Marilyn Lands, a Democrat who made reproductive rights a central part of her campaign, will win a special election Tuesday for an Alabama state House seat, CNN projects.
Her victory serves as another data point for national Democrats, who hope the backlash over strict state abortion laws following the overturning of Roe v. Wade and concerns about in vitro fertilization treatments will help their party in November, even in traditionally Republican areas.
I hope everyone uses the following buzz-words when discussing this with conservatives, moderates, centrists, etc.:
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“I mean I’m for individual freedom as much as the next guy, so that’s why I don’t think it’s right to have government intrude on an individual’s rights to their own body.”
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“I thought Republicans wanted small government? Why are they forcing government in the doctor’s office with me and my doctor?”
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“I thought Republicans were all about ‘my house my rules,’ — why are they so concerned about an unconscious parasite that is getting free rent from my body? That fetus is a squatter I can evict whenever I want!”
Identify the double-standard in conservative values.
Legit people need to start doing this. I’ve been saying it for years.
‘I’m a true American patriot, I’m not gonna let the government tell me or my fiancee what I can and can’t do with my body. Stop being a commy’ said to an anti abortion republican with an American flag. I also call them snowflakes.
It works with all the anti-LGBTQ stuff, too:
“I’m a rugged individualist, which is why I think people should be able to identify and call themselves whatever they want!”
“As a freedom lover, I see no difference between respecting someone preferring to be called Josh over Joshua, and someone preferring different pronouns. Doesn’t 'ffect me none… After all, it’s just about showing respect to your good neighbor.”
The trick ive caught on to is to be nonconfrontational, nonthreatening, and try and get in good with them first. The conservatives i talk to these days are other exploited poors from my work. They like me, and i def play into being eccentric/nonconforming which resounds well with these individualism loving individuals. So then i just frame any of these sorts of issues you highlighted from that angle.
Its… not something theyre ever prepared for.
Another tip is to present as some sort of radical centrist, regardless of how much of a far left heathen u may in actuality be.
Ooh I love the “don’t be a commie” addition. We all know how desperately those snowflake conservatives want to be part of the in-group. That shit will make their heads hurt.
It’s not really about swaying them, but swaying everyone else listening in.
This is how right-wing propaganda has been so effective. Fox News & affiliates literally promote brainwashing to have the crazy uncles memorize soundbite talking-points to project at Thanksgiving Dinners and so forth across America.
Maybe the ones on the internet. The ones in my workplace backtrack on making fun of queer folk when u tell them ur friends with trans ppl and call it nonconformity.
Yea I don’t debate them online and even in person I don’t really debate them more so just respond once calling them out using their terms and then I just move on while calling them snowflakes.
Debate doesn’t change people’s minds, that’s not what it’s for.
Or rather, it does, but that takes months to years.
If you’re dreaming of delivering a sick, 360 no-scope bullet point to a conservative that gets them to finally see the other side, you’re playing the wrong game.
Using their own language against them confuses them. Confused people think more. That’s the whole point of this.
If you’re debating Tucker Carlson, there’s pretty much nothing you can do but beat him down rhetorically; he’s paid not to understand you.
If you’re debating your neighbor, getting him to think about abortion bans as government overreach is actually a successful play.
Debate is not for convincing ur opponent, in these cases. The successes ive had w conservatives came from doing the opposite: convincing them that the view im trying to convert them towards is one theyve already held.
Debating them is for the spectators. If ur debating a conservative and no one is around for it, ur just playing into their game and u will get riled up and lose.
Yeah I’ll never change the dyed-in-the-wool; I just hope to bring some insight to the bystanders.
Don’t forget “I thought Republicans were the party of states rights? Why are they trying to ban abortion nationally after some states held elections to protect abortion in their state constitution?”
Oh that’s a good one, I’ll take note.
At the end of the day the revolving door of inconsistent conservative values just exposes their real values: “what I want and what I believe and fuck everyone else”
The great thing about highlighting this stuff is it resonates heavily with swing-voters and fence sitters. It’s what helped me move from right to left.
