Many union members are strict fathers at home or in their private life. They believe in ‘traditional family values’ — a conservative code word — and they may identify with winners.”
– George Lakoff, a Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at UC Berkeley
This brain scientist’s insights into American politics first came into vogue during the George W. Bush era, when he pointed out that approaching voters as logical issue-weighing machines gave Republicans — who employ the same marketing techniques that sell cars and timeshares — a huge advantage.
[…]“They failed to understand unconscious thought and moral worldviews. While hailing science in the case of climate change, they ignored science when it came to their own minds.”
Instead of building upon the progressive frame, Democrats unconsciously aided Trump.
“They kept running ads showing Trump forcefully expressing views that liberals found outrageous. Trump supporters liked him for forcefully saying things that liberals found outrageous. They were ads paid for by the Clinton campaign that raised Trump’s profile with his potential supporters!”
So how to defeat a master of self-promotion like Trump?
Start by pointing out that Trump is the biggest popular vote loser ever to win the Electoral College.
[…]“There are certain things that strict fathers cannot be: A Loser, Corrupt, and especially not a Betrayer of Trust,” Lakoff writes.
But Lakoff warns Democrats against “showcasing Trump, keeping him in the limelight” and urges them to instead to focus on reinforcing the values of the “American Majority” movement.
“The idea that must be brought across is empathy for those in your in-group, your town.”
Empathy is conservative Kryptonite.
Source: The National Memo (November 27, 2016)
Subjects: Articles & Links, Excerpts, Politics & Public Policy, Trump
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