(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . If You Want to Defeat Republicans, Stop Trying to Defeat Republicans [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-09-25 There are people who every day put out the same basic article or video: ”Republicans bad!” Oh, they toss invective and mockery at different Republicans about different things, but their message is always the same shallow, tinny echo: ”Republicans bad!” That Republicans are bad will get no argument from me, but that’s part of the point. These messages are empty and useless. Articles and videos spewing ”Republicans bad!” will land either in front of people who already agree, or who don’t care. If all you offer is ”Republicans bad!” then you’re just mimicking the shallow, tinny hate of the Republicans—offering red meat to your base, exploiting them for attention and perhaps money. Sure, you feel you need to defeat Republicans and that you can do that by using fear and loathing to motivate people to fear and loathe Republicans. That’s what you’re trying to do with your “Republicans bad!” routine. I get that. And yes, I hear some of you going “but Republicans do it.” Congratulations, you are as bad as Republicans. Is that really something to be proud of? Republicans have already cornered the market on “[blank] are bad.” Joining them in that nonsense won’t defeat them. (This assumes you are wanting to do other than make money through emotional exploitation. And if that’s your only intention, you are as bad as them.) The point is that continually repeating ”Republicans bad!” accomplishes nothing. It won’t change a single mind or a single vote. It won’t do a thing to make the world a better place. Might make you feel better. Might make you a few pennies from people hearing you spouting off what they already believe. But no matter how many times you repeat ”Republicans bad,” it will never defeat Republicans. Think About What You’re Doing Think for a minute about why you think Republicans are bad. I bet you anything that it’s because of what Republicans are against. I’ll let you fill in the blanks on that one, because we all know the people and things that Republicans are against. What do you think Republicans are for? I bet you that any answer that you or Republicans come up with can be easily rephrased into a statement of their opposition to something. Go ahead, it’s an enlightening exercise. For example, why are Republicans for new laws on immigration? Okay, now turn your attention to what you think and what you say. What are you for? Are you really for something, or are your statements easily rephrased into a statement of opposition to something? If you can’t find anything that you produce in writing or video that isn’t an anti-something polemic, then you are accomplishing nothing. Even if you feel better from venting your dislikes, that is a shallow and fleeting feeling. If you can find some things that you are for, and I sincerely hope you have some, then talk constructively about what you are for and why. And if you are for something, you don’t need, not even one little bit, to say “Republicans bad.” People can figure that out on their own if you give them a solid alternative. Stand For Something or You Stand For Nothing It’s an old-fashioned saying, but when I was young, I was taught that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Quaint, but true. If you want to sell a product to someone, you will have more success extolling the positives of your product than being negative about somebody else’s product. Joe Biden fixated on the scare tactic of Trump being an enemy of democracy. Well, yeah, Trump is the enemy of all that’s good and decent, but when that’s your primary campaign slogan, then you are just being as acerbic and empty as Trump. Didn’t work for Joe. The way to defeat Republicans is to offer a better alternative for people to support. If you think you have a better alternative, then offer it. No matter how witty you think are your put-downs of the Republicans, you are just piling more negativity onto the already toxic swamp of politics. All the “Republicans bad!” jibes you can think up won’t change a single vote. You can only make things worse. Kamala Harris is doing better at stepping away from the vinegar and more toward honey, which is good, but that sweetness needs substance. Maybe, just maybe, Harris is offering that. You won’t defeat Republicans and the right wing corporatists who fund them as long as you are trying to defeat them with angry nonsense. As long as you keep talking about Republicans, you are not only giving them free rent in your space, Worse, you are giving everyone the impression that you have nothing to offer except negativity, that you have no ideas except a list of people whom you dislike. Hey, you are just like Trump! Congrats. You are not providing an alternative to Republicans—you are mimicking them if not being them. Do you want to make the world a better place or are you content with your pennies a day serving diatribe to the already converted? Again, are you for something? Anything? Are you an alternative to hate and division or just more of the same? If you stand for something, then write about what you are for. Tell people why you are for it. Explain to people why what you support is a good thing. THAT will convince people to support you. “Republicans bad!” won’t. Talk issues. Talk policies. Offer solutions. 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