TALKING TO TRUMP VOTERS FROM THE MIDDLE

For Democrats to win in previously Red states and Districts, we have to get people that voted for Trump to (again) vote Democratic.  Not every Trump voter is changeable - some have so closely tied their personal identity to him that nothing we say is going to change their minds or their devotion to Trump.  However the majority of Trump voters can be reached, and more and more are open to the message of the Democratic Party.  However winning back their trust and their votes will require understanding the concerns which caused them to vote for Trump in the first place, or caused them to lose faith in the Democratic Party. 
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WHAT WE CANNOT DO IS ATTACK PEOPLE'S OR TRUMP'S CHARACTER OR INTELLIGENCE
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WE CANNOT:
  • Accuse Trump of Hating Our Country.  Because he doesn't.  He might be misguided in what he thinks is good for our country, but clearly he does love the United States and is doing what he thinks best for it.  Trump is trying to be a good president, even as his actions are harming our country.
  • Accuse Trump of Being Stupid.  Once again, he's not.  He has a very different view of what America should look like, and one that hopefully not many Americans actually support.  But give him credit - he is very cleverly taking our country in the direction he thinks it should go.  
  • Question Trump's Character.  From the outside, it can sure seem like he is in this just for himself, and unethical in how he is governing our country.  But for many voters his self-dealing is about what they expect from politicians, even the ones they support.  They don't necessarily find what Trump is doing any different than what most politicians do - find ways to help themselves and their friends.  And again, give him credit - he is actually trying to live up to his campaign promises, no matter how misguided they might be.​

​THE SAME RULES APPLY IN TALKING TO TRUMP VOTERS; WE CANNOT:
  • Suggest Voters are Stupid for Having Voted for Trump.  Because they aren't.  They looked at the two choices available, weighed many different factors, including Trump's first term, and concluded that he was the better choice of the two.  This doesn't make them stupid, it just means they weighed different factors in making their selection.
  • Question or Attack Voters' Character.  As tempting as it might be to think that all Trump voters are horrible people, most are not.  Most care about the truth, they care about their families and communities, and they are compassionate, decent people.  Again, they weighed a different set of factors than Democratic voters, however those factors were grounded in their experiences and yes, their morality.  
  • Suggest Voters Were Fooled by Trump.  This is a complicated subject, because Trump, like virtually all candidates, promised things he won't deliver on.  However he is trying to deliver on many of his promises.  The problem wasn't that he misled voters on what he planned to do, it's that what he is doing, ultimately, is bad for the country.  
  • Suggest All Trump Voters are Racist.  Some certainly are, as are some Democrats.  But to imply to voters that they must be racist because of their vote for Trump is not accurate for most of them, and insulting.  People had lots of reasons for voting for Trump, and for many race was not a factor.   
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A RETURN TO CIVIITY AND DEMOCRATIC VALUES BEGINS AT HOME

In many ways, our country has stepped back from it's Democratic Values. We are less likely to respect other people's opinions.  We are more likely to suggest any disagreement is because of some character flaw or lack of intelligence of the people with whom we disagree.  Unfortunately, President Trump is at the forefront of this movement, insulting and demeaning anyone who vaguely disagrees with him (and even many that agree with him).  Unfortunately some of his voters now seem to think incivility is part of how they support their President.  But the answer isn't to find new, clever ways to insult the other side. The answer is to again respect the differences of opinion in our country, including the opinions of people that voted for Trump.

So when you talk with Trump Voters, please treat them the way you yourself would like to be treated. 
Please be civil and respectful, even if they are not.