Somehow, the Tea Party thinks I am one of them. I just got a fundraising call from the TP (as I'm sure they call themselves) and the caller referred to "tea party patriots like you and me". I waited until she was through speaking and confirmed that she was a tea partier (I was respectful throughout the call and did not refer to them as "partiers"). She had mentioned the horrors of ObamaCare. I told her I'm insured through work and asked how she is insured. Not responding, I mentioned that 4 million 19 - 26 year olds are now insured who wouldn't be otherwise. "That's good for them", she said, "but I'm 50 and don't have insurance." I asked if she knew that she would be able to get affordable insurance in two years under ObamaCare. A long silence followed, and then she said the TP was paying for the call and she would let me get on with my day(or other polite words) and we ended the call. I don't know if I had my facts completely right, but I felt like I gave her something to think about.
Interestingly, earlier in the call, in the one sentence she mentioned defeating Obama and Boehner. "Why Boehner," I asked? "Because he rolls over every time Obama wants him to."
This was the same day that two Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door and I asked that they open their hearts to gay marriage. I felt like I made headway with them, also.
These things take time. Be polite and thoughtful - maybe we can convert a few.