Sematary
08-15-2007, 11:39 AM
As anyone can tell, just from watching the MSM and from watching the polls, American voters understand one thing - name recognition. I'd say that a majority of voters don't even have a clue what the person they are voting for when they vote. They generally vote along party lines, expecting the same-o from that party.
So, we have THREE distinct goals that we have to meet, as the street team for Ron Paul:
1. We have to get his name out there and it has to be done in such a way as to make sure that people understand he is running for president. Many people actually see the name but don't connect it with anything in particular because many of the signs, banners, etc... don't state that he is running for president. THAT needs to change.
2. We have to get the people we DO reach to understand that he is NOT like the other candidates - in either party. I stress that he is the only candidate in either party who wants to get out of Iraq - NOW! I stress the IRS thing (especially with older voters - over thirty) and I stress the fact that he wants to end the selective service and the possibility of the draft with younger voters. I never mention abortion unless it's specifically asked about - same for the war on drugs. Those are two very contentious issues with people that I'd rather they discovered on their own AFTER they start becoming familiar with him. Again, this doesn't apply to younger people because they are pretty much a sure bet to want to end the war on drugs.
3. We have to get people to understand that in order for this gentleman to have a chance, we have to register Republican and vote for him in the primaries.
More often than not, when I am putting slimjims on people's cars in parking lots I'm bound to end up talking to quite a few people as well. Don't badger them. Just ask them to take a look and if they have questions, they will ask. One of the most annoying things is for someone to badger them and that is a failing of our enthusiasm for Ron Paul. We want to let people know - but they get annoyed and we end up losing an opportunity. Keep it low key, polite and civil and NEVER ARGUE! Just say thankyou for looking, and move on.
So, we have THREE distinct goals that we have to meet, as the street team for Ron Paul:
1. We have to get his name out there and it has to be done in such a way as to make sure that people understand he is running for president. Many people actually see the name but don't connect it with anything in particular because many of the signs, banners, etc... don't state that he is running for president. THAT needs to change.
2. We have to get the people we DO reach to understand that he is NOT like the other candidates - in either party. I stress that he is the only candidate in either party who wants to get out of Iraq - NOW! I stress the IRS thing (especially with older voters - over thirty) and I stress the fact that he wants to end the selective service and the possibility of the draft with younger voters. I never mention abortion unless it's specifically asked about - same for the war on drugs. Those are two very contentious issues with people that I'd rather they discovered on their own AFTER they start becoming familiar with him. Again, this doesn't apply to younger people because they are pretty much a sure bet to want to end the war on drugs.
3. We have to get people to understand that in order for this gentleman to have a chance, we have to register Republican and vote for him in the primaries.
More often than not, when I am putting slimjims on people's cars in parking lots I'm bound to end up talking to quite a few people as well. Don't badger them. Just ask them to take a look and if they have questions, they will ask. One of the most annoying things is for someone to badger them and that is a failing of our enthusiasm for Ron Paul. We want to let people know - but they get annoyed and we end up losing an opportunity. Keep it low key, polite and civil and NEVER ARGUE! Just say thankyou for looking, and move on.