Help me convince my family not to vote for Romney
Let me start by saying I have been a Ron Paul supporter since September 2007, and have spent time almost every day since then becoming familiar with his views through news articles, interviews, and videos (thank you digg!). Like many of you, Dr. Paul has awaken me from political apathy, and I am finally aware of the disaster awaiting this country if we continue to ignore the Constitution.
When I first talked to my family about Ron Paul, my eldest brother couldn't believe that I supported this "wacko". Every argument that was thrown at me was straight from the msm, but fortunately I was familiar with most of the issues and was able to reasonably explain the real Ron Paul. Evidently, I helped my brother and others in my family move from seeing Ron Paul's positions as "kooky" to "potentially rational" (progress!), but it wasn't enough to really spark their interest and to research the issues.
So here's the deal: Since that time my family has somehow been influenced by Mitt Romney (believe me, it was painful when I found out). They did not seem to have a lot of solid reasoning for supporting him, but I remember they liked his plan for health care (although I am not familiar with it). Instead of just pushing Ron Paul, I'd like to show them that Romney is a terrible choice based on his own positions and character. I don't think smearing Romney is the answer, rather I'm looking for articles/interviews/videos/etc that rationally deal with the issues (or your own arguments for that matter). In order to embrace Ron Paul and his views, they really need their foundation rocked a little.
Also, my family has been long time Bush supporters, and even though they don't think he's been the greatest President, they seem to blindly stand by many of the decisions that he has made (especially with Iraq). I think one of the reasons they are attracted to Romney is because of his support for Bush. They don't see a need for real change in the Whitehouse.
Anways, I would appreciate any help that you guys can give! Thanks!
Instead of listening to what they say, examine
what they have done. The public record is available for inspection 24/7, but only to those who wish to read it. Once done, then it becomes a matter of matching the record to the political speech being heard. At that point, there is only one whose public record matches what he says.
Did they see the ABC debate?
Did your family see Romney say "I love mandates" on the ABC/WMUR debates? That right there would be enough to steer me clear of him.
Do they understand his healthcare plan? Because it is scarier than I can even tell you. I ran against Bill Ritter for Governor of CO in 2006 and he was a BIG fan of Romney's plan. So I had to get to know it pretty well to debate him.
I guess it doesn't scare people who are in love with western medicine and never question doctors, so if your family is of that mind, not a good argument. But it mandates coverage, increases invasion of privacy, leads to mandated procedures (like vaccinations which I am against because they killed my daughter), and on and on. It is dangerous to liberty.
Well, if they don't see a need for a change...
then Romney is their logical candidate.
If someone doesn't want change and is happy with the status quo, then it's going to be tough for them to vote for someone who will change things.
Hope they
1) Don't have any relatives in the Armed Forces (who may be killed or maimed for basically nothing)
2) Are not on fixed incomes (so they won't be affected by dollar devaluation)
3) Are not bothered by loss of jobs to outsourcing, or to illegal immigrants.
4) Are not worried about the impending economic meltdown.
Read this book
http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/06...
Tell them about Reagan...
That's what I did to convince my father in law. He was a McCain fan. Every conservative loves Reagan. Tell them about his connections to Reagan. Then show them the Insider Advantage video on who would Reagan endorse.
In addition to all the excellent ideas
including Russo's film, you should:
spend a little money on a tailored suit, get a manicure, get your hair dyed and slicked back, put alot of cologne on, sit at the dinner table and tell your family that they will have to look at you like that for the next four years if they vote for Romney.
Seriously
I have a friend who last night told me she was leaning toward Romney too. She said he seems like the kind of guy who can get things done. She was concerned that with Ron Paul's strict Constitutional style that he would get nothing done. So I asked her... "What is that you think needs to be done that we the people can not do on our own?" She said she liked Romney's stance on immigration. I asked what was the difference between him and the others? She could not really say. Then I asked her how she felt about anchor babies and birth right citizenship... She thought it was horrible that all someone has too do is be born here and said how she thought it tore apart families.
I then told her about Dr. Paul's bill to end birth right citizenship and how no one else would dare bring something like that up. But that that was the kind of thing where most people would agree and most politicians would run in fear of that idea or call it radical. Radical to them but not to most of us..
I do not know that I converted her but I think she is now looking deeper in to Ron Paul.
Make them watch Freedom to Fascism
They can watch everything on Google Video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173
ooooh yes
great advise.
Suggestion
You need to ask them WHAT ARE ROMNEY'S views for healthcare. See if they can give you coherent answers. Even if you don't know what Romney's views are, see if they do and if it is understandable. Make them explain it to you. Then when they are finished, then you explain Ron Pauls views on health care. Go to his website and print out a couple articles. Or go to the RonPaulLibrary.com
Don't over whelm them with a lot to read, just the basics. YOU have to do the research and read and be able to explain his views. YOU are the campaign. Remember, most of these issues all come from the monetary and foreign policies. If you stop spending the money that we are borrowing from China for the stupid illegal war, then we have more money here... man, it is just a trickle down effect. Stop the spending overseas, more money here and on and on....
You have to be the teacher. There is no glossy way to explain it to people. When people listen to Romney, they are assuming a lot in his explaination, thinking they understand it. They don't.
Be patient with explaining it like Ron Paul is. I've learned more about all these issues in the last 6 months than I ever learned in the last 40 years of my life.
If you don't know an answer, say "that's a good question, I'll have to get back with you on that." And make sure you do!
And stay away from Romney's religion, unless it is brought up! Then tell them that religion should not be a litmus test for the presidency. Ron Paul said so.
Thanks for the Help Everyone!
You all have been extremely helpful (well, some more than others ;) ). This will keep me busy for a while!
Instead
Instead of Romney, give them a history of the Mormon religion to study..That would freak anyone..I know a lot about the mormon church because my wife was excommunicated from it..it will knock their socks off
Easy there
Take it easy. If you really knew LDS history you would understand why there are a lot of us (Mormons) that support Dr. Paul.
You could lock them in the basement during the election...
or worse....
Just keep referring to Mitt
Just keep referring to Mitt as 'the Ken doll'. Okay, it's not a substantive argument against voting for him, but I just love referring to him like that. :)Ron Paul 2008!
Jason
Ron Paul 2012!
Here's some ammo for you,
Here's some ammo for you, mate. You'll love this:
Blue?...Red?
Abortion rights
"I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard."Boston Herald Debate, 10/29/02
"Roe v. Wade continues to work its destructive logic throughout our society This can't continue."Speech to the Massachusetts Citizens For Life Mother's Day Pioneer Valley Dinner, 5/10/07
Immigration reform
"With these 11 million people [here illegally], let's have them registered, know who they are....those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship."Lowell Sun, 3/30/06
"One simple rule: no amnesty.If that [Kennedy-McCain bill] is not a form of amnesty, I don't know what is."New York Times, 6/4/07
Gun laws
"We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them. I won't chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety."Romney in 2002 gov. debate, Boston Globe, 1/14/07
"I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself. I'm a member of the NRA and believe firmly in the right to bear arms."Boston Globe, 1/14/07
Amendment to ban gay marriage
"Mitt does not support it...As far as Mitt is concerned, it goes farther than current law, and therefore it's unnecessary."Romney spokesman, Boston Globe, 3/22/02
"When I was Governor, we took every conceivable step within the law to stop, block or slow down this unprecedented court decision."Speech to National Right to Life Convention, 6/15/07
"No new taxes" pledge
"I'm not intending to, at this stage, sign a document which would prevent me from being able to look specifically at the revenue needs of the commonwealth"Associated Press, 3/27/02
"Signing the pledge now sends a very clear message to those in Washington who have voted against tax relief and for tax hikes that such actions will never grow our regional and national economies."Romney spokesman, Boston Globe, 1/5/07
Minimum wage
"I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation. I think the minimum wage is a good thing to have in our economy and I think it ought to be updated."Boston Globe, 10/17/94
"[T]he challenge with raising the minimum wage excessively is it is a hurt to those that are entering the work force, the very poor, those that are trying to get early jobs, get those first jobs."Associated Press, 7/25/06
Cutting Social Security
"I don't think you go back and rewrite the contract the government has with people who've retired."Boston Globe, 10/17/94
"Personal accounts would be a big plus."... [Romney]also said changing the retirement age could be considered, as well as basing the Social Security cost of living adjustment on a different inflation gauge.Union Leader, 6/7/07
Adoption non-discrimination
Governor Mitt Romney and a legislative leader yesterday delivered unwelcome news to the Catholic bishops of Massachusetts, who plan to seek permission from the state to exclude gay and lesbian parents from adopting children through its social service agencies. The governor said he was not authorized to give such an exemption...Boston Globe, 2/17/06
"And then another slide along the slippery slope. The Catholic Church was forced to end its adoption service, which was crucial in helping the state find homes for some of our most difficult to place children... Now, even religious freedom was being trumped by the new-found 'right' of gay marriage."Speech to National Right to Life Convention, 6/15/07
Stem cell research
[Romney]endorsed embryonic stem cell research, saying the controversial science might one day help treat his wife's multiple sclerosis...."I am in favor of stem cell research. I will work and fight for stem cell research. I'd be happy to talk to [President Bush] about this, though I don't know if I could budge him an inch."Boston Globe, 6/14/02
"FACT: Governor Romney Opposes Using Taxpayer Money to Fund Embryo-Destructive Research."MittRomney.com A Record of Protecting Life
Bush tax cuts
Governor Mitt Romney refused yesterday to endorse tax cuts at the heart of President Bush's economic program...In addition to refusing to endorse the president's tax cut, the governor surprised several people at the meeting by saying he is open to a federal increase in gas taxes.Boston Globe, 4/11/0
[Romney] said it was "absolutely critical" to renew tax cuts proposed by President George W. Bush. Letting them expire would result in a "massive tax increase" that would retard economic growth, Romney said.Detroit Free Press, 2/8/07
Reagan Republicanism
"I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush."Boston Herald, 10/27/94
"Ronald Reagan is ... my hero. ... I believe that our party's ascendancy began with Ronald Reagan's brand of visionary and courageous leadership."Boston Globe, 1/19/07
Desire to serve in Vietnam
"I was not planning on signing up for the military. It was not my desire to go off and serve in Vietnam..."Boston Herald, 5/2/94
"I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam and be representing our country there and in some ways it was frustrating not to feel like I was there as part of the troops that were fighting in Vietnam."Boston Globe, 6/24/07
www.paulforronpaul.com
wow.
freeman, you rock. would you want to contribute to this idea?:
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/21705
What he said!
http://www.tragedyandhope.com
http://www.im2moro.com
Here are some Romney videos for you
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Romney_People_don_t_want_c...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFMdK0TWtks&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY12vCeoTbo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibJfK1XfY8w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY6UTnS6Z-A&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvFv0FuWEj0&feature=related
Ron Paul "Sign Wave Across the USA" -- November 5th!
Mitt Romney?
is that even his name? Is he sure, or has he changed that, too?
I suggest looking at his record as Governor and printing those issues. Let your family read that, then ask them to compare them to what he says now. Which Mormon can you believe? Governor Mormon, or the "Christian" Mormon.
Mitt Romney changes his beliefs more than the Mormon Church, which is something to say. (I'm from Southern Idaho...I know the LDS Church). The flip-flopping he has already shown combined with the flip-flopping of his religion...you literally just never know.
sorry
not to reply to my own comment, but I just had an epiphany...what "Mormon" does anyone know that calls themselves a mormon? They call themselves LDS, or members of the LDS church. "Mormon" is actually a slap to them, it's slang, they don't like it. Most will say they are either Christian (yes they say that) or that they are LDS or part/member of the LDS Church.
Just a thought...is Romney really a "Mormon"?
It really does not matter
It really does not matter how you use the term. Evangelicals make up a large part of the Republican party in many states especially in the south. Many evangelicals consider the Mormons, LDS or whatever you call them a "cult" and would never vote for them.
They will vote for Huckabee. Romney can spend every dollar he has and he will never change their minds. He would be better to drop out of the ract today. It is not fair that they take this position because of his faith but that is just the facts. I know many of the evangelicals very well and they will never ever vote for Romney.
I shocked my family
by telling them that aside from RP, none of the canidates deserve my vote. Why? I told them all these canidates are talking their way to attention by distracting voters from the real issue. Abortion, gay marriage, Islamofasa-whatever, healthcare, education... all a distraction from what the real issue is. There is only one real issue and that is monetary policy. Everything trickles down from there and there is only one canidate who gets that. And the biggest possible start to fixing what is happening to our country economically, would be to follow the Constitution and the advice of the Founding Fathers with a non-interventionist foreign policy because it costs us nothing and saves us the massive amounts of money it costs us to run our world empire which could be later used to fund all our projects current and future at home. It may even naturally stabalize the world economy once we stop messing with it. Then, we can deal with the Fed Reserve inflation tax, the huge income taxes we pay, and it all trickles down from there. I went into pretty good detail about that with my family and when I was done, they all had that look Bernake had on his face after RP schooled him. They support RP now.
I never felt comfortable trying to change minds issue by issue. I start at the top and most important which is monetary policy and flow from there. We all know RP is the only one that gets it and that direction always seems to work for me.
My Letter to Relatives....
This is the e-m I recently sent to a relative of mine who is a Mitt Romney supporter. Not sure if it will do any good, but it is the one and only time I'll take to change their minds. The rest is up to them.
E........................
Hi XXX...
Its ok if you choose to vote for Mitt Romney. Everyone as the right to vote for anyone they want to. I'm not upset by your choice, nor are my feelings hurt.
I am, however, quite dismayed that anyone would vote for someone whose platform is not based on the Constitution. It is the Constitution and the Bill of Rights that are the basis for the liberties and freedoms that every American citizen enjoys, including you and me. Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate who has run his entire political career based on those two documents.
Essentially, his message is basic: freedom and limited government. Repeal the welfare-warfare state. Get out of Iraq, now. Abolish the income tax. End the war on drugs (which is a disaster). Put the dollar back on a more solid footing. Create more wealth for Americans. Stop the illegal immigration problems.
EVERY other candidate is anti-Constitution and anti-Bill of Rights. That is demonstrated by their political track record. Romney is one of the worst. Massachusetts is a total and complete mess because of his leadership as governor--the people pay some of the highest state taxes, they are forced to purchase insurance whether they want it or not, he is a candidate for/to the super-rich.
Up until his Presidential run, he has been pro-life then pro-choice then pro-life all at the same time; he promises to increase defense spending $30 - $40 BILLION annually, he is anti-2nd Amendment, he is pro-war, having stated that it is not unconstitutional for a President to go to war without a declaration from Congress. He has flip-flopped on numerous topics ever since he began running for President, and has said nothing about increasing the wealth, or anything else, to help the American people.
If those represent your beliefs and what you stand for, then Romney is your man.
Happy New Year!
P.................
.
~~~~~~ PERSONAL SIGNATURE ~~~~~~~~~~
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." ~~ JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ~~
~~~~~~ PERSONAL SIGNATURE ~~~~~~~~~~
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." ~~ JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ~~
Awesome Letter!
I think writing a letter is a great idea! I think it would also show them how sincere I am about these issues, and give them further reason to look into them. I'll work on that this week.
Ask them if they feel comfortable with the fact
that Cofer Black (of Blacwater fame) is the advisor he would turn to to see if we needed to go to war w/another country...I personally am appalled that I am working to make that firm rich (my tax dollars) they slaughtered innocent people, our soldiers were made to lay face down by them at gun point and they killed the NewYork Times dog for God's sake. Don't the people who want war realize that we are only in this unwinnable, undeclared war to make money for companies that are in bed with ALL the candidates except our guy? It frightens me to think the man behind blackwater is the guy Willard would go to instead of congress if/when there was another incident where we had to defend ourselves...see the debate where RP is "baffled" by Willards statement of asking his lawyer....his lawyer is Cofer Black.
peace out
Betsy
"To create a great evil you must pervert a great good"
education education education
Get them to watch Aaron Russo's - America: Freedom to Fascism. and also get them to watch Zeitgeist.
here is why, everything right now is so ass backwards that whatever you tell them, no matter how true, is going to sound like some nutty conspiracy theory, a documentary will make everything seem ligitimate, lots of entertaining (fuck with my mind because the truth is really frightening) documentaries.
how about a documentary detailing Americas engineering of the Iraq/Iran war, do they know that prescott Bush, president Bushes grand father, worked for the bank that funded the third reich?
seriously, education education education.
I'd start with the wallet approach
Show them the devaluation of the dollar. Show them the price of the barrel of oil in dollars, euros and gold as a graph in the past years.
Also tell them about the Fed and the income tax.
You can try showing them this:
http://tinyurl.com/3avj7t
The lines below the zero line are the dollar relationship with the euro and the dollar relationship with the Canadian dollar. Notice both are falling as the oil prices go up but gold follows the price of oil. If you pick a 5 year graph gold has gained significantly against everything else. Why? That's what Ron Paul keeps telling us. All currencies are being devalued against gold and oil is a very important commodity as well.
Hope this helps.
"You take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. -- all I am offering is the truth, nothing more."
Tell them there is no way
Tell them there is no way Mitt Romney can win. It is that simple.
For a Republican to win the election he must carry every Southern State. It is a strategy that has worked in the past. Romney is a Mormon. (Note - I do not hold that against him - but many do)
He will not win in the South it is that simple. Every Republican I talk to in NC about the election says that they will not vote for Romney. They quietly say isn't he that guy who is the Mormon. Then they say they will not vote for him. The folks with this attitude are supporting Huckabee. They want make a big issue out of his religion in the campaign but they will not vote for him. Romney will not win in the South. Dr. Paul's biggest opponent in the South will be Huckabee once Thompson drops out of the race. McCain can't win here either. Guliani can't either.
It will Huckabee vs. Paul in the South. Romney will be out of the race by that time.
I'm going to be pretty harsh here, but...
...look - if your family, after SEVEN years of George Bush and SIX years of war, oil prices going up 400%, the dollar approaching the abyss, the Patriot Act, national ID card suggestions, housing bust and rampant inflation, torture, etc. do NOT feel the need for change, I MUST respectfully suggest you forget trying to convert them to Ron Paul.
Your time is obviously spent elsewhere. I feel your pain....I have incredibly Democratic family members.
....not sure which is worse.
"Luctor et Emergo" - Struggle and Emerge
Tell them...
...that Romney will just continue to grow the government. And that the money for this growth has to come from new or higher taxes - or we borrow more from the Fed. Reserve. Explain to them the cycle of US borrowing from the Fed. Bank - the Fed. creates this extra money to loan US - causing the value of all existing dollars to drop - then we have to pay the Fed. back the loan, with interest - which we can never catch up on - thus we borrow more money, even from foriegn countries, to try to keep paying on the debt. Tell them that you are very concerned about the hole we are digging ourselves into - and that ignoring the problem until it is too late seems foolish. They will probably think or say that everything will be fine - that we can just ride it all out, tweaking things here and there as we go. You must bring to their attention the fall of the dollar - and how other countries and entities that traditionally have dealt in dollars are now turning to the Euro - that the value of our currency will continue to fall - and that any kinds of plans for a "war on terror" or a "rescue of social security" or "national healthcare" will all be for naught - we will not be able to afford it. Tell them that Dr. Paul is the only one who will address these issues and has a plan to help US before it is too late. Stress to them his expertise in economics. Hopefully logic will prevail.