Biden can make the contrast that he is about hope and Trump is about with some simple words like Hope v Hate and Help vs. Harm,.Healthy democracy v Havoc and fear. Hope is a word that has worked well for candidates like Obama and Carter (the man from Hope). Chaos, revenge, and oppression are not positive promises for any one trying to cope with the daily demands of life. The challenge question put to those considering still voting for Trump is what good is he going to do for you and your lives?
In spite of demonstrating an enormous amount of vigor and effectiveness in getting stuff done, casual observers are still giving the thumbs up to Trump, and it seems to be getting worse as Biden's approval dips below 40%. Biden has failed to communicate how a Trump victory would hurt the lives of so many. He has accentuated his positives and hoped Americans will see the negatives independently. The problem is that not enough Americans have drawn the contrasts on their own because they only listen to news outlets in their comfort zones that distort and report one side's views. Part of the effectiveness of such one-sided media is to paint the other side as fake or immoral or lapse into cynicism that everyone and everything in politics is BS, lots of noise that has nothing to do with their own lives. Biden needs to break through media silos that only present viewpoints that are critical to him or to reach a public that is neither focused nor caring about how they would be harmed in their own lives by a Trump victory. But how? Biden needs to rephrase how a Trump/MAGA would hurt individuals in their personal lives in his negative message while reminding them of what Biden/Democrats would help. He has begun to make that contrast, but he has failed to bring it down to the level of daily, self-interested life of non-Maga; those among the other 60 percent who are unalarmed and turned off of news chatter who don't understand it could be a lot worse for them personally if Trump and MAGA win.
The irony is Trump's public policy plans for his second term only have the support of 40% of voters. Biden's too old, he's too feeble, etc., yet Biden has delivered while his presumed opponent beats his golf-swinging macho chest with dangerous plans to harm the self-interest of all but those loyal to him. That is where we are and in spite of Biden's efforts, he has a long way to go, time to do it, to ring the chimes of the 60% potential. The GOP has provided enough fodder and rich material to do it, but to put it has not through to non-MAGA voters. MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: We are no longer a 50-50 nation but a 60-40 one on public policy issues
First, Biden needs to give up on those who are an estimated 30 to 40 percent who are probably a lost cause, listening only to a few pro-Trump media outlets and have closed minds for whatever reason or non-reason.
Second, Biden needs to make the campaign about more than just the two combatants. It is not only about Biden v Trump. It is also about the extremist MAGA movement as a whole up and down the ballot. It is about all of the other MAGAs who would be swept into power from the White House and federal administrations down to the state houses and local election officials. Note: The attack is against everyone who identifies as a Republican but the MAGA movement/Trump.
Third, challenge voters to think about how a Trump presidency, or even a MAGA-dominated government, would hurt their own personal lives.:Do it with a series of questions, followed by how Biden/Dems second term instead of a Trump second term would do differently, and use current examples of such attempts or plans from MAGA/Trump own mouths. These are also Biden rally/response platform questions. Here are some challenge questions.
MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: What Trump plans for his second term and how he
Do you want elected men to make medical decisions about childbearing or some federal government to do it, too? MAGA does. They want a federal law to ban abortions and be just like Texas is now.
Do you want elections and processes to be controlled by MAGA loyalists? They are using the lie that the 2020 elections were stolen to give reason to do this, though, after 3 years of trying, they cannot prove it.
Do you want Obama care you may have or the sense of security you can afford health insurance if you lost employer insurance repealed? MAGA does.
Do you want a government to deny licenses to media deemed not loyal to Trump? Trump does.
Do you want protests put down by active military, tanks, etc? Trump says he will invoke the insurrection act on day one to enable to be on the ready to do it, and he will fire any military brass who objects.
Do you want federal civil service employees replaced with MAGA loyalists? Trump and the Heritage Society already have funding and a plan to do that beginning day one.
Do you want federal laws to tell you who you cannot love or marry? MAGAS do.
Do you want Trump to rip up the Constitution? Trump: Constitution should be terminated due to "massive" election fraud (axios.com)
After each question, Biden should confirm his contrasting position and if necessary, repeat when, who, and what ..
Updated: 12/26/23
Biden still has to make the case he will deal with unfinished business that helps ordinary people with their future, not only addressing student loans, border chaos, and leading the free world but also protecting their freedoms that Trump et all who would take away from them. Those include women's choice over their healthcare, the sanctity and ability to vote and have their votes counted, their ability to gather to address grievances, and laws that apply to everyone, not just a few Trump favors.. (That is called "democracy", but we forget what that means to be able to have a voice in our governance. ) He should also say he cannot do it alone. He needs a willing Congress, not one dominated by MAGA. It is not just drawing a contrast of past actions with what Trump promises for the future, but that Biden's past and future plans give hope and promise for the future instead of hate, conflict, and an aristocracy/dictatorship that would destroy hope for a better future or a future that represents MAGA's oppressive and hate-motivated attempt to take away the freedoms and rights you have taken for granted.. until now. "Now" means these freedoms are not forever and would be lost if Trump had his way., using the power he would give himself.
MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: What Trump plans for his second term and how he
From my December 16 posting: A word to those on the left from one who is hardly viewed as right-wing on civil rights and domestic issues. This initiative from the extremists on the right has nothing to do with the immorality of war; it is a political strategy to give them more power and an anti-democratic ideology. Playing their game of Putin love/isolationist/ appeasement will only lead to the possibility of getting ourselves involved in a hotter, wider war, not with a proxy like Ukraine, but actively ourselves. If we reduce our defense budget by the 10% Ukraine is costing us, do you really think the savings will be applied to domestic social programs instead of reducing taxes on the rich? Do not be played. The reason we are in this position now is because of a power-mad hyper-nationalist Putin, determined to recreate an empire they lost in ending the Cold War. Putin’s plan for a new Russian Empire includes both Ukraine and Belarus - Atlantic Council
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