We're about to find out if hate or fear is the greater motivator

[Scuba]

Republicans loathe Hillary with white-hot hate hotter than a billion suns.

Democrats fear Trump.


Which of these emotions will win out in November?

[auntpurl]

1. Well, no.

I'm voting for Hillary because I am filled with optimism over her potential as president. I am driven by neither hate nor fear. I feel hopeful, optimistic, and looking forward to the future.

I am joined by Hillary's millions of other supporters in the primary, and the millions more who have converted to supporting her since it ended.

[Scuba]

12. Perhaps you're correct, but Hillary's campaign seems to disagree.

None of the emails I've received from them mention her policy positions; they're all about how awful the Republicans are.

Same seems to be true of at least many of the videos they've put out, although I've certainly not seen them all.

[Hortensis]

25. I agree with AuntPurl. Hate and fear are not

the only motivators, and playing to both works far better on conservatives, not liberals.

Btw, it seems to me the OP draws a false equivalency between the worst behaviors of Republicans and Democrats. Are we equally low and mindless politically?

[oberliner]

2. No we aren't

Democrats are voting for Hillary because she would make a great president, irrespective of who the Republican nominee is.

[onecaliberal]

3. There are more of us. I hope indies see the light

[jdadd]

4. I know one Republican Woman,

My Sister, is voting for Hillary. She fears Trump, more than She Hates Hillary...

[geek tragedy]

5. Absurdly reductive claim.

People voting for Clinton are also voting because of issues like health care, jobs, and civil rights.

That Trump is an especially frightening ogre doesn't undo that fact.

[Scuba]

11. Perhaps you're correct, but Hillary's campaign seems to disagree.

None of the emails I've received from them mention her policy positions; they're all about how awful the Republicans are.

Same seems to be true of at least many of the videos they're putting out, although I've certainly not seen them all.

[fun n serious]

15. I'm exited about Hillary.

I know her policies and they're great! I am also scared.

[NCTraveler]

16. Because most of those emails you receive link to contribution pages.

It is a strategy that works. The same strategy was used by O'Malley and Sanders in the primary.

I am glad you brought up the topic of issues and that you don't like the fact that her emails didn't inform you about the platform she is running on. Perfect opportunity for me to share it with you. You can learn a lot about her platform and it's much better than reading short bits in an email.

https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/

[Scuba]

18. "It is a strategy that works." I agree; fear is a powerful motivating force.

[NCTraveler]

21. Striking at a number of emotions can be motivating.

That is why all of the candidates tap into them. Some do it better than others and it's much easier in Clintons position as everyone outside of selfish white males have a lot to be concerned about when it comes to Trump. She doesn't even have to distort anything.

[Scuba]

23. Recommended reading: Drew Westen's "The Political Brain."

http://www.thepoliticalbrain.com/videos.php

The Political Brain is a ground-breaking investigation into the role of emotion in determining the political life of the nation by Drew Westen, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Emory University. Westen shows how politicians can capture the hearts and minds of the electorate through examples of what candidates have said—or could have said—in debates, speeches, and ads.

The Political Brain shows how a different view of the mind and brain leads to a different way of talking with voters about issues that have tied the tongues of Democrats for much of forty years—such as abortion, guns, taxes, and race. You can’t change the structure of the brain. But you can change the way you appeal to it.

[NCTraveler]

24. Thank you for the recommendation.

I read the synopsis and it seems to be common sense. I'll add it to my list of books to research.

Hope you had some time to look into Clintons platform that was missing from the emails. Seems you are much more educated on the positive aspects of those emails than you originally stated. Seems we both know very well why they are done that way. Contrary to your initial comment.

I love finding common ground. Well done.

[Scuba]

27. She has a platform, but doesn't seem to be running on it. All the campaign messages ...

... seem to be "Republicans are awful" not "here's what we will do."

Westen's book is excellent. Give it a go.

[NCTraveler]

32. She talks about issues every single day.

She is clearly running on her platform.

I have no clue how you can say she isn't running on it when it is a daily ocurance. Seems you are commenting on an aspect that you are paying zero attention to in the first place.

Some of that is clearly toned down during the republicans convention. Again, that is common sense. When they have the stage like this attacking is the proper angle.

Clinton won the primaries on issues and will do the same in the general. At the same time she will work her ass off to suppress republican turnout by way of attacking. It's a proven method.

[Scuba]

36. I'm looking at the emails from her campaign. All are fear-based.

[NCTraveler]

39. Step away from your computer...

And look at the whole picture. Sorry you are getting your narrative from fundraising emails alone as you have stated.

Weaver was an attack email generator. They still ran on issues. I truly don't get you hang up on a proven method to generate contributions all while ignoring what's not in your email box.

[Scuba]

43. Please see posts # 38 and 41 in this thread.

[NCTraveler]

45. Excellent ad...

And both posts back up what I'm saying. If you continue to only see what you want, while ignoring all else around you, the narrative you arrive at will continue to be myopic and not representative of what is truly going on.

[Scuba]

46. You seem to be denying that fear is a central theme in the campaign. Sorry, but it is.

[NCTraveler]

49. It is a big theme.

Last edited Fri Jul 22, 2016, 10:53 AM - Edit history (1)

Not even close to the central theme. We are running against a racist, bigot, xenophobic piece of shit. He should and will be attacked relentlessly by us. Join in the fun. At the same time we are promoting Clintons excellent progressive platform. You can join us there as well. Then again, you have arrived at your position from reading emails designed to generate contributions. One that we have both already agreed works. Very strange.

How did you like Sanders Tweets last night?

We can walk and chew gum.

Fear is the central theme of Trumps campaign. Not sure how you are mixing the two up from fundraising emails.

[geek tragedy]

19. fundraising emails aren't aimed at fence-sitting voters.

they're about getting an emotional response from supporters so they push the red button in the email for a quick donation.

biggest donation night for Obama in 2008 was the night of Sarah Palin's speech, IIRC.

[Scuba]

20. My point exactly. It's fear and hate that are being used to win elections, not policy.

[geek tragedy]

22. fear and hate are part of every general election, though in general Republicans

depend on them exclusively whereas Democrats do feature policy, as their goal is to actually solve problems.

[NCTraveler]

6. There is a long and excellent list of progressive goals that Clinton is working for.

I'm voting for her, not against Trump.

I can't imagine anything more black and white that what you are promoting here. Truly a false narrative boiled down to such simplicity that it fails the test on face value. Reality is really taking a beating right now.

It would make sense if you were talking about the position Republican women currently find themselves in. That is the only way I can get your thoughts here to work.

[Scuba]

10. Perhaps you're correct, but Hillary's campaign seems to disagree.

None of the emails I've received from them mention her policy positions; they're all about how awful the Republicans are.

Same seems to be true of at least many of the videos, although I've certainly not seen them all.

[Cali_Democrat]

14. Did you just copy and paste your reply from above?

3 times?

LOL.

[NCTraveler]

17. I replied to them above instead of here.

I noticed as well.

[Grey Lemercier]

55. lol

[Squinch]

7. You might get a better reception for this at your other site. You should take it over there.

I am excited to vote for Hillary. As are the huge majority of people who voted for her in the primaries, and apparently a large group of Republican women who are organizing to support her.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. You are 100% correct.

I have been saying that for months now. The GOP race is 100% about Not Clinton. Currently, the Clinton race is maybe 50/50 Not Trump/Yes Hillary (and I may be being generous). With the increasing frenzied calls for votes and Party unity I can only imagine that the poll numbers MUST be getting to them. That HRC is having THIS bad a problem against a human trash heap speaks volumes.

The winner will come down to whose camp has the most motivation to show up on election day in the greatest numbers.

Fear or hate. That will be the real measure indeed.

[1StrongBlackMan]

31. Interesting ... it seems that the only ones ...

Holding/agreeing with the OPERA are those that were over the top anti-HRC during the primaries (and I suspect that sentiment continues) ... the rest of DU is happy voting FOR the Democratic nominee.

[Andy823]

9. Come on now

Give JPR some credit, they hate her as much a republicans do. I see the same old crowd showing up here with their "doom and gloom" BS. Why bother, you aren't going to change the votes of anyone?

[Cali_Democrat]

13. "Democrats fear Trump"

We do? I sure as hell don't.

I think Trump is a joke who will be smashed in November.

Speak for yourself.

[1StrongBlackMan]

33. I don't fear trump the man ...

... I detest what he represents.

But I do fear that "concerned" and "helpful" folks of the left will allow their hatred of HRC to out shine what should be their hatred of trump and what he represents.

[avebury]

26. I am voting for Hillary because I refuse to live a life filled with

hatred, fear and racism. The Democratic National Convention has to be polar opposite to the show that the Republicans put on.

[Scuba]

28. I'd sure like our convention to be a message of hope, but so far the campaign is mostly fear-based.

[avebury]

29. They should use the first night to get the fear mongering out of the

way and then move on to a positive, hope-based convention.

I hope that they have a really good line up of speakers to show a much broader support for Clinton than the rabid dogs that Trump collects. It is interesting that none of Trump's business partners spoke at the RNC, only his kids and some lady that runs his wine company.

No matter what a convention the Democrats put on, I am pretty comfortable that Hillary will not tank the world economy or start World War III. That alone earns my vote.

[TwilightZone]

40. Then you haven't watched any of Clinton's speeches

[Scuba]

44. Logic fail. Most does not equal all. But fear is a central theme in our campaign.

To wit, this video ...

[Andy823]

53. Kind of ironic

I guess you don't remember all the post from you and the other Bernie supporters during the primaries that used "anger and fear" to try and paint Hillary as bad, and Bernie as the "only" hope for this country!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

30. A lot of us love Hillary, it's how she got the 16 million votes

Fear is not at all my motivator.

[1StrongBlackMan]

35. Interesting how HRC supporters' dislike/opposition ...

of trump and what he represents, has become fear.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

37. Also to a degree if people are not afraid of trump they are idiots.

Fear is not my primary motivator, but I am still afraid of Donald Trump.

[Scuba]

38. All the emails I get are fear-based. All the videos I've seen are like this one ...

... from Priorities USA, a Hillary-backing super pac.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

41. healthy amount of fear is good for fundraising

but her campaign has not been based in fear or anger. She won because most Democrats liked her more and she'll win again because most Americans will like her more.

[Adrahil]

34. I actually think Hillary will take a fairly positive approach to this.

She's proposing a very positive path for our future. That will reach a lot of people.

[HereSince1628]

42. As is often true in politics both parties seem to have adopted the same approach

Which is built upon making the opponent look unsupportable. And it's definitely easy to argue that Trump is unsupportable.

Still, it is remarkable how for example the importance of the election to SCOTUS is used by both parties in exactly the same argument, often the exact same wording, with only the candidates names changed.

By October I expect campaigns to be chanting "I'm rubber your glue; bounced off me and stuck to you".

[LexVegas]

47. That loss still hurts, huh? nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

48. Lol. That is the truth.

These threads are tiresomely dishonest.

[JoePhilly]

52. bingo

[RonniePudding]

50. What do you think will happen?

[LongtimeAZDem]

51. That's only true for the "begrudging" Clinton support. Mostof us are actually for her (nt)

[Avalux]

54. They're pretty much the same thing. Republican voters are terrified; hate is the manifestation.

I am hoping the DNC convention focuses very little on Trump. Yes, he's horrid....but I don't want us to get caught up in all that. I don't want Dem leaders to use negative tactics to manipulate us. Plus, it would drive him insane if he's ignored.

Let's make it about what we're going to DO to move into the future, and leave the fear mongering and hate speech to those who will NOT succeed.