I have always been a big fan of Bill Mahr and his program. That said, the program the other night clearly showed me why we lose presidential elections. In simple terms, it is not what we say, it is how we say it.
What everyone has to keep in mind is that elections are not decided by the left or the right. They are decided by those in the middle. These are the people living in the burbs raising their kids and playing by the rules.
Bill Mahr on the program just ripped people who believe in God. He compared believing in Jesus to believeing in Santa Claus. On the program, he has Janine Garfolo, who is very smart but also looks like a freak to mainstream American's. She is foul mouthed, she comes on the show in a tank top with tatoos plastered all over her body, and badly died black hair.. She boldly says "Bill O'reilly can kiss my fat ass." While we all agree with her, to a middle of the road person, she looks like a freak. It is stuff like this that makes us all appear out of the mainstream. For every inteligent thing that Janine says, it is drowned out by her appearnce and attitude. The same is true of Mahr as well.
The Limbaugh's, and O'reilly's, of the world take these extreme examples and are able to paint all Democrats with this brush. Republican's on the other hand, appear normal. in suits and ties, well spoken, other than Bush of course, and never use profanity, etc. Republican's are A-HOLES who are only out for the wealthy, and would sell those same "mainstream" folks jobs right down the river. Yet, they are able to convince them they are on their side.
What I am saying is that we make it too easy for the right wing to marginalize us. Notice how more "mainstream" people like Ed Shultz, and Kieth Olberman, have found success? A lot of peope agree with the Democrats on most of the issues, but end up voting Republican because they make them think they are "normal."
I fear that we are going to lose the next election because we insist on nominating Hillary Clinton. THe Republican's will have a field day attacking her, dragging up the same old Clinton stuff. This next election is a slam dunk if we just nominate someone who appeals to the middle. John Edwards, Chris Dodd, or Joe Biden. We won;t do that though, we will nominate Hillary, or a very inexpereinced Barrack O'bama.
