How to Beat a Strongman

[summer_in_TX]

Last edited Tue Sep 1, 2020, 06:22 PM - Edit history (2)

Link to tweet

Dan Pfeiffer: "Trump is in Wisconsin right now trying pour gas on a delicate situation so he can play the role of a strongman. He is leading with his chin and providing Democrats with a great opportunity to highlight his weakness and incompetence. Here's how:

In 2020, I would bet the Trump campaign is focused on how Trump and Biden rate on the “strong leader” question. A recent YouGov poll found that 47 percent of voters see Biden as a very or somewhat strong leader, while 48 percent rate him as a somewhat or very weak leader. Trump fared worse with 54 percent of voters and 60 percent of Independents rating him as a weak leader. Trump simply cannot win if he doesn’t improve those numbers in the next sixty-some days.

Author Dan Pfeiffer says the Republican Convention used three ways to change Trump's numbers relative to Biden: 1) Paint Biden as weak, 2) Make America afraid of something other than COVID, and 3) Project strength at all costs. THAT's why they picked the White House lawn, because it enraged the Left and they couldn't do anything about it (making him as the authoritarian look strong and us weak).

So how do we beat that strategy?

Recast actions he's taking that some could see as strong as actually weak (which they are).

snip…

Most of us respond to Trump’s dictatorial cosplay by expressing horror at his power grabs and worrying (often publicly) about the fate of democracy. While this reaction is logical and understandable, it is also counter-productive. The more we describe Trump as an authoritarian capable of anything, the more we reinforce his appeal with a core set of voters.

HOW we talk about Trump's actions matter.

snip…

versions of the below message that test very well with the swing voters — independents and soft Republicans — most drawn to Trump’s strongman persona.

Trump pretends to be strong, but he is too weak and insecure to be President. His incompetence is why the U.S. is one of the only countries in the world that can’t get COVID under control. He talks a tough game, but Trump has never stood up to anyone in his life. He bows down to dictators, gets his marching orders from CEOs, and hides in his bunker when things get tough. Trump simply isn’t up to the the job of President.

"Painting Trump as weak is the first part of the equation. The second part is talking about Joe Biden in ways that accentuate his strength." (In imagery and words, not subtlely)

Biden's ad that ran during the convention did that well. " target="_blank">

https://messagebox.substack.com/p/how-to-beat-a-strongman

[C_U_L8R]

1. Truth.

Trump is very weak and insecure and it shows. Just like any cowardly bully.

[rampartc]

2. remember, we are democrats

our leaders govern by consensus and we like it that way.

i

[summer_in_TX]

3. Exactly.

But to give those on the fence who like all of us are swimming in a primordial soup of fear from the coronavirus and economic uncertainty, along with fear that our society is disintegrating, Biden is a strong, stable, comforting leader. Not a weak bully and fool like Trump.

[world wide wally]

4. Just like FDR, JFK and Obama