Because I'm not stupid.

[Goodheart]

That was my answer when one of the white people at a very white get-together, surprised to hear me defend Hillary Clinton against a smear, asked me "You're a Democrat??!!! Really? Why?"

I'm keeping it simple these days.

[BigmanPigman]

1. You are nicer than I am.

[elleng]

2. Please try engaging in informed and polite dialog,

when such circumstances present themselves.

[Goodheart]

3. Doesn't help. Sorry.

[lunatica]

4. Nope. It doesn't help.

Stupid is stupid. You can’t fix it.

[uponit7771]

5. To what end? tia

[elleng]

6. CHANGING MINDS, SAVING THE WORLD.

[uponit7771]

8. Unless there was something pithy and sharp there was going to change no minds in that setting ...

... that's not the way human beings operate as a whole group.

[soldierant]

55. In order for someone ro change his or her mind,

he or she has to have a mind to change. A mindless person can't do it.

I would still encourage attempting it if we have an infinite amount of time in which to accomplish everything that needs to get done. We don't. Distractions only bog us down.

[In It to Win It]

7. Never works...

I genuinely try. It's like talking to a brick wall. They all believe that the Clintons have hitmen.

[elleng]

10. Glad to hear that you try.

[sharedvalues]

12. Ellen, love you, but let me talk about psych for a bit

Different messages are more or less persuasive to different people.

To most liberals calm reasoned discussion is the most persuasive form of argument.
But from most conservatives this is not true!

What persuades many conservatives, is anger, directness, and emotion. This is why Brett Kavanaugh yelled and that worked. This is why Rush Limbaugh calls women “feminazis”. (If you’d like to read more about this, George Lakoff has written about it— how conservatives respond to strength and liberals want to talk things through.)

So, what does that mean? If you meet a conservative, the most effective thing you can do is call them stupid. Call them an idiot. A sucker. (But stay calm. If you get worked up it seems less strong.)

It sounds CRAZY to liberals like us. But that’s why conservatives like Fox and we hate it. We like different styles of communication.

Try it!

Ps I almost always agree with you here.

[elleng]

13. Thanks, sharedvalues.

I doubt that I could do this, MAYBE I could call some 'sucker,' and maybe some others here can; I hope they will. I can't stand the idea of ##### just giving up.

[sharedvalues]

15. :)

Not everyone needs to master each style of communication. Takes a village.

[elleng]

16. Indeed it does! Teaching my grandkids now!

[Goodheart]

18. Great post.

[in2herbs]

36. It seems to me that the only time Ds get the attention of the Rs in Congress or public is when Ds

decide to take no hostages and speak truth! It may be accompanied with anger but so long as it's not violence I'm good with that. Otherwise I don't think any shift in the R thought process will occur. I'm for shaming them back to hiding under the rock where they came from and short of violence and silence I'm doing all that I can to accomplish that. This is my world, too.

[Ferrets are Cool]

41. Great response. nt

[calimary]

17. It could all be in the way that line is delivered.

Perhaps if it's done with a gentle, lilting voice, a sweet little smile, a twinkle in the eye, and maybe a wee shrug or nod of the head, then it's harder for the recipient to take umbrage.

It's all in the delivery. Schtick can be rather disarming.

[elleng]

19. Right. See what sharedvalues said @ #12.

[rufus dog]

22. I respectively disagree

I agree with the OP, we need to make a snap decision and pick two paths:

1. Educate
2. Embarrass

Bluntly a person would be correct going the embarrassment route well over 80% of the time.

Seeing the person came out aggressive, I believe the OP made a decision that was 99.9% correct. Had the person provided any inkling that their mind could be changed, then you try to educate.

This can't be said enough, THEY ARE BAD, IGNORANT PEOPLE!

Edit: Sharedvalues in post 12 hit it. It may be uncomfortable, but it is necessary, they need to be punched between the eyes. Sometimes multiple times. Liberals don't get this, kind, nurturing doesn't work. It is why we can't comprehend anyone voting for tRump. Make it extremely uncomfortable for them and we can flip up to 20% of them.

Now are we using them, with out a doubt, but it is for their own good.

[bigbrother05]

34. Kindness and nurturing is seen as weakness

They often see it as an opportunity to take advantage and demonstrate dominance. That's why the Right viewed the 2016 debates as a win for Trump, he was belligerent and repetitive vs. her reasoned policy-oriented approach.

[BlueJac]

38. Will not work on Trump supporters

[Ferrets are Cool]

40. Nope.

They haven't earned polite dialog. They are fucking ME over and every other American who isn't a billionaire. Not only America, but the world is suffering because of their IDIOCY also. So FUCK ALL OF THEM.

Of course, you can handle it however YOU want.

[cwydro]

50. Agree.

It’s better to take the high road.

[elleng]

51. Thanks, cwydro.

It appears we may be a minority here.

[Eliot Rosewater]

52. Such as? I can tell them everything they rely on in life to survive is because of a

liberal but they wont believe me, I have tried.

[sharedvalues]

9. Yes. More reasons

[safeinOhio]

11. Nice.

[dchill]

14. Exactly!

[FakeNoose]

29. I've got the coffee mug that goes with your sweatshirt

[Hermit-The-Prog]

30. where can I get one?

[FakeNoose]

39. Sorry I don't know :-)

I only have the image, not the mug.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

44. fake mugging!

Thanks anyway.

[soldierant]

56. I don't know for sure,

but I'd start at Cafe Press myself. That's where I got my "Is that true, or did you hear it on Fox?" T-shirt. I believe Zazzle is another one. If not getting anywhere, I'd then put "I'm not a Republican" into my search engine and select the categoty "shopping."

[Hermit-The-Prog]

57. thanks!

[soldierant]

58. yvw /nt

[TruckFump]

43. Perfectomundo!!!!!

I want one!!!!!

[Ligyron]

45. Eliminate the blue text.

They only understand strength and not decency.

[diva77]

31. +1 This would make great OP!

[mnhtnbb]

20. You could use a positive reason.

Because I believe in science.

Because I believe in loving my neighbor.

Because I believe in equal rights.

Etc.

[rufus dog]

25. Um, not only no, but hell no!

each one of those takes you down a rabbit hole. Why would any logical person still be a tRump supporter?

Everything they said the Clinton's did, tRump has actually done. Yet they hate the Clinton's but love tRump.

So using logic is a fools errand.

The OP was right.

[Goodheart]

32. They're not critical thinkers, they're slogan lovers.

So I gave them something they can comprehend.

[mnhtnbb]

33. For an interesting discussion of

calling people stupid

https://www.everydaysociologyblog.com/2016/10/the-sociology-of-calling-other-people-stupid.html

To answer "Because I'm not stupid" is to imply that the person asking the question is. If speaking to someone with a quick wit--and don't believe there aren't quick-witted Republicans--the comeback could be "You may not be stupid but you certainly are rude."

Then where are you? What have you gained? If all one cares about is engaging in a dick measuring contest by insulting the other person, then fine. Mission accomplished.

It all depends upon the group, the situation, the person asking the question. If one desires not to have a conversation, or provide a positive response explaining what it means to be a Democrat, then great. Answering "Because I'm not stupid" will finish the conversation. IF, though, one wants to leave the other person with something to think about, then provide a positive answer. OR, alternatively, turn the question around. Give a positive response and then ask the individual why he (she) is a Republican.

I do agree that with some people, there is no point to having a discussion. It's easy to sidestep the question. "It's a party, let's not talk politics." Tell me about...your vacation, your summer, your kid...

[sharedvalues]

54. See above. You're using a response for a Democrat on a Republican

Republicans think differently than us.

See post above on psychology and communication styles of Dems and Rs.

To answer your question, if someone says
“You may not be stupid but you certainly are rude”

You say, “Actually, I just care about this country. I’m a patriot. And I’m sick and tired of conservative suckers believing the lies of billionaires. Fox exists for one reason: because its billionaire owner has figured out he can lie to stupid white people and scare them with fake stories about minorities to get them to vote for billionaire tax cuts.

Hey, did you even know that Republicans passed a $2 TRILLION tax cut for billionaires and put it on a credit card? Fox won’t mention that. But Fox’s owner Murdoch is laughing at you. He knows you and your kids will pay it back.

Sucker.
“


Again, this sounds crazy to us. Because we don’t talk like this and we aren’t persuaded by it. But I promise- this is how conservatives talk and what they need to hear to be persuaded.
The person you say this to will never admit you’re right. But he’ll think about it. You’ve taken a big step on the road to conversion.

[robbob]

21. What was the reaction/follow up dialogue?

I love hearing these “encounters with GOP moron” stories; I always want to know more about how it went...

[Goodheart]

23. "I thought you were my friend."

[robbob]

24. Oh boo hoo!

(For them)! Sure, you can be my friend, that’s why I feel obligated to tell you you’re stupid...

[rufus dog]

26. Which proves you did the right thing

The person was more than comfortable in calling you out for being a Democrat, insinuating you are ignorant. When you flipped it around that same person was more than comfortable in playing the victim.

Typical Republican mindset. Group think and they are the victim. They have zero self awareness. Unlikely you will ever change this persons mind, but someone who heard the interchange may be save able.

[PatrickforO]

27. I bet they are all still talking about you and your temerity at that party.

But maybe you gave a few people who heard you permission to ask their own questions and move beyond Rush's talking points.

[Xipe Totec]

28. Uppitiness nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

35. Also you do not support a racist incompetent purposefully cruel president. . . . nt

[JohnnyRingo]

37. I use "...like most people."

"Like most people, I voted for Hillary." "Like most people, I want universal health care." Like most people, I'm fucking sane." Unfortunately, half the people are below average intelligence.

I love to remind them they are a small minority, and I know how they hate minorities.

[TruckFump]

42. Because I'm not a racist...

Because children do not belong in cages...
Because health care is a right...
Because women should have control over their bodies...
Because I want a president and not a dictator....


And on and on and on...

[True Blue American]

47. I listened to

John Kasich on CNN today. He said he was not one of those who changed their minds about Trump. He felt it was trouble from the beginning. But he refused to bad mouth anyone. If Republicans were smart they would primary John against Trump.

Kasich is not my favorite person but I think he grew after being slapped down by voters when he tried to kill public Unions. He accepted Medicare because it was the right thing to do. When the Legislature tried to pass a restrictive abortion bill they were told, no good he will not sign it.

Of course that was the first thing DeWine signed. But I think he learned a lesson about guns. After being booed off the stage in Dayton he went back to Columbus, said,” The people are angry and they have a right to be angry!” Proposed gun law legislation.

BTW, Dave Chappell, Kanye West and, surprise, Jon Stewart showed up in Dayton for the Shine Memorial in Dayton.

[True Blue American]

48. 1000+

For that post!

[Ligyron]

46. You did the right thing.

The "like most people" qualifier helps too,

"Like most people, I voted for Hillary ".

[ffr]

49. 100% Proud Democrat. Not a follower, a leader.

That's who we are.

[kairos12]

53. My answer is because I'm not Russian.