Why Dems should NOT "reach out" to Trump voters ...

[PsychoBabble]

2020? Maybe ... but right now? No &**ing way. Here's why:

Right now, the Democrats’ constituents are feeling horrified, terrified, and generally pissed off. Which is just what produces the kind of midterm election they need.

That’s because midterm elections are all about enthusiasm — which almost always means anger. It’s the reason the president’s party usually loses seats in midterm elections: because the people who are angry enough to increase their turnout are the ones who dislike the president. Turnout in recent midterms has been in the 30s, meaning that nearly two-thirds of voters decide to stay home when there’s no presidential race. So it’s all a question of which voters get to the polls.

That’s why right now, if Democrats want to win in 2018, they need to highlight the things that will get their own voters as worked up about Trump as possible: his scary appointees, his retrograde executive actions, his constant lies, his self-dealing and corruption, and the tremendous damage he and Republicans in Congress are preparing to do. In other words, Democrats need to be as partisan as possible, and forget about “reaching out.

There are OTHER, more productive ways for Dems to win ... that don't suck out our soul.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/forget-about-reaching-out-trump-voters-democrats-thats-pointless-self-destructive

[dalton99a]

1. Trump cultists are irredeemable. The focus should be on GOTV.

[dawg]

2. There were more non-voters last election than Hillary voters.

There were more Hillary voters than Trump voters.

I think it's clear who we really need to reach out to.

[njhoneybadger]

3. It sounds like psychoBabble

The question is does are enemy want us to "reach out" to trump voters? Hmmm

[kcr]

15. Hmmm, indeed.

Now, who's interest would be served in discouraging the fight against Trump?

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

4. You couldn't be more wrong

There are a great many Trump voters who only voted for him out of economic desperation because he promised to keep and bring back jobs or who weren't paying close enough attention and are deeply disgusted with him now. It would be absolutely idiotic not to reach out to those voters. The voters that voted for him out of economic desperation have been neglected by the Democratic Party for a very long time and that's why Trump won. Continuing to ignore them guarantees continued losses.

[njhoneybadger]

5. I agree

[heaven05]

6. yeah, yeah, yeah

same old excuses with the reason for the boy-potus voter was....wait for it....your reasons and the big one...a very white ameriKKKa...period. I reach out my brown hand they cut it off then hang me.TO HELL WITH A WHITE SUPREMACIST who used whining about jobs that will NEVER come back to cover for their own racist intent on electing the racist triumvirate ruling our nation now. A MAJORITY of trump voters are racists. period.

[Snackshack]

7. I agree.

But that perspective is persona non grata right now due to the emotions of this issue heavily outweighing the rationality of the point you make.

No quarter is to be given apparently. Instead of trying to bridge the gap with voters who have a history of voting and being engaged in the process the hopes for electoral victory will be pinned on the voter who never votes....voting...

[kcr]

13. Let's say you're right. What is the objective? Votes.

So the point of the article still stands. You insist on sticking to your point and being right and rational, we lose. The point is to win, with votes, see? And right now people are angry and afraid. If it was right for Trump voters to vote based on their anger and fear, then why wouldn't it follow on our side?

[mythology]

16. You miss the point

It wasn't right for Trump voters to vote on fear and anger. Look who it led them to vote for. Anger and fear lead to bad decision making processes.

The goal should be to convince them to vote on and live on better ideals. To make them realize that no it isn't the blacks or the Hispanics or the Muslims that are an enemy. Instead we should work to encourage deeper levels of thinking.

[kcr]

20. No. The goal should be to win elections.

I'm not interested in losing elections just so some people learn life lessons.

[PsychoBabble]

8. For those who disagree ...

I get it, but ... Read the article. The point isn't that we should NEVER reach out. Personal reasons exist for either decision. I struggle emotionally with the "nice neighbor who voted for a horrifying buffoon" challenge myself.

But the article focuses on the TACTICS ... there ARE other ways we can bridge the vote gap, even in those states we lost, which are better and more productive choices long-term than trying to convert THAT group -- especially for mid-terms.

We can cycle back to pick up the "on the fence" Trumpers in 2020 elections, when we can stand to look them in the face again.

Not sure anybody KNOWS yet ... will be interesting what new DNC chair does ... just wanted to push back against the "recapture the Trumpers" as our only failing.

[njhoneybadger]

9. You've done your job, now go and start another divisive post

[heaven05]

10. not one thing

is divisive about the truth of the racist, sexist, mysogynist trump the boypotus voter. He's not my prezident nor bannon or miller as I am not seen as an american worth my social security, medicare or VA benefits...they'll take my work pension if they can also. TOO HELL with reaching out to ANY boypotus puppet voter. They voted for all those things to happen to hundreds of thousands of hardworking, now retired americans. THE ameriKKKan that voted for trumpboypotuspuppet is a racist jerk.

[PsychoBabble]

11. Krugman has similar idea ...

Paul Krugman FEB. 27, 2017

Are you angry about the white nationalist takeover of the U.S. government? If so, you are definitely not alone. The first few weeks of the Trump administration have been marked by huge protests, furious crowds at congressional town halls, customer boycotts of businesses seen as Trump allies. And Democrats, responding to their base, have taken a hard line against cooperation with the new regime.

But is all this wise? Inevitably, one hears some voices urging everyone to cool it — to wait and see, to try to be constructive, to reach out to Trump supporters, to seek ground for compromise.

Just say no.

Outrage at what’s happening to America isn’t just justified, it’s essential. In fact, it may be our last chance of saving democracy.

Even in narrowly partisan terms, Democrats would be well advised to keep listening to their base. Anyone who claims that being seen as obstructionist will hurt them politically must have slept through the past couple of decades. Were Democrats rewarded for cooperating with George W. Bush? Were Republicans punished for their scorched-earth opposition to President Obama? Get real.

more
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/opinion/the-uses-of-outrage.html?_r=0

[DefenseLawyer]

12. I think it depends on how broadly you define "Trump supporters"

If you are talking about die hard supporters, I totally agree. If you are talking about every voter that voted for Trump I totally disagree. I don't know statistics, but it's my guess that for every "die hard" that is a lost cause, there are scores of "casual" Trump voters that could be swayed. While we shouldn't change our message or try to placate them, we should still make an effort to persuade them to vote in their interest for a change.

[Aristus]

14. Don't worry, I won't.

I don't waste effort on brainless losers...

[jalan48]

17. How would we "reach out" to only Trump voters anyway?

Is pointing out Trump's hypocrisy and lying reaching out to Trump voters? Is pointing out that he didn't "drain the swamp" as he promised, reaching out to Trump voters? Is there some plan by the Democratic Party to target only Trump voters in the works? I don't know of anyone who's suggesting we reach out to only Trump voters.

[lagomorph777]

18. Can we please quit the Quixotic pursuit of the deplorables?

Each time a Dem votes to help Little Donnie, he/she is proving to Dem voters, and to Trump Chumps, that Dems are weak and have no backbone.

[Demsrule86]

19. We put out our message period.

If some Trump voters see the light and vote for us...fine with me. We will have to run candidates not as liberal as I am and many of you are...in red states to take back a majority. It is the only way.