I'm fascinated in getting into our opponents' minds

[MrScorpio]

Not necessarily the Evil Alien Lizard Overlords, or the Fetus Worshiping Bible Thumpers, but the folks who tend to vote against their own best interests.

These folks can become our natural allies if we can get in into their heads that they have more to gain if they join with us.

Many of them have put themselves into the McCain camp and are very defensive when negative stories, whether they are true or not, are revealed about the McCain campaign.

What can we do to create an identity crisis to help them question their position?

How can we help them identify with us?

What other questions should be asked?

What have you got?

[Droopy]

1. I think they are worried about taxes

They hear about Democrats wanting to raise taxes and think that they are coming after them. Case in point, I have a co-worker who comes from a blue collar family and we are both working joes as well. I was talking to him about the race for the presidency and the guy says that his dad says that he is going to vote for the guy who will hurt him the least. I took that as code that he thinks he's going to get his taxes raised. My co-worker confirmed my suspicion.

I think we have a lot of people out there who don't make a lot of money thinking that if Obama gets in he's just going to kill them with taxes. I'm talking about people who make $50,000 a year or less. We need to assure working people that their taxes will not be raised under an Obama presidency.

[CJCRANE]

2. People need validation

to be told they're right on some things, to be be met at least half-way.

So, things like "I agree with you about fiscal conservatism...and I'm glad to see the Democrats have a good record on that".

Or "the war on terror is a concern like you say...and it's good to see Obama is keen to take the fight back to the perpetrators of 9/11 instead of being distracted in Iraq".

On edit: These tactics are suggested to be used on a personal level not a campaign level.

[Curtland1015]

3. The problem you are facing is very difficult to overcome.

Most of these "life long" republicans are only republicans because Daddy was, and Grandaddy was. They've had it beat into their skulls (sometimes litteraly) that Democrats hate America. That liberals want all your money. They're going to take their guns. Worst and least likely to change at all is the religious aspect of it.

The hardcore churchies are NOT going to switch, no matter what, simply because of the abortion issue. But there's a chance the other things I mentioned could be rubbed away. The "tax and spend" stigma that follows our party can be quashed with real facts. Obama is the one promising tax cuts for the middle class, McCain is promising them for big oil and the rich, for example. The "democrats hate America" garbage can be talked away with a nice long list of proud Dems who have served in uniform over the years. You can explain to them Obama's pledge not to take their guns away.

But if you want a quick fix identity crisis that is going to shock the FAR, FAR right... nothing short of an honest to God depression is likely to work.

[shanine]

4. If you've got the time

you might find the following an interesting read

http://www.edge.org/

What makes people vote republican

I think the last guy nails it

[bklyncowgirl]

5. That was a fascinating article.

What struck me was the idea that conservatives understand how liberals think far better than liberals understand how conservatives think. Also the idea that for conservatives, voting agains thier own best interests is a way of becoming a part of something bigger than themselves.

For a somewhat more heartening note, I believe that I hear some of what the author was talking about, appealing to a person's better self and the idea of community in much of what Barack Obama has been speaking and writing about. Perhaps this may open the possibility to at least reach some of these people. A laundry list of economic proposals and trying to reach them with reason and truth sure don't seem to work.

[Igel]

8. "Voting against their best interests"

You don't get it. They're voting against what you think is in their interests. Since they get to define their own interests and not be dehumanized or infantilized, it's best to simply say they're voting in what they perceive to be their own interests (just as liberals vote in what they perceive to be *their* best interests), with no further quibble except to say that "perceived interests" is redundant with "interests"--both tend to the subjective. What's left is to understand those interests. Haidt comes close, using a specific framework with built-in limitations, and has a number of insights; but I think he's so busy trying to figure out in what ways he can advance his agenda that he ignores things that either are irrelevant to him, but relevant to conservatives, or filters and skews things. It's hard to step out of your own mind and culture, esp. when--as Haidt does--you think you're right and the others are wrong.

Conservatives can be argued with about their best interests, but to be belittled by those who conceive themselves to be their superiors isn't warranted and merely cuts off communication. Some consider that a positive moral value. I never have; I understand a lot of views that diverge from my own and can accurately predict a range of behavior and reaction I'd find irrational from my own POV; I find that understanding to be useful. Often actions say more about underlying attitudes than words do. And in understanding attitudes and perspectives you often find a surprising clue as to what a discourse is all about. I've noted some claims about what's said by the "opponents" here that are just insanely off-base, but which receive wide acceptance because of a lack of understanding coupled with a sincere, heartfelt desire to avoid understanding. Oddly, I can understand that, even though I find it irrational given my own POV.

The claim that conservatives understand liberals better than liberals understand conservatives is old, and often discounted by those who dwell on their own brilliance and empathy as utterly and axiomatically impossible; it's been shown in a number of surveys and reports, however, so we can consider it to be a proof by contradiction that the axiom is simply wrong. Conservatives understand themselves better than liberals understand conservatives, liberal claims to the contrary being simply loony. Yet that's what is often asserted.

Note that there's no valid claim that conservatives understand liberals better than liberals do. Some conservatives make this claim, every bit as loony as the counterclaim, just heard from fewer people.

[treestar]

10. Their trouble is that the American constitution does not allow for

the "moral order" they want. They can live according to their standards, but they can't force others too. That's their problem with America.

They are the ones that hate America. It's just set up to be the way they want it.

[Rectangle]

6. McCain wants to tax your Health Benefits!!!!!

That's right, your Health Benefits!!!!!
(That's if you have any!!):think:

[DeeDeeNY]

7. Many are so closed minded, it's a lost cause

They thought it funny to put purple star bandaids on their faces and make fun of a military hero in 2004. This year they chanted 'USA, USA,' and 'DRILL BABY DRILL' like unthinking robots. They're hurting financially but don't remember the prosperity during the Clinton years. They live in fear of "terrorists" but can't see the connection between 9/11 and W getting briefed 3 weeks earlier with "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Within the US".
They respond not to issues and logic but to negative tactics and fear. They can only be reached with short sound bites.
Also, a picture is worth a thousand words: Do you really want this guy running our country?

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/07/obamas-not-quit.html">Unfit for Office

[Narkos]

9. We need to focus more on stories and emotions

I guess that's what many Americans want.

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. Let me ask you a question

Suppose there's a really principled young musician who refuses to do commercial songs. He has his own weird style, which has a small following among acquaintances, but keeps him working nights as a waiter in a small restaurant. He has a small bedroom in an apartment that he shares with three other guys, mostly musicians and artists.

One day, and advertising executive sees one of his shows at a crappy little dive in the East Village. The advertising agent thinks the kid has some song-writing talent, and after catching a few more shows, offers him a job at $80,000/year writing commercial jingles for various agency clients. The kid, horrified, refuses. The advertising guy tries to convince him, even suggesting that the commercial jingle business would just be his side project as he develops his album, his real love. The kid turns it down, considering the offer to be the height of sell-out temptation.

So, to the question: Is the kid acting against his own "economic self-interest?" If so, why is his stance romanticized and celebrated vis-a-vis the much more eagerly derided "abortion voters" of Kansas?

Is economic self-interest the end all and be all of politics? Should it be?