An example of "us vs. them" in the Republican Party

[acroyear]

"Let's look at who is supporting John Kerry. The U.S. Communist and Socialist Parties and the head of the communist Sandinistas in Nicaragua, for example. If you cast your vote for John Kerry these are the people who you'll be joining." -- Michael Reagan (Ron's son)

So once again, they fall on the tactic of "the people who like Kerry are not like you at all, so why should you join them", the ultimate in bad-taste ad-hominem attacks.

Whether its extreme leftists, latte-drinking yuppies from the cities, cultured wine enthusiasts from the california valleys, well-educated scientists and economists who speak their mind (and the truth) about how corporations are destroying the country for their short-term gains, black leaders asserting that the right to vote in the constitution shouldn't be taken away by the ruling party, gays and lesbians asserting that their right to be treated as normal shouldn't be taken away...

...its all about "well, you good and true people of America are not one of them so why should you vote for the candidates that they support?"

and the worst part about it is shit like that actually works on these people.

Comments

[greendalek.livejournal.com]

Agreed, pretty cheesy. With just a quick search-and-replace, you can use the same rhetoric on the opposing side:

"Let's look at who is supporting George W. Bush. The Ku Klux Klan and The World Church of the Creator, and the royal families of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, for example. If you cast your vote for George W. Bush these are the people who you'll be joining."

Good ol' "US versus THEM." Never underestimate its power. *sigh*

Now i'm remembering George Carlin, circa '86

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

talking about the Reagan campaign and sponsors, such as the Catholic Church and the Teamsters Union.

Slogan: "Organized Religion and Organized Crime, working together to build a better America!"