We need to have a bigger argument.
People will not go to the polls in November with small, 'he said, she said' issues on their minds. They will vote for the person they believe will best benefit themselves and their families and for the candidate that offers a better future.
People also vote by their ideology. Ideology is much bigger than single issues. Your Ideology is a group of overall ideas and beliefs, how you feel about your country and how you think things should be. If a person is a Republican, it's because they believe in that form of governing. They will most likely support that belief despite the candidate running to implement it. They will defend them because they support that ideology, not support that ideology because of them.
My point is that we need to stop running solely on issues and run on our ideology. A full scale campaign about who we are and who they are.
Republicans use this to their advantage all the time...
"Democrats kill babies, we save lives"
"Democrats want big government, we support freedom"
"Democrats raise taxes, we say keep your money"
They don't let small issues and details get in the way of their messaging. They make blanket statements to establish a difference between them and us. Say whatever you want about it, it works.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating and defending our beliefs and values despite what the right says about it. Besides, by my experience if conservatives hate it, you must be doing something right.
All you ever hear about from the left is how this person is corrupt and this person here got this much money from this corporation and so on and so on and so on....
It's not that they're wrong. Its just that we get so caught up in media politics and attacking back that we neglect to project a vision. I'm not saying that Democrats should stop attacking republicans and stop holding them accountable, quite the opposite. However, we can't forget to prop ourselves up.
You don't win elections by running against something. Just ask Walter Mondale, Tom Barrett, John Kerry or Mitt Romney on November 7th.
You win elections by being FOR something. You win by supporting a candidate, not tearing the other one down below you.
So let's have a bigger, overall message about who we are and what we stand for and who they are and what they stand for.
We love America
They seem to hate everything about it
We build things
They destroy them
We believe that people shouldn't die because they can't afford health care
They say 'Screw 'em'
We believe in an economy that works for anyone who is willing to work
They believe in corporate welfare
We have big ideas
They have no ideas
We believe in protecting the environment for our children and their children
They are selfishly willing to trash it for profits
We believe in the right to vote
They believe only voters who vote for them should have the right to vote
We fight for American workers
They fight for CEO's
We believe in social equality and deplore discrimination
They believe in discrimination and deplore social equality
We believe a woman should have control over her own body
They believe government should regulate vaginas
We believe in taking care of our nation's seniors
They say 'let them die'
We create American jobs
They send them to overseas sweatshops
We believe in education
They believe in stupidity and ignorance
We believe in rules and laws to protect society
They believe in anarchy
We believe in a government that works for everyone
They believe in a government that works for no one
We believe in people over profits
They believe in profits over people
We fight for the underdog
They are the oppressors
We believe in facts
They believe in Fox
We believe in a free country that is free from religious persecution
They believe in a strictly Christian nation
We fight for people of all ages
They fight only for fetuses
We fight to ensure the American dream
They fight to ensure the American nightmare
We believe in holding Wall Street Accountable
They believe in the checks Wall Street writes them
We believe in a government by the people and for the people
They believe in corporate fascism
We believe in a better tomorrow
They believe in returning to the 1800's
We believe in progression
They believe in regression
We believe in people
They believe corporations are people
We believe the rich should pay taxes like everyone else
They believe the rich should pay no taxes, but we should raise yours to pay for them
We believe in the constitution
They believe in a pledge from Grover Norquist
We believe in 'united we stand, divided we fall'
They believe in 'divided we stand, united we fall'
We believe in humanity
They believe in insanity
We support gay rights
They think being gay is a 'disease' that can be 'cured'
We fight in ALL Americans
They fight for rich white men
We deplore racism and bigotry
They defend it
We believe in civilization
They want to return to the wild west
We believe in hope
They rely on fear
We believe in America
They believe in money