What can we do to get conservative white men on our side?

[bluestateguy]

How can Democrats win a respectable percentage of the conservative white male vote?

[molly]

1. Marry them!

[alcuno]

4. Oh God! Then we'd have to sleep with them!

Forgetaboutit. I say just leave them alone in isolation. We don't need them but we do need their wives.

[loudnclear]

11. No you won't, most are impotent...that's why they hate Clinton so.

You might however have to pull some sexual stunts that you wouldn't want to tell your best friend about.

[pagerbear]

18. I hate to admit it, but

....there are some hunky looking conservatives. But John Edwards still gets my vote for most handsome!

[alcuno]

29. Remember the study done last year?

I can't recall who did it but they found a correlation between male height and political affiliation. They said that it was statistically significant that taller mem were more likely to be independents or democrats and shorter men were more likely to be republicans.

There may be some hunky conservatives, but the party "standard-bearers" are Tom Delay and his ilk; the bad hair crowd. They creep me out. I'd rather sleep with Robert Byrd.

[Crachet2004]

32. There is no better man in that Senate than Robert Byrd...

If we are speaking of men...as our great Senator from WV sometimes does. There are many of us, here in the hills who take great pride in the fact that there is at least one man left, and he comes from our state, who knows why that Senate, and why that House, under the Constitution, in coordination are to DIRECT the Executive-subject only to judicial review! That we have come so far from this basic premise is indeed why we find ourselves at this late date, in this sorry state.

Sometimes, as I listen To Senator Byrd on C-Span, I think, 'he must think he is alone'. But he is not. He is Horatious at the Gate: "...For how can men die better, than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of their fathers, and the alters of their Gods?" I know Senator Byrd would understand the reference.

Florida recounts!
Patriot Act!
Unjust war! Not thought out.

[alcuno]

35. Welcome to DU, Crachet2004

You are very fortunate to be represented by such a noble man. It's a shame that the Robert Byrd's of the Senate and House are a rarity and not the rule.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Which conservatives? Social? Fiscal?

Social conservatives..NOTHING.

Fiscal conservatives...show them Bush's record. If they are really fiscal conservatives, they won't even need to be tipped.

[ComerPerro]

3. Tell them how much you hate minorities

Then tell them how much you hate women.

Tell them how much you hate homosexuals.

Tell them that you hate welfare and social programs because it just gives your hard earned money to drug using minorities who don't work.
Tell them how rich those people are getting off of their hard work.

Then, after announcing how much you hate everything and everybody, tell them how much you love Jesus.


That is how the GOP gets their vote.

[zanana]

8. LOL!

ComerPerro--That was perfect!

[Ardee]

26. you are confusing conservatives with the extreme right wing

Conservatism has been tarred with the brush of right wing fanaticism and should not be,as old fashioned conservatives are rather nice folks.

It is a shame that the political scenery has become so muddled and misunderstood by so very many. Just as it is a shame that so many right wing fanatics are appearing as loyal democrats.

[Arugula Latte]

5. Forget conversion...

Let's out-demographic them! They are an increasingly small portion of the population. Eventually they'll be irrelevant. Bwaaaa-ha-ha-ha!

[sadiesworld]

6. Remind them what a couple of true American heroes look like.

[amazona]

7. they haven't voted their pocketbook since 1980, they're hopeless

I don't think there is anything you can do for people who would rather vote to kill their own jobs because there is a chance that a black kid might get a better education in the public schools. The Reagan Democrats, who are now full-fledged registered Republican wingnuts, are hopeless. They don't seem to mind putting themselves out of work and health care if it deprives somebody else.

There may be a few sincere Libertarians who are waking up to the issues of 1) Republican = HUGE budgets, HUGE gov't, HUGE deficits, and 2) who can also be reasoned with because they don't like gov't interference in personal decisions like abortion, drug use, etc.

But most of the die-hard self-proclaimed conservatives put their racism first and foremost. We've lost them, and we had to lose them in order to open the party to everybody else.

Write them off and offer a progressive platform that excites everyone else is my honest opinion. Extremist white male fascists are a minority in this country last time I checked.

[zanana]

10. Antipsychotic medication.

It's worth a try. It might make a dent in the delusions and hallucinations that make them see Jesus everywhere. I think it was Pat Robertson who said that God told him Bush would win 2004.

[smirkymonkey]

39. ha ha....

it's worth a try!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Emphasize economic issues

I'm convinced that a lot of conservative white men are really scared of losing what they've worked for (or never getting their share and therefore being branded as failures) and since it's not acceptable for a macho-macho man to be scared, they sublimate it into free-floating anger. Rightwing media are aware of this, so they channel the anger at liberals, racial minorities, gays, foreigners, anybody but the power elite.

I've observed that happy people aren't as likely to be hate-filled as unhappy people. If blue collar and lower middle class men start feeling that the government is actually meeting some of their needs, they won't be so agin' it.

[Az]

12. The only way to take control away from the right

Is to take back control of our own message. The right has think tanks churning out ways and means of controlling the message. They frame questions in ways that can only be answered in their favor. They direct the issues to the weakspots of the enemy. They refuse to acknowledge their own weaknesses.

This is where the DLC becomes our greatest weakness. Since they continually try to play to whatever the repukes are dishing out they are controlled by them. It is the message that they forward and as long as we try to dance to their tune we will be playing their game.

We need candidates and champions that play our music. We need our issues framed in our way. If what we believe in is right then we should stand behind it and shout its merrits to the crowd.

Most people are simply looking for someone to believe in. The Democrats are saddled with an untrustworthy reputation due to our candidates willingness to pander. If they don't stand for something no one will follow them. I have talked to people that do not agree with what * and crew represent but the fact that they stand for something outweighs that in their opinion.

Either we stand for something or we will always be chasing after what the right decides we should be reacting to. We will forever be 2nd dogs. Stand up and fight or lose.

[opihimoimoi]

41. Award of the Month to AZ

Very good observation and perspective

[JPace]

13. AWOL is doing it nicely.....

by shipping their jobs overseas. That will
make them reflect on their political leanings.

[boobooday]

14. I think we need to show them

That Bush is not on their side. That Bush thinks their work is worth 1/1000 of a CEO who spends his day playing golf. That Bush has never had to take one iota of the responsibility that falls on the average working person trying to raise a family on wages.

We need to show them that the Republicans (with help from Republican-lite democrats) have stripped the working man of all his dignity, forcing him to eat crap from heartless companies who demand utter loyalty and back breaking work schedules, and then offer nothing in return, and rub their greedy hands together at the thought of laying you off and getting another mahogany end table for their corner office. That they profit from the white working man's insecurity, and use it to turn him against other working people by trying to make THEM seem like the threat.

We have to show them that even though these men look like them, they really have nothing in common.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

Jeanette

[BillZBubb]

15. Do we really want conservative white men on our side?

How much of our souls would we have to mortgage to win them over?

We will never get the so-called social conservatives and still be progressive in any sense.

From time to time we may get some portion of the fiscal conservatives--but only briefly.

White male conservatives are the ultimate suckers for Repug wedge issues. We cannot overcome that. Nor should we compromise our beliefs to try to.

[Crachet2004]

16. Seriously????????

Never talk about gun control in national elections. This is the really big one. Especially after 911 when it became evident that in the event of a real national emergency, we are individually on our own!! To say the least. With who's in charge in Washington now, can the Boy's be blamed for being unwilling to surrender their firearms? Have you heard of "The Patriot Act"?

Affirm our support for the US Constitution as it stands, as a Party, at our next convention. Maybe even write said support as a plank in our platform. This would counter anti-gay amendments (or any other such trash)and give all us democrats the chance to wrap up tighter in the flag than the opposition-for once!! While we are at it, lets give special mention to the Bill of Rights, including the 2nd amendment...you might as well, because you will never get their guns, especially the way the world is today. I know these guys and they will make their own if they have to. Gun control? Forget it now and forget it forever!!!!!!

Ask some of our more, shall we say proactive membership, to stop capering for the corporate media in the streets. The Boy's hate that; and it is always just a setup anyway. Any real social advances anytime soon are gonna have to come through the courts anyhow.

The rest of it, fiscal conservatism, jobs protection, etc...our candidates are already embracing...and it is working! I am beginning to have such high hopes!!!

[newyawker99]

24. Hi Crachet2004!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[BeFree]

30. Good post, Cratchet

Ya nailed quite a few issues there, way to go...

Our only hope is to take the constitution and shove it down the throats of anyone who would subevrt it.

[Crachet2004]

40. Absolutely...

And we can. Our Candidates are better-and we care. We are not asking for any amendments. We like the constitution the way it is. Trust me people, if we open it up, we are committing suicide. "There were Giants in the earth in those days", to paraphrase the Bible, but I am afraid that today, we are fresh out.

The guys we are talking about on this thread...you know, white guys? Like me? We love the constitution and nobody better touch it! There is a siesmic shift just now starting. It's tremblor is caused by millions of feet! The Boy's are coming back home. And mostly because of Patriot. They can lie to us, they can steal our elections, run an insane debt and even send our children off to war! But Patriot goes after the Constitution. I don't like that. And I am not alone.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. bush*s deeds will send them in droves just keep speaking truth

bush is his parties own worst enemy....it is becoming more apparent to them daily

[Hamlette]

19. It's the economy...stupid

The moderate republican men and the conservative democrat men are pissed about the economy. Losing their jobs to other countries. I work in a white collar office and there is no reason in the world we couldn't move 90% of the jobs to India. I remind them all the time and now I tell them the Bush admin thinks that's a good thing.

But even more than losing their jobs they are freaked about the deficit. And they are thoughtful about the WMD but do not want to talk about it! I think when talking to them its best to leave it alone. (In the last analysis most people do not want to be the school yard bully which is what we are looking like. Don't rub their noses in it, it makes them defensive. It is starting to sink in without our help.)

Say: "I'm worried about leaving this huge debt to my kids. When Reagan took office the national debt was $7,000 for every man woman or child which in today's dollars is $3,000. Today that debt is $35,000 per man woman and child. My families share of the debt is now $105,000. For larger families like yours it is much higher. I am leaving my son a debt which will cripple his future. I don't think giving tax cuts to the rich are worth it."

If I wanna be pissy I say: "I'm one of the few who really did get a huge tax cut from Bush. We decided to spend ours in France which is where we are all going to spend our vacation this summer. Exactly how did those tax cuts to the rich help our economy? Trust me. Making your kids pay for my trip to France, with interest, is a bad deal."

[Cat Atomic]

20. Who wants them?

Conservatives are going to be in disarray soon. They've been pandering to too many disparate voices, from fiscal conservatives to big business to racists to fundamentalists. They can't appease one without pissing off another.

This isn't the time to water down our own ideas just to bring in a few new bodies.

[cryofan]

21. slow outsourcing and immigration

outsourcing takes their jobs away as does immigration. Offer to slow outsourcing and immigration.

[evil_orange_cat]

45. how about we outsource them ;)

w00t

[KG]

22. who needs 'em?

dems won w/o 'em in 2k.

[AP]

23. Nominate Edwards. It's a very strong demographic for him.

Check out NH and SC exit polls.

In NH, the wealthier and more moderate and male the voter, the more likely they voted for Edwards. In SC Edwards beat Kerry 37(?):33 with black voters, but got twice as many white male voters than Kerry.

[ithacan]

25. those are exactly who we DO NOT want

they are a small minority of the country's population, and their values are the opposite of ours.

Why would we want their support? They're the core of the GOP and DO NOT belong in the Democratic Party.

[arewethereyet]

38. they are a very large percentage of actual voters

and you make a great leap of logic to assume that you have any idea what their values are.

And you don't want them in the party, just their votes. Its different and important.

[alwynsw]

42. What was that troublesome line from the 2000 DNC Platform

Oh! I remember! {we can't afford to waste a single voter
http://www.democrats.org/about/2000platform.html

Aside from that, are you truly advocating that we not reach out to every minority, however small?

[ithacan]

43. key word: "conservative"

and yes I do think we should not reach out to every minority.

I would be against reaching out to outright fascists, KKK and Aryan nations members.

And I do not want to "reach out" to conservative white males.

A much better strategy would be to motivate them to stay home on election day.

[Terwilliger]

27. tell them what kind of complete idiots they are

[Blue Gardener]

28. Some are already seeing the light

I had a co-worker who was a diehard Bush fan tell me the other day that he was coming over to our side. I think my jaw almost dropped to the floor. This is one guy I would have never believed would vote for a Democrat for President. I didn't ask what finally turned the tide for him, but once find out I'll have to see if I can use it to convince others to switch. Also, my very Baptist, very religious, very Republican sister admitted today that she likes Edwards! Again, I was extremely shocked. For her to even admit she likes a Dem is very big news. It gives me great hope that we will have a new President in 2005.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[BiggJawn]

33. Nothing. Why are we wasting our time?

Instead of trying to come up with ways to win over the "Nascar Dads", why don't we concentrate on strategies to get as many "undecideds" registered Democratic and make sure they get to the polls?

You can Wine them, Dine them, AND 69 them, and they'll STILL vote the way the Oxy-Kid tells them to.

What is it with this Aberrent fascination and obsession with "Swing Voters", anyway? Don't you understand that they're a RW and media myth designed to syphon off our energy and resources?

The few of them who will bother to vote aren't gonna vote for our guy.

[nannygoat]

47. Michael Moore says that white men make up about 38% of voters

whereas women and men from other racial, ethnic groups make up a much larger bloc and Dems would do better to go after these already more supportive groups of voters. He says this in "Dude, where's my country?" which I'm reading right now.

It's a really excellent read and one of the chapters had me really smiling while I was reading it on the bus--this is the chapter where he talks about how liberal Americans really are but that we fall into the right-wing's trap (and the right-wing media's trap) of thinking that this country is made up of a bunch of yahoo, right-wing freaks. In reality he says that Americans are way more progressive, caring, live and let live than we are led to believe. This is all based on surveys done by very mainstream (and some right-wing sources). He thinks the right-wing realizes that only a quarter of Americans support their agenda and even though they control all branches of government this is why they are so mean, nasty and hateful because they know they are on their way out. Please God!

[fishnfla]

34. high fructose corn syrup

works everywhere else

[Joe Momma]

36. why would we want to?

i was talking to a conservative friend the other day. he is very dissatisfied with bush's performance. however, he will never vote for a democrat because of the social issues. i boiled his whole attitude down to "the dems do to much to help the blacks and the gays".

[arewethereyet]

37. nominate Edwards for starters

his platform speaks to their sensabilities. And running him with a republican Congress insures no more spending sprees ala Bush and they'll LOVE that.

[sweetheart]

44. Legallize prostitution so that stuck up folks can get laid.

Offer free prostitute sessions at voting polling places, perhaps in mobile trialors... prepaid, and with a 200 dollars donated to the democratic campaign....

The votes are there to be bought. ;)

[earthman dave]

46. Tell 'em about PNAC. nt