ronald Reagan's. They'll show off his "self-deprecating" sense of humor.

They'll talk about his wonderful bedside manner. His devout "Christianity."

They'll be thrilled with the sheer novelty of a brain surgeon running for President -- because that's what the media loves most -- novelty.

They'll skim right over Carson's far right policy prescriptions, because most voters either vote by party or vote with their gut, based on personality, not based on the issues DUers like to endlessly discuss.

Ronald Reagan, whose well publicized dream was to end Social Security, was elected in a landslide. He failed because Congress got in the way. We, on the other hand, have Republican leadership in both houses -- and if Carson wins, their numbers are likely to go up even more.

Watch out for Ben Carson.

And think about who would be the best match for him in the general, because he's going to be their guy.

[Dawson Leery]

1. The MSM will cover up for any GOP national candidate. It is what they do.

That said, we are not in 1980. The country has changed so much.

[LonePirate]

2. I have trouble believing Carson could survive debates against any of the three Dem candidates

Then again, if the MSM decides to support him, anything is possible.

[pnwmom]

3. Then you haven't watched enough debates. Al Gore "lost" the debates

to idiot George Bush because most of the people in the audience weren't listening to what George Bush was saying. They were too busy noticing Al Gore's rolling eyes.

Affect is a large part of how candidates win debates -- in the hearts and minds of voters, if not the analysts. It's not so much WHAT candidates say as HOW they say it.

[LonePirate]

5. Our three candidates are not going to repeat Gore's mistakes.

Granted, the questions asked and how they are framed are potential land mines. Still, I would be flabbergasted if our nominee succumbs to non-content reasons for losing debates to Carson, who can't even survive interviews with RW press without seeming like a blubbering idiot.

[pnwmom]

7. He only sounds like an idiot to you because you're listening to his WORDS.

Don't listen to his words. Look at his kind looking face and hear the soothing, calm tone of voice.

That's what people are already responding to.

Were you flabbergasted when Reagan won? I was. I've learned my lesson since then.

[LonePirate]

9. I was too young to understand the candidates back in 80 (was just a tyke back then).

Carson may be aces when it comes to delivery; but surely only the simple-minded can't see the absence of coherence in his words. Right? Right? I sure hope so.

[Warren DeMontague]

10. I hadn't started shaving yet, when Reagan won.

We need to accept that 1980 was 35 years ago, and maybe calibrate our politics for this century, instead of the last one.

[pnwmom]

13. I don't think human nature has changed much since 1980. People loved

the genial grandfather image that Reagan portrayed, and I think Carson could do as well portraying the genial doctor with a prescription for everything.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. I do.

We've gone from Nancy Reagan just saying no to pot being legal in 4 states and counting. You don't think that's a sea change? in 2004 Gay Marriage was a toxic issue, toxic enough that pols like Hillary Clinton thought it was "smart" to stand in front of congress and wax philosophical about the "foundation of marriage being between a man and a woman". Nothing has changed since then? You honestly believe that?

Here's the graph the conventional beltway wisdom types seem completely unable to grok:



That right there will tell you a whole bunch about where this country is actually going, AND why places like DU- which skew heavily towards older boomers, no offense folks- are increasingly out of touch.

Look, if your not-so-subtle subtext here is that Hillary ought to be our nominee, aside from this thread being in the wrong forum, personally you're wasting your time with me, at least. I'm not voting for her in the primary, but I suspect she will win it anyway. Strongly suspect. So you can relax, I think, in that regard.

That being the case and with an eye to the General, she will do well, to my mind, if she starts courting Millennials on issues they actually care about; her track record indicates that she is already more than capable of playing the "my favorite bible verse is..." game.

Carson may very well be the nominee on the GOP, but that syrupy jesus values voter stuff doesn't play nearly as well as it used to. Mark my words.

[pnwmom]

16. Gay marriage is an ISSUE. Social security is an ISSUE. I'm talking about human nature

and voting behavior.

Even though most voters in 1980 were strongly FOR Social Security and other Great Society programs -- and he adamantly wasn't -- they voted for Reagan simply because they liked the image he projected.

I certainly hope you're right, but I think human nature is the same in 1980. If he can come across as the more likable to more voters, then he can win.

And I'm not certain Hillary would be the best against him -- though you're right I don't think Bernie would be the best. O'Malley might be the best to go against Carson.

[Warren DeMontague]

19. Human nature and issues are linked.

I don't think that the same old crappy playbook the GOP has been using since 1980, sells the way it used to. I mean, we weren't able to win in 1984 using the 1936 or 1964 playbook, so why should the GOP's 1980 one still apply?

Don't take my word for it- no less than John Sununu said "I have no feeling for the electorate anymore". Their old shtick isn't selling.

I think Carson comes across as weirdly sedated and out of it. I doubt that will translate to "likeable".

If Hillary Clinton keeps performing the way she has the past week or so, I think she can beat any of the GOP candidates. So could Sanders, I think- given that any political reality that would deliver him the nomination would also, to my mind, indicate a mood of the electorate favorable enough for him to win the general.

O'Malley delivered an excellent closing statement at the debate, but I don't think he has all that much of a chance.

[bklyncowgirl]

17. A genial doctor like say--Heathcliff Huxtable

Of course Heathcliff Huxtable was played by Bill Cosby, a man we now know was a serial rapist.

I don't know if Carson has any skeletons in his closet but yeah, people respond to his demeanor and soft spoken words. He comes off as wise and gentle, in short, he's every leader Morgan Freeman has ever played. Hell, watching Meet the Press he almost sounded reasonable when he said that abortion should be illegal in all circumstances including rape or incest.

I had to smack myself upside the head and say to myself "listen to what he's saying you idiot."

He's dangerous if the media gives him a free pass.

[pnwmom]

20. Yes. You understand why I'm concerned about this guy. And he had this little moment

in the first debate when he said something self-deprecating, and that got him a lot of points.

He says everything in this soft sweet voice and you have to really pay attention to his words -- which most voters don't, unfortunately -- to notice that the words he's dripping out are full of bitterness and bile.

[bklyncowgirl]

21. Yeah I agree. There's a real disconnect between his demeanor and what he says

I was talking with someone the other day who was quite taken with the good doctor--just because of the way he spoke and acted. Oddly enough he also loved Bernie Sanders--clearly Carson's opposite both politically and in terms of public presentation.

My guess he was someone looking for "authenticity" something which I will say Carson and Sanders have in common. Both are true believers. It's hard to imagine either doing something solely for political benefit.

[Mosby]

4. carson in the GE would be good for the dem candidate

The voter turnout in the AA community would be enormous.

[pnwmom]

6. The Republicans would certainly get more AA votes than usual, particularly if

we run someone who can't connect with religious voters.

AA's are the most religious of Democratic groups. They can connect with someone like Hillary or Joe Biden on that basis. But that's one of the reasons they're not connecting with Bernie. Religious beliefs are not a part of his foundation.

But they are important to most AA's. And he has long been viewed as a positive role model in this community. There will be some AA's who will vote for him based on personality, overall accomplishments, and religion -- not on the economic issues we're so sure should be most important to them.

[Mosby]

11. I think his comments about race relations

Will trump every other issue within the AA community.

They know an uncle tom when they see one, his comments about Obama making race relations worse and accusing the POTUS of promoting a "victim mentality" will get him no support in the AA community other than current republicans.

His views about Michael Brown, Trayyvon Martin and racism in general is why conservatives love him, but AAs are not fooled.

[WI_DEM]

12. Any increase for the GOP in the African-American vote would be harmful to the Dems

And yes, some African-Americans would vote for this guy.

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Thankfully, Millennials skew pretty secular and don't go in for all that "values voter" bs.

I guess all those Veggietales videos didn't work.

[frizzled]

14. Absolutely terrifying. Carson wants the "Republic of Gilead" from "Handmaid's Tale".

nt

[Robbins]

18. Carson won't be the GOP nominee

it will be trump.

Sooner or later racists in Republican party will turn on Carson.Best case sceniro for carson is winning iowa and then collopse.