"Ads like that are clearly below the belt hits and few would argue that the Democrats should sink that low. But Democrats and their ad makers ought to accept the reality that tugging at peoples hearts, not just their heads, produces results."
For me, reality duly noted and accepted.
But the question remains: What determines how much is geared at people's heads and how much is geared at people's hearts?
Is it results i.e. efficiency and effectiveness?
If so, then ALL ads should be geared at peoples hearts. And aren't below the belt hits efficient and effective?
Is it adjusting to reality?
If so, then the more manipulative things become the more manipulating we have to be? Wasn't the 'realistic' argument the same justification to the centrist argument?
Last time, Americans, Democrats in particular, being justifiably realistic, forsook the abstract concept of the common good to co-opt our adversary's concept of the common good; by way of the business establishment.
This time shouldn't we first determine what makes us different?