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Republicans are always going to think Dems are phony and insincere. The reason is obvious, and rooted in the fundamental psychological differences between liberals and the modern-day version of conservatives.
It’s really simple. Dems profess altruistic values—caring for others, caring for unborn generations, caring for the earth, even caring for the welfare of other species. Republicans have learned to mouth some of these values, in a prissy, self-righteous sort of way (imagine the Church Lady talking about the need to love your neighbor), but they are never whole-hearted or sincere about these things, except in a few circumstances.
One such circumstance arises when they see some advantage coming directly to themselves from their “altruistic” propositions. Thus, “it’s wrong and cruel for the government to take away people’s hard-earned money with taxation (especially MY money),” or “the kindest thing you can do is to teach people to stand on their own two feet (by taking away their crutches)” Another case that may give rise to pseudo-altruism is when they can slip some sort of poisoned pill into the deal, e.g. “I love the sinner but hate the sin (and therefore have to punish him for his own good).”
In instances of true altruism, however—such as proposing a social responsibility for healing, feeding or clothing the poor—the Republican mind balks. They know THEY would never actually contemplate such a bizarre proposition, and they automatically project their mean-spirited nature onto anyone holding such a notion. That person can’t be sincere—what’s in it for them? There is, really, no intervention short of massive psychotherapy that a liberal could do to persuade a Republican of one’s sincerity or integrity. Instead, I think we have to work on getting the general public—most of whom are decent and empathetic human beings, natural liberals if only they knew it—to see those hard-core Republicans for the twisted and pathetic little souls that they are.
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