Why Democrats should go after "Reagan Democrats" and Independents?

[kentuck]

"Reagan Democrats" were supposedly those Democrats that switched to Reagan and the Republican Party in the 1980's. Perhaps they were Republicans all along? Either way, Republicans that are unhappy with this present disaster created by George W Bush and the neo-cons are most likely to refer to themselves as "Reagan Democrats".

And the Democrats should take their anger at face value. If they wish to "come back" to the Democratic Party, they are more than welcome. We need them to take back this country. They can play a vital role in reversing the direction we are going.

And the same applies to "Independent" voters. The Democratic Party is a big tent Party. We look forward to support from "Reagan Democrats" as well as Independents. We should be more aggressive in seeking their support. Everyone has a role to play in turning this nation around and stopping the present onslaught against our government and our institutions. We should say, "Welcome back!"

[TankLV]

1. Fine - as long as WE - Democrats - don't compromise our principles

or start becomming repuke-lite.

They are welcome to JOIN us as we are now standing...

[kentuck]

2. ...and how are we "now standing"??

:)

[Rainscents]

3. Dem can't no longer go to center...

Dem's have to go back to FDR and JFK value. We cannot compromise just to get these people, they'll come to us once they know and understand, real dem is for their value also.

[NewJeffCT]

4. we need everyone we can get

we don't have to compromise our principles - we just need to sell our agenda to them better.

[etherealtruth]

5. I live in the birth place of the "Reagan Democrats"

Though I'm no political scientist, nor am I a student of psychology ... I truly believe that the voters here voted for the messenger and not the message.

Reagan brought a very right wing message couched in "populist rhetoric."

The Chimp lost here both times.

[kentuck]

6. I do not think it would hurt to remind them that they have been betrayed..

by the Republican Party. And to remind them that we still have a seat at the table... :)

[Greyhound]

7. Why? They are not Democrats, nor do they hold Democratic values.

They are Re:puke: that wish to give the appearance of being sympathetic to "the less fortunate", without actually doing anything to ease their burden. They hate social programs, they don't want their children associating with those "urban" kids and getting bad ideas, and they certainly don't want ot have to live with "them".

Now, before you go about "explaining" that we can't possibly win without them, let me remind you that The Democratic Party rose to prominence and changed the course of this nation by appealing to the vast majority of citizens on the bottom, those that have been utterly abandoned by the Democrats for 40 years now.

The raygun Democrats are a chimaera, we might get them to vote for our "side" in this and maybe even the next election, but as they always do, when real change is made they will dig in their heels and switch back to the old familiar pattern of voting against The People in favor of their (falsely) perceived benefactors.

For us to have any chance of fixing the incredible clusterfuck that we are in, we must get back to representing those that need us and will continue to support us in the long-term.

[kentuck]

8. Why?

Because we need every vote we can get. It is important that this present bunch of criminals in Congress be defeated. I'm not saying we have to sacrifice what we stand for. They know what the Democratic Party stands for if they wish to return. I don't think we are in a position for giving litmus tests...

[Greyhound]

9. I don't think you are considering that the majority of non-voters

have become such for just this reason, total lack of representation. These are the people that used to make up the majority of Democratic support (1920's - 1950's) that now have no voice whatsoever and, as a result, no longer participate in the process, which BTW, is exactly what The Corporate Party (ruling class) wants.

[kentuck]

10. They can't escape reality...

They can be hungry and homeless just like everyone else.