I would like to go on record in support of Denise’s diary that we as a party should not attempt to sway Trump voters to our side. By doing this, Bernie Sanders is a racist and his campaign should be condemned by everyone.
I think outreach is a terrible idea. Why should we try to spread the Democratic message of tolerance and hope? Why is it our responsibility to convince people that we’re right? I mean, we’re obviously correct. That much isn’t in dispute, at least by people who matter (which is to say, those of us who have been Democrats for our entire lives — well, at least for the past five years, which is when I became a Democrat). Thus, trying to articulate a message that draws in new supporters is all kinds of screwed up. Those people who support Trump are irrevocably, irreversibly wrong, and their minds cannot be changed.
Furthermore, every single Trump supporter is a racist. Every single one. Race is the only thing on their minds. I doubt heavily that they could simply be confused individuals who are blaming the wrong people for the very real problems facing America. And they’re not going to be reached by a message saying that this entire charade is a farce orchestrated by rich people who want to keep their money, that Hispanics and blacks and Asians and “those people” in general aren’t the problem — billionaires are. Why would they? It’s all about skin color. Trump supporters are all the same.
And it’s not like Trump supporters are just sick of politicians in general, and don’t really care much for people who show false concern while stabbing them in the back.
Lastly, I’ll make this point: In order to sway Trump’s supporters, who care solely about race, it’s necessary to become a racist yourself. That’s why Bernie Sanders has started campaigning on a platform advocating racism and using racist dogwhistles. That’s why Bernie Sanders has tried very hard not to be too critical of Donald Trump. We can’t allow these people, these racist Trump supporters, to force Bernie Sanders to do yet another weather-vane impersonation and force America down the road to racism and xenophobia.
I’ll conclude by saying this: Any time we change someone’s mind, we suddenly have to associate with that person. And that person by definition has an unpleasant past that we can’t look past. People’s opinions don't REALLY change. Why would they? How could education possibly cure ignorance? How could a forceful and unyielding articulation of a position possibly force people towards inward introspection and maybe, just maybe, an enlightened epiphany?