Ask Yourself This Question: Why Would Anyone Be Trying to Discourage You from Voting?

[MineralMan]

Seriously. Why would anyone do that? Less than two weeks before an important mid-term election, when state and federal legislative offices and a host of local and state offices are on the ballot, why on Earth would anyone tell you that you should be angry about something someone said nationally or in some place where you don't live?

I'm suspicious of anyone who is trying to get me to ignore this election because "it doesn't matter" or because "the party is sending the wrong message." For all I know, people who do that may mean well, but it's the wrong message this close to election day. The message right now should be "Get out the vote" and nothing else. In every state and ever district, voting on November 4 makes an enormous difference. That's all that matters right now.

We have the races on our ballots that are on the ballots. That's it. The candidates are all set. It's up to us, now, to decide who will represent us. Nothing the national party organizations say will change the election now. Even donating money right now will have no effect whatever on the outcome on November 4.

Instead, go to the websites of the candidates who will be on your ballot. What are they saying on their websites? That's what's important right now. It's not about national politics in any way at this point. It's about your legislative districts, your state government and your local government.

Find out what matters in the offices and other items that will be on your ballot.

Go to the polling place and take others with you. That's what matters right now.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[The Magistrate]

1. I Agree, Sir

The imperative need now is to neuter the nut-cases: once they have been driven off we can return to our usual intra-mural snipings over what the true course to heaven may be....

[MineralMan]

3. Thanks. I don't care who sends me emails right now, nor what

the titles of those emails might be. It's less than two weeks before the election. Voting is what matters right now. The local ballots across the country are what matter right now.

After November 4, we can discuss the tactics of various party organizations. It's irrelevant right now.

[calimary]

36. I don't care either. And I figured out something ELSE, too.

It struck me the other day that there's ANOTHER way to know how to weed through the INCESSANT and INTENSIFYING campaign commercials at this moment. And the enemy is HANDING IT TO US on a plate. They don't realize they're unconsciously tipping us all off.

All you have to do to figure out how to vote - especially if it's an obscure office or you have a slew of propositions that you don't really understand. Many of them in the smaller positions like state legislature and ballot initiatives and stuff: WATCH THE VOLUME OF THE ADS. Try to make note of how many more there are on one side of the issue. It's a safe bet if you're being carpet-bombed on behalf of ONE candidate (especially if he or she does not readily reveal any party affiliation and it's all nice and cozy and harmless-sounding) or ONE side of any ballot measure - it's very likely safe to assume it's from the koch brothers or some other big-ticket campaign high-roller on the CON side.

We do know they have more money on their side. They have more capitalistic vampire and vulture billionaires on their side. They have more of the marauders and banksters and grand-sale thieves, gluttons, and cheaters, and probably polluters, too, engorging these campaigns and candidates from the GOP with kings' ransoms of funding. They have all the money to buy all the ads, so you're going to be carpet-bombed by their attempts to manipulate your vote (as well as funding the candidates who would presumably win the election and then go about making sure your vote doesn't count - either at the state level or federally). So if one side is just on and on and on and on and on and on incessantly and you can't get away from their commercials and radio spots and billboards and yard signs that just are EVERYWHERE - it might be on behalf of one of the bad guys.

I've seen a SHITLOAD of commercials here in L.A. wanting you to go one way on various propositions. I've looked into those and noticed that they're insurance and hospital collectives and "Americans for 'Tax Fairness'" or some such - there's a new one new called the "Bold Agenda" that's pushing elan carr for Henry Waxman's Congressional seat. And what the fuck is the fucking smarm-ass "Bold Agenda"?

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-California/2014/10/19/New-GOP-Super-PAC-Launches-Ad-in-Support-of-Elan-Carr

He's peppering the airwaves out here with spots - and I even saw a spot just promoting the "Bold Agenda." But this innocuous woman comes on, apparently not advocating outright for any one candidate or idea, but spouting all these nice-sounding ideas slick buzz phrases that sound sooooooooo nice and harmless and all, and you only have to watch for a few seconds before they get into "small government!" "lower taxes" and BOOM!!! EXPOSED!!!! They just gave it all away. Their pants just fell down. They just exposed their true selves.

Just one more idea for filtering the campaign crap that's now deluging us in the last two weeks before Election Day. Look who has the MOST commercials just avalanching the airwaves. Over and over. Commercial break after commercial break ALL DAY LONG AND ALL NIGHT LONG, too. I'd bet you that most of the time, you're looking at a GOP campaign.

Okay, FINE. So the bad guys have way more money than we do. KNOWING THAT, TOO, CAN STILL WORK IN OUR FAVOR.

[1StrongBlackMan]

28. +1 ...

Spot on.

I would think those working to get Democratic candidates elected, would be limiting their political messages, especially in Democratic/Liberal/Progressive forums, to 2 points: Pro-Democratic candidate messages and anti-republican messages, in equal proportions.

[freshwest]

42. RF101 (Don Segretti 4.0) is what we get. While Breitbart, FNN, etc. do GOTV for the GOP.

Last edited Wed Oct 22, 2014, 10:44 PM - Edit history (1)

If nothing else, we should vote against the GOP to spite them for all the misery they cause us, and let them lose money trying to fool us. Not voting for our values means voting for theirs.

If you choose not to decide

You still have made a choice

~ Free Will by Rush

[FSogol]

2. K & R. n/t

[Fumesucker]

4. Exactly, if someone sends you a poltical email entitled "Pack Up. Go Home. It's Done"

Then it's quite obvious they are trying to discourage you from voting.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025695996

[FSogol]

5. No, maybe they want you to fight back. n/t

[tkmorris]

7. Maybe those who criticize such tactics do too

I really don't know why there is this kneejerk assumption that all criticism is ratfucking. It smacks of insecurity to me.

[FSogol]

9. Every person receiving those emails signed up for them.

Don't like them? Unsubscribe.

It is 13 days until the midterms. We need to be on the same side pulling for all the Democratic candidates, not whining because you don't like the way a couple of Democratic groups are writing fundraising emails. Anything else this close to the election is rat fucking, imo.

[ReRe]

24. Wrong...

... I only gave to one online and that was PO. I have been getting e-mails from a host of other politicians that I have NEVER signed up for. Not to worry... I just boot them outa the box.

[FSogol]

30. I like them. Beyonce actually emailed me on behalf of the Obama campaign to which I replied:

Dear Beyonce, I thought we agreed that you wouldn't contact me at my home email address. You know how jealous my wife gets. One of my sons even mentioned that I got an email from you and asked whether I was going to reply. It has caused a lot of tension around the FSogol household. Please try to be patient.

[ReRe]

43. Never got one from Beyonce. n/t

[MineralMan]

8. Actually, they're not doing that. If you take the time

to read the actual email, you'll always find a request for a donation. Since I donate money only to local candidates for office, I send all of those national fundraising emails to the spam folder automatically.

[Fumesucker]

19. If you take the time

People are getting dozens, hundreds of these things.

The fact that you don't see them does not make them invisible to everyone, if they were then no one would bother commenting on them.

It's easy to show that just about everyone is "depressing the vote" because people have many reasons for voting and words have different meanings depending on your perspective.

From where I sit the vitriol often directed toward my region, state and person by supposed strong Democratic supporters on DU does not greatly motivate me.

Good thing my motivations are rooted in who I am and not what people say about me, not everyone is so grounded.

[MineralMan]

20. I see them, too. I check my spam folder each morning to

make sure something important didn't slip into it. I look at a few of the emails, even though I only donate to individual candidates, who also send me emails. I'd guess that each of those emails results in some donations. I'm not sure what the percentages are, but most email campaigns get some results, even if not many.

In fact, one of the things I'm very good at is writing effective email marketing campaigns. It's one of the best paid aspects of my content work. I just got off the phone with a client for whom I did a cold email drip and warm email drip campaign. The results of that surprised him and even surprised me.

Political fundraising campaigns are based on a very, very low response percentage. But each email gets some response, meaning that money comes in. Emails are cheap to send out in huge numbers, so response doesn't need to be fantastic to make them worthwhile.

Are such things annoying? You bet. If you're not in the mood to donate, they're even more annoying. I also get emails from businesses who want my money. They're annoying, too. So, when I get one, I mark it as spam and my spam removal program sends any others from that source into the spam folder automatically. I see very few such requests in my inbox. It's easy to filter that stuff out.

On your other point, I have no idea where you are located, so I don't know about vitriol sent your way. I'm not directing any regional vitriol toward anyone. So, I really have no comment on that.

[frazzled]

15. I just found that email in my trash folder

(I've been trashing all those fundraising emails). It may have been a stupid headline (aren't they all?) but it wasn't trying to get you not to vote. I opened it up and it said:

To be blunt about it: our ad buy deadline is in 2 hours. If we can’t get to our goal now, we can just throw in the towel. Go home. Give up.

It was a stupid ploy to get you to donate, and I am sick and tired of these scream headlines intended to make you open the email to see what it's about (it's always about money). The headlines are often conflicting (We're begging you! All hope is lost! Where are you? Thank you!). But it's just stupid, not an attempt to get people not to vote. These emails need to STOP.

All they have done is gotten me not to want to donate.* I'll of course still vote.

*Not quite true: I decided merely to never donate through one of these emails. I did go directly to the sites of the DSCC, and two candidates in tight races in my state last month to donate. But I have donated less than normally because of this barrage of idiotic, often insulting, impersonal, do-think-I'm-dumber-than-a-rock email blasts.

[logosoco]

6. Go to the websites! That is the ticket!

I switch stations when commercials come on when I am in the car, I put the glossy mailings right in the recycle bin. Emails are easily deleted.
The age of the Internet is here, it is literally in everyone's pocket. Spend some time, doesn't take much, and learn about the people and the issues on the ballot. If a story is in the news, check it out thoroughly, news sources can be biased and yes, less than truthful.

It's easy and as an American citizen, it is crucial.

[MineralMan]

10. Exactly. We have the Internet now.

Also, for House races, state legislative and local offices, it's pretty easy to get some face time with the actual candidate. I've had conversations with my congressional representative three times this year. She's always showing up at some function or another. If I show up there, I'll have a chance to talk with her, and I use that opportunity from time to time. State legislators? I can call mine on the phone and talk to them. I can send them an email. I even know where they live, since they live in their own district, just like I do.

Politics are not mysterious. Candidates are accessible. There's no excuse for not knowing where they stand any longer.

[TBF]

11. I agree

Even though this system needs to be radically redone or abolished (I'm personally for smashing it down) - we are still playing capitalism right now and the governing has real consequences. It especially has real consequences for women in Texas and similar states.

I put up the early voting info first thing on Monday because it is the priority as you say. The difference with leftist advocates is that we don't see the election as the end all - we keep organizing and advocating for awareness, education and change all the time.

But it is imperative to point out that things like whether food stamps are available, head start programs are available, reproductive health choices remain in the hands of women, unemployment can be filed, social security checks arrive - these effect millions of people and the stop at the polls is worth that alone.

No we're not going to be allowed to vote out capitalism - that's a different ballgame - but there are real reasons to vote until we accomplish the greater goal.

[NCTraveler]

12. "Why would anyone be trying to discourage you from voting?"

This should be broken down into two categories. First, places like du. Second, candidates themselves and those groups lobbying for them.

It is very well known that voter apathy works and that negative campaigning works. In Florida, every negative Crist or Scott ad is 100% about trying to get voters to stay home. These are a majority of the ads in Florida. The whole goal is to attempt to get people to feel it isn't worth it to show up and vote. Study after study has shown it works and works well. More often than not it works better than a positive message.

Places like du there are also a number of reasons. One would be trolls. Two would be a reaction to some who feel the need to whitewash a candidates history to make them appear like a progressive. There should never be anything wrong with saying something bad about a candidate if they themselves are bad. Third, posts here and on other blogs aren't as important as some make them out to be. No one here is not going to vote because of some op that was started.

I assume you are talking about campaigns and elections, because places like du don't have the kind of impact that would keep people from the polls. So the answer is that discouraging voters is a tried and true method of winning.

[global1]

13. I Don't Think That We Are Being Discouraged To Go Vote - There Is However A Concerted Effort To....

prevent people that want to vote from being able to vote. That is the voter suppression that is going on across this country. States are passing measures that make it more and more difficult for Americans to vote. They have targeted African-Americans, the elderly, students and the disabled - those groups of people that are more apt to vote for Democratic candidates. They are requiring proof of citizenship to register, government issued photo ID's, cutting back on early voting, eliminating the ability to register to vote on Election Day and other voter registration drives, etc. Other tactics being used are changing polling places. Reducing the amounts of polling places so they are farther away and are more difficult to get to. Another tactic is to have older technology and fewer voting machines to create wait times in hopes that people will give up and go home and not vote.

People are not being told to ignore the election because it doesn't matter or the Party is sending the wrong message. There are actually barriers being put up to prevent people that may want to vote from voting. Making it harder or more difficult to actually go vote - so those people stay home and don't vote. That is what is going on and IMHO it is un-American as all Americans should have the right to vote should they want to and not be prevented from voting in any way.

Actually tons and tons of money is being spent to get peoples votes. Just look at the money the Koch Bros are spending on well placed ads in prime time that are designed to sway voters opinions. Most of those ads border on half truths and are designed to make the Dem candidate look bad by choosing sound bites that are taken out of context.

Thank you SCOTUS and Citizens United for putting the money into elections.

I think about it in this fashion. My one vote is important because people are spending a lot of money to get my one vote. That is my response to people when I hear them say "My one vote doesn't matter or doesn't count so I'm not going to vote". I tell them "...look how much money is being spent to get your one vote. Somebody out there thinks your one vote matters."

No we aren't being discouraged to go to vote - either we are being manipulated into voting for the wrong person or we are being prevented by measures mentioned above in this post from being able to vote when we want to vote.

Bottom line - this is a most important election. This could be a watershed election for this country. A lot is at stake. We need to give this President our support to let him be able to carry out what he knows is best for this country and good for this country without any further obstruction.

It is not rocket science as to what needs to be done to get this country back to economic stability and allow it to flourish again. We can put this country to work again by fixing our infrastructure. We can help students get out from under massive loan debt. We can make the US Post Office profitable. We can solve the immigration problems. We can stop the war on women. We can take the money out of politics. We might even have a chance to change SCOTUS. We can go even farther in creating a healthcare system that doesn't exclude any American.

We know all the things that need to be done - but we need to remove those that are obstructing all those things from happening.

So GOTV is most important. Please 'encourage' everyone to GOTV.

Let them know that they have a chance to not vote against their better interests.

If they are elderly, disabled - take them to the polling place to allow them to vote. Help them get registered, get the ID they need. This is what needs to be done if we want to once and for all stop all the obstruction that is preventing this country and this President from doing what is needed.

[MineralMan]

14. Thanks for your thoughtful response.

After the 2010 election, Minnesota ended up with a Republican majority in both houses of our state legislature. Those Republicans tried to get people to vote in 2012 for a constitutional amendment that would require Voter ID. In 2012, we voted that down and voted those Republicans out of office. We got our Democratic majority back in both houses.

Legal attempts to suppress the vote should be overthrown every time they happen. That's a state issue, and it's one that needs a strong response to prevent that from happening.

Beyond that, we need a SCOTUS that will overturn such voter suppression. That's going to take a Democratic President and a strong Democratic majority in the Senate. Voting is how we get those things. Not voting is how we lose them. It is just that simple.

[bigwillq]

16. I hope everyone exercises their right to vote.

When it comes to voting, I don't pay attention to what anyone says, thinks, feels, etc.

I vote because I want to, and like to.

[greatauntoftriplets]

17. I've already voted because it does matter.

The headlines on the fundraising e-mails are just hyperbole.

[MineralMan]

18. Thanks for voting! Fundraising emails come in

many forms. Probably all of them, even the annoying ones, get some results. If they didn't work, they wouldn't be sending them, I'm guessing. They all go into my spam folder. I donate to individual candidates.

[Android3.14]

21. Vote

If you hold your vote, you suck.

[Union Scribe]

22. If someone doesn't vote because of criticism of Dems here

then that's entirely on them. Their choice. Acting like we all have to walk around on eggshells and act like brain-dead flag-waving party hack lemmings because a voter might see something you don't want them to is complete bullshit.

Curiously it's often the same people usually saying that DU isn't representative of the "real" Democrats and nothing said here matters, who simultaneously insist that continuing to dare criticize bad policies or candidates here will doom us all in the election.

So maybe instead of casting suspicion on people posting things you don't like, you could take your own advice and focus squarely on the GOTV message instead of your constant meta crap.

[MineralMan]

23. Nothing I do is constant, and GOTV posts are what I do most of.

I have an opinion. You have an opinion. DU is where we post. Have a nice day.

[1StrongBlackMan]

25. +1, though I think you, too, kind ...

I'm suspicious of anyone who is trying to get me to ignore this election because "it doesn't matter" or because "the party is sending the wrong message." For all I know, people who do that may mean well, but it's the wrong message this close to election day. The message right now should be "Get out the vote" and nothing else. In every state and ever district, voting on November 4 makes an enormous difference. That's all that matters right now.

Spot on.

[ReRe]

26. Why?

Because they are the enemy.

[Peacetrain]

27. Exactly!

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. I find it telling ...

that this OP has not hit the Greatest Threads board.

[riqster]

37. Yup. GOTV threads sink like depleted-uranium rocks on DU.

But "the Pres is a used car salesman" threads sail on and on.

Frustrating to be pushing GOTV (a fundamental part of DU's mission) and either being ignored or shat upon. Not that it stops me, MM, or the other voting activists from doing our thing.

[1StrongBlackMan]

38. Stop whining about DU ...

or so I've been told.

[riqster]

39. A friend told her 6-year-old to stop whining...

And later that day he got busted for whining. His response was magnificent: "Mom, I wasn't whining, I was just sad-voicing". brilliant kid.

So, 1SBM, I wasn't whining, I was just...

[1StrongBlackMan]

40. "Sad voicing"! ... LOL.

[Bluenorthwest]

31. They can try all they like, they will fail. I've already voted. November 5th I will start telling

various entities what I thought of the tone of their fundraising missives. Because it is not acceptable at all.

[tridim]

32. Because they're not qualified to sell used cars?

GOTV 2014... Fuck the negative people.

[FSogol]

33. +1 n/t

[Zorra]

34. I'm suspicious of anyone who tells people who speak the obvious truth that they need to STFU.

No one at DU is stupid enough to not vote simply because a poster points out that Democrats supporting republican friendly policies are making a huge mistake, and that we could have another disaster similar to the 2010 election because of this type of Third Way approach.

I vote early, I vote straight D. It's just that simple. I call the local Dem party HQ about any propositions I'm not clear on, or about non-partisan office candidates, to find out who is considered more likely to support a Democratic agenda. I discuss these things with my Dem friends.

We vote in solidarity. Because even if a Democratic candidate totally sucks, she or he will always be better than a republican candidate, and if nothing else, we vote to keep the totally destructive republican out of office.

It's just that simple. It ain't rocket science.

[LawDeeDah]

35. Who cares what they whine about.

Always something!

As if anyone here has any clout - people just take themselves too seriously in thinking their sphere of influence is anything other than typing on a keyboard trying to convince others of how horrible the democrats and the President are (gee, there is another faction that claims the same, hmmmm). I am now learning that President Obama is a p.o.s. used car salesman too! Lol, tantrums of dull children, that is so hilarious.

As I say, carry on, do the business that needs to be done and ignore the tears and ripping of the purist of garments.

[LawDeeDah]

41. kick for the Horrible Inconvenience of Emails and using the wrong woids.

I mean, that is worse than not voting and letting some GOP vileness take a win.

Waaaaah, I get too many emaila from democraticas! *sob, slurp, and they Say Things I Don't Like - glub, glub, snort. I am sick of democrats! I'll show them!