nslckevin wrote:
SH wrote:
ajthomas wrote:
If you believe Republicans convinced people to vote against their own economic interests because of shared "family values," pointing out the hypocrisy would be a worthwhile endeavor, no?
Not if it makes you look stupid.
You are missing the point completely. It isn't about the position itself, it's about the utter hypocrisy of a party spending years spouting "family values" and then when it is politically convenient to ignore it they do. Or like that clip going around with Fox News talking heads going on about how Obama being willing to talk to Kim was borderline traitorous and then praising Trump for doing just exactly that.
When I can see that I can only conclude that either the person who spouts the two opposing viewpoints when they are convenient is stupid, or that the people who follow along and agree are stupid. Or maybe both.
You are the one missing the point completely. How do I know? Because I'm the one that made the point, and I can see you've missed it.
I'll translate this to an analogous example because I feel like your tribalism is closing you down to what I'm saying.
We all remember when Hillary and her team (M. Albright in particular) expressed during the 2016 election that "there's a special place in hell for women that don't help each other". The context of that comment was that women should vote for Hillary because she was a woman. Well, fast forward to these current Democratic primaries and Hillary and her followers are supporting many, many white men over their female rivals in the Dem primaries.
Now, obviously I prefer that candidates are judged on their positions, talents, and competence and not on their sexual organs. I guess I could point out that those people supporting these two opposing viewpoints when they are convenient are stupid, or that the people who follow along and agree are stupid. Or maybe both. I guess I could also point out how the "special place in hell" position is looking to manipulate women into voting for someone based solely on their sexual organs, and not their true political interests -- so the hypocrisy makes me mad.
However, there are a few important ways in which that approach is not good. First, I'd be insulting the intelligence of a group of people that I'd like to influence. That's not especially smart. Secondly, the group -- even though hypocritical -- has moved to a position that I agree with. If I stress the hypocrisy angle there might be people on the left that seek to stop being hypocritical by going back to trying to make "being a woman" an important qualification for receiving a vote from another woman. That would be a move in the wrong direction -- at least in my opinion.
Therefore, the way I (typically) handle this type of situation is to say: "Yes! Thank you Hillary Democrats for recently supporting many men over their female rivals! The "special place in hell for women that don't help each other" campaign appeal needs to be a thing of the past".