How do the Dems win over white male suburbanites?

[Onlooker]

As the latest polls show, Kerry is having at best limited success in wooing over independents. Meanwhile the Republican Party is at least as united as the Democratic Party. The Kerry campaign knows that for every independent vote they pick up, it potentially represents a 2 vote swing (-1 Repug; +1 Dem), so that's why they're targeting that group, and that's why Kerry is trying to perform a balancing act with regard to Israel, Iraq, and taxes.

The Democrats still have a muddled message because they're trying too hard to appeal to everyone. While the Repugs preach family values, low taxes, and less government, to explain the Democratic view requires many more words than people want to listen to. I think for the Dems to win, they need to return to their own two-word slogans: Equal rights, job security, and strong government. Plant those three phrases into the minds of voters, and the Democrats can win.

Bush is a stupid man who thinks in simple black and white terms. His message is well-suited to that large block of voters who really don't care much about politics. Kerry has to make his message simple, simple, simple, so that it resonates with those voters who have more important things to think about than politics. So far, in that regard he's failing.

If he makes it simple, I think the idea of job security and strong government can win over suburbanites.

[boobooday]

1. How about this?

I always wonder why these people who think they are the original "boot-strappers" support a lazy rich boy who never did anything.

Talk about your entitlements. His whole life was one big entitlement.

Stressing that he has gotten away with many crimes that the average suburban white male wouldn't get away with might get them going . . .

How about "What did you do to get where you are today?" contrasted with "What did George Bush do to get where he is?"

Of course, the Republicans seem to believe that God gives virtuous people money . . . and that money is like a sign that a person is no longer within the regular laws of society.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[LynzM]

2. I don't think they should push 'strong government'

There are a lot of people out there who think that the government is too big and too powerful already. How about "responsible government" as an alternative?

I think that's a good point, though. People want sound bites, dems should try to incorporate a couple when they talk to independents!

[LoZoccolo]

3. Porn.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-obscenity0405,0,7341398.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

(The Bruce Taylor mentioned in the first article.)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/porn/interviews/taylor.html

[LoZoccolo]

4. Also, for updates on this issue, watch these spaces.

http://www.larryflynt.com

http://www.howardstern.com

[kodi]

5. by abandoning their principles of fairness

.

[lucidmadman]

6. The message does have to be simple...

...I think attacking the idea of unearned wealth is good. And the religious nuts who are so out of sync with science. The religious right has some very strange ideas that I don't think are shared by the average suburban male. I'm thinking some of this may surface in 'attack' ads later in the campaign.

[Paradise]

7. oh well, here goes...

imo, and in my experience, for many insecure males, it's a macho:dunce: thing, and all which that represents, and encompasses!

[Zorra]

8. Easy. Convince their Democrat wives to start having

chronic "headaches" until Bu$h is gone.;-)

[Classical_Liberal]

9. Outsourcing gives them a good scare.

.

[Nashyra]

10. Make Clark the VP

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. As Iraq spirals into chaos...

...the election, to the extent that is becomes an auction for the votes of independent white men, becomes an auction where the preferred currency will be the bodies of dead Moslems.

Bush will keep on bidding -- and he has a record to run on -- as high as he has to go.

Kerry, whatever his other shortcomings, doesn't manifest this, or have a track record of careless mass homicide. Clark doesn't have a track record of careless mass homicide.

It's going to come down to brainstem politics -- even an argument to economic self-interest is too abstract to succeed in the present overheated climate.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

12. As someone who grew up in a "white, suburban, middle class town"...

I have observed many things. We live on a very affluent street. Out of 19 homes, we and our Jewish neighbors across the street are the only Democrats. The rest of them our total Rethugs.

It seems to me that white men vote Republican because:

1)They feel insecure about themselves. The Repubs act tough and that gives them a sense of security.

2)Race: Like it our not, race is still a problem. Many of my neighbors are cold to the ideas of civil and equal rights.

3)Gender: Many of them do not like the idea of strong women: a.k.a; they HATE Hillary Clinton. And when I say HATE I mean H-A-T-E!!!
They love "pickles" Bush :puke: because she's a "traditional woman" and she let's the "men be men" :puke:!!!

4)Economics: Many of them believe that they are wealthy and the Republicans represent their "interests", this includes women too.
A former classmate of mine said that he's a Repub they represent money. "I'm going to be rich"! :eyes:

I had a heated arguement with him and I am proud to say that I shut him up! :bounce:

I do not see how we can win these men over unless we become
"Faux Cowboys" like the current occupant * of the White House.

:eyes:

[no name no slogan]

13. We don't need 'em that bad.

Democrats have not won a majority of the white male vote since LBJ in 1964. Even though we've only won three (four, counting Gore) since then, we've still controlled the House and Senate.

Democrats don't win by pandering to rich white males-- the Republicans already have that sewn up. However, they DO win when they appeal to everybody else.

Straight White Males are almost a minority in this nation now-- under 50%, IIRC. Sure, it would be nice to get their votes, but we have no business selling out our values simply to appeal to them.

[maxwall]

14. Don't need 'em...

Being a white, male, sort of suburbanite, let me tell ya... There are some total jackasses that will always vote rethug.
However, there are more women, young adults, people of color, and gays and lesbians than there are white male suburbanites. If the Dems would play to their true strengths - equality, liberty, helping out the little guy/gal, protecting the environment, equal rights for gays and lesbians, anti-war, etc., then we've got this thing locked up.
The rethugs are the minority, and they only win because people don't vote. If Kerry can get out there and push a progressive message - give people something to vote FOR, make a difference in the average person's life - we've got this thing sewn up.
Unfortunately, these same DLC a-holes who have lost the last few elections for us are still pushing this "we have to win the center" bullcrap, which just alienates the majority of us further and further from the party we loved because of FDR, JFK, etc.