Biden’s Weakest Link
I’m a liberal, but a practical one. For me, liberalism is about doing what is right — for all people — in our collective pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. However, to paraphrase our 36th President Lyndon B. Johnson, the problem is not doing what is right, it’s knowing what is right to do.
To win the election, the Biden campaign needs to avoid the age-old Democratic tripwire of trying to be all things to all people. This jumped out at me recently while completing a survey from team Biden. I panicked and felt a pain in the pit of my stomach reminiscent of 2016. Please god, never again.
I’ve been donating to the Biden campaign, and appreciate them asking for my feedback. I would have preferred questions like: What do you think is the best strategy for squeezing Trump so hard that he turns blue? Instead, I was presented with a long list of issues, 21 in all if we include “Other.”
At the top of the survey, it reads as follows: Part of our winning strategy is to show a strong contrast between Vice President Biden and Donald Trump on the issues. Which issues are most important to you? (Select up to four) [italics added]
NO! It was then that it struck me that for every voter team Biden makes happy on issues of gun violence prevention or LGBTQ rights, they potentially lose an independent or republican to a write-in vote for Pence or another Republican hack.
YES, I support all the issues on the team Biden survey. But this is not the path to winning over the independents and republicans needed to get to the White House. For them, less is more.
In his book, Can’t We All Disagree More Constructively, Jonathan Haidt makes it simple: If you want to win the conservative mind focus on these three things: Loyalty/betrayal, Authority/subversion, Sanctity/degradation.
Here it is, Team Biden:
- LOYALTY — In his dealings with Putin, Donald Trump has betrayed America. He has been disloyal to the country while benefiting himself.
- AUTHORITY — As is evident from listening to past members of his administration, Trump’s behavior has undermined the country’s authority and degraded our principles, and security, at home and abroad.
- SANCTITY — The high standard to which we hold ourselves, and our country, has been degraded by Donald Trump.
Slogans: Make America Better Again! Or, PLEASE STOP THE PAIN! Imagine that across the top of your cap.
Take all the other issues to the White House and work on them. But don’t parade them around during the campaign. You don’t need to. When you do that you scare off the very people you need to win.
Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot again. As stated in Haidt’s book, avoid topics of caring, liberty, and fairness. For me and other liberals, these are more essential than loyalty, authority, or sanctity. But they scare the conservative voters, so avoid them. This is politics after all. So let’s play to win, and put mind over emotion.
Voters prepared to abandon Trump and vote for Biden will be pulled back the more they hear about gun control or LGBTQ. The primordial flight instinct will kick in. Voters will gravitate back to Trump not because they like him but because they understand him. So, please, Team Biden, stick to the fundamentals.
Keep it simple. Win the vote. Return the country!
For those of you interested in turning Trump supporters around, try tugging on the above themes. You might actually have a conversation again.
The Team Biden issues list
Health and safety response to COVID-19
Healthcare
Economy/jobs
Labor unions and workers’ rights
Gun violence prevention
Immigration
Racial justice
Climate change
Environmental justice
Campaign finance reform
Veterans
Criminal justice reform
Foreign policy and national security
Women’s rights
LGBTQ rights
Education
Voting rights
Social Security
Medicaid and Medicare
Other
