Hello all - I've been dealing with this issue more and more as the election draws to a close. I live in the South, and many folks I know have been sucked in by the right-wing noise machine and are still pro-McCain. They're not using logic at this point, so I've decided that using a policy-based argument against McCain and for Obama just isn't going to sink in no matter how reasonable.
I need some help...
I'll also acknowledge that almost all the folks I deal with are white southern middle-aged males. Many, but not all, probably harbor some latent racist tendencies. Hard to avoid if your grew up here in the 50s and 60s, and if your parents were bigoted. (my parents were decidedly NOT bigots but open-minded democrats - so I had that advantage early on). In truth they're not bad people, but they're victims of years of right-wing propaganda catering to their fears.
I'm looking for new ammo to help them make the right decision. Here's what I've been using recently, but I don't really know if I'm hitting the target or not.
Argument 1 - Vote FOR Obama because he will be the first black president. He'll be under tremendous pressure to do a good job, knowing that if he fails he'll ruin the chances for every other minority ever getting elected. He'll be under a microscope like no other president before with every action, word and policy scrutinized and criticized. It's like flying-- the safest time to hop on a jet is right after an accident. You know they're double-checking everything. He'll be the BEST president in our lifetime surrounding himself with the best possible cabinet from every political persuasion.
Argument 2 - You're shooting yourself in the foot if you vote for McCain. Unless you make over $250,000 a year (none of them come remotely close to that figure) - you'll wind up with more money in your pocket. IF you could get an extra $8000.00 just by voting for Obama would you do it? Figure an additional savings of $1000 a year in federal taxes compared to McCain's plan.
Argument 3 - You should be angry that you're being manipulated by the fat cats in the media to voting for McCain. You ARE being LIED to. All the smears, and the innuendo, that's all bull shit. If I lied to you EVERY time I told you something, why would you trust me? It's hard to believe but the radio station you listen to, and the cable news you watch are LYING to you every day. If half the stuff was true about Obama, I'd question voting for him too, but it really isn't true. You can check it out too - but you're going to have to accept that you're being fed lies first.
I think I've had the most luck with argument #1, and the least with #3. Any other ideas for appealing to my acquaintance's guts instead of their brain-washed minds?
Thanks.