Is it possible to "help" build support for the President's reelection at daily kos by insulting and ridiculing those with less than robust positive feelings for the President?
Is it possible to "help" build support for progressive policy positions at daily kos by insulting and ridiculing supporters of the President?
I think the answer is No.
Do diaries that attack fellow progressives at daily kos for not thinking about things as you do help? I think the answer is No.
Everyone is free to write precisely what they please (with very few limits). But let's be clear as to what diaries berating others for not agreeing with you do - they do not help. Oh sure, the diarist may enjoy it as will like minded folks. But persuasion is not achieved. Not even a little bit. More . . .
Suppose you want to rally support for minimizing as much as possible spending cuts in the current round of debt negotiations. The arguments for this position seem strong to me on the policy.
On the politics, while reasonable persons can disagree, it is my view that spending cuts at this time will depress economic growth and be deleterious to the reelection chances of the President specifically and Democrats generally.
How would I go about trying to persuade folks that my view is the correct one?
I would search for common ground. Unlike the President and Republicans in Congress, progressives at daily kos do have common ground - they want progressive outcomes.There may be disagreement about the best way to get them, but the desire for progressive outcomes is a common trait to most all here - O-bot, PUMAs and Firebaggers (not to mention the socialists.)
But how can you support a corporatist, free trade supporting shill? Because it is not about me (or about President Obama.) Even the most ardent supporter of the President understands that for the President to succeed, certain policies need to progress. This is especially true about the economy. Democrats and progressives do not oppose spending cuts now as a matter of ideology. It is a pragmatic position - given the fragile state of the economy, cutting government spending will do harm to the economy.
Harm to the economy does harm to the President's reelection chances and to the political fortunes of Democrats in general. Thus the argument, for ardent supporters of the President is this - pressuring against spending cuts is fighting for the well being of the country, the Democratic Party, progressive values and the electoral chances of the President.
For less ardent supporters of the President, ask them to temper (in the sense of focusing on the policy as opposed to criticisms of the President) the manner in which they advocate against spending cuts so that the coalition can be wider and stronger. Frontal attacks on the President do not help.
I give but one example. But I think it is a valuable way to consider how we advocate.
The 2012 elections are just around the corner.For daily kos, this will be the first election in its existence that has had a sitting Democratic President. This is new ground for all of us. Let's try and help.