I read an essay this morning from a DailyKos writer that everyone should read. It shows why instead of using a condescending approach to the Trump voter, we should use a personalization type narrative. The author’s backstory of how his family became Democrats is probative.
Most Americans aspire to the values as codified within the Democratic Platform. Why, Because they speak to all of our personal realities. The writer’s family members each realized they were Democrats at the intersection of their personal issues with Democratic values.
DailyKos writer Webranding said as much in his article “My Republican Family Members Turned Democrats” where he wrote,
They came our way, and I guess I will take votes anyway we can get them, because they had life changing events happen and the goverment was there with aid and open arms.
He recounted three stories. The first was of his mother. The second of his cousin. And the third, his sister in law.
His mother voted for President Obama because of one issue, reproductive rights. You see, she once had an illegal abortion. She became more ‘liberal’ after she realized that her government insurance privileged her with a near zero bill when she had what would have otherwise been an expensive medical stay.
His cousin had fallen on hard times. They were dependent on SNAP and Medicaid. The writer was able to make the case by personalizing her reality with her vote.
His sister in law story was interesting. She had a great job. She took maternity leave. On return to her job, they denied her, her accounts. She quit and then got a federal government job. She received employee rights, flex time, paid education, child care and more.
Webranding’s conclusion said it all.
I kind of wished these people had empathy and came our way not because life changing events inserted government into their lives. But again will take the votes anyway I can get them.
I will end with I have always, for as long as I can recall, been the hippie liberal in a family of Republicans. Often kind of a bleak thing. I feel it has taken longer than it should have, but my gosh in the end, good ideas and results win out don’t they?
This story isn’t unlike Indiana Senator Rob Portman’s who reversed his position on marriage equality when he found out his son was gay.