Need help getting my parents to vote for RP

[Son of Detroit]

I thought my dad liked RP, but he said that he's too kooky for President. Basically the same thing with my mom. I can't vote yet, but if I can get them to vote for Ron that will basically be like me voting two times.

I desperately need some ideas to help them to consider voting for RP.

[Melissa]

if you are in Michigan - I would start with the economy and how he is the only one that has a plan and not to worry about his kooky ideas he has to get through congress for them-- but show them stuff about him talking about money

[Claire]

There is a video marked "worth watching" in the video collection of this forum. It is a very powerful explanation of why they have been led to think of him as "kooky." If you can get the old timers to have one sniff of coffee, they will wake up pretty easily from there. Good luck!

[dawnbt]

Are there minds set on a candidate? Are they going to vote in the primary? I ask this because my mom wasn't going to vote, because she hasn't decided. She does like Ron but feels he doesn't have a chance. I reminded her how important is to me and that if she could support me this one time, and take 15 minutes out of her day to vote for Ron Paul on the 15th, that it would mean the world to me. She is now voting for Ron Paul for the Primary.

[sharkcity]

Everyone in my family will vote Ron but Dad. He's 75 and a life long republican but is so mad that he says he'll never vote for another republican. The abu graib torture thing pushed him over the edge. He's a Vet and thinks the republicans are unAmerican and have sold our country out. Ugh he's so pig headed and he likes Ron but still says he'll never vote for another republican.

I think we could surprise in MI with McRomney duking it out?

[daikonv]

In my opinion, showing videos to your parents will not be as effective as talking to them yourself. By showing them that you know what you are talking about instead of having to rely on other material would impress them. Talk to them about Dr. Paul's stances on the economy and how everything is related (national debt, the yearly deficit, overseas spending, social security, etc). Know your facts yourself and be prepared to have a long talk with your family. Once the discussion is over, tell them to check out these videos, dvds, pamplets, etc.

[Son of Detroit]

I almost have my mom. Only thing holding her back is that she agrees that we never should have gone into Iraq, but pulling out now would be a big mistake.

My dad will be harder. He's way more stubborn.

[peznex]

Who are they voting for and why?

[Son of Detroit]

They are both undecided. My mom says she was leaning to McCain/Romney, and my dad Thompson/McCain. Not set in stone though.

[mexicanpizza]

Ask them if they understand that the Fed is a private bank that US taxpayers pay interest to, every time the government overspends.

Then when their jaws drop, tell them about RP's monetary policy. And end with the IRS policy. ;)

[PaultheSaint]

Have them read through some of his speeches and statements. That's what I did with my folks and they came around dispite being democrat(although they say they dont vote party) liking Paul. They are extremly welll written and powerful. Then from there they did the google and youtube research. They like his message now but are also undecided.

I'm almost postive I got my mother voting in the primaries though for RP.

http://www.house.gov/paul/legis_congrec.htm

[EvoPro]

I almost have my mom. Only thing holding her back is that she agrees that we never should have gone into Iraq, but pulling out now would be a big mistake.

My dad will be harder. He's way more stubborn.

I would say that Ron Paul understands that if we left bases and an embassy there when we leave Iraq(like all the other candidates would do) the terrorists would be far more likely to attempt another attack because the incentive of occupation would still be motivating them. That is why John McCain would have to stay there as long as he can, until we go bankrupt, which is what the terrorists' really want. Ron understands we must remove the incentive and fix the problem at it's source, or the war will never end. We are already seeing economic downfall with the declining dollar. Your father may try to disregard that occuptation, intervention, supporting dictatorships and CIA meddling are incentives. But they are. Sure they say they hate us for other reasons too, but the occupation is the main driver for them. Ron gave Rudy a reading list on this subject:

Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror by Michael Scheuer(former CIA head of bin laden unit)

Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism by Robert Pape

Blowback, Second Edition: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire by Chalmers Johnson

The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States by National Commission on Terrorist Attacks

[lasenorita]

Only thing holding her back is that she agrees that we never should have gone into Iraq, but pulling out now would be a big mistake.

The catastrophic military occupation of Iraq is rarely described accurately in the U.S. media. And according to independent journalist Dahr Jamail, “The bogus idea that if the U.S. leaves things will worsen is both inherently racist and ignorant. (http://democracyrising.us/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1135&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=164)”. By not pulling out, we Americans are asserting that we are somehow more knowledgeable and better capable of uniting a country half the world away (not only in terms of location, but of culture and tradition) more than the Iraqi people themselves.

Even if one were for the war in Iraq, the big mistake is to continue to occupy the country. Why? Simple. We can't afford it. We're 9,000,000,000,000+ in debt. Each day we spend in Iraq costs us $720,000,000 (http://www.afsc.org/cost/). That's $500,000 per minute! The most costly is the blood of hundreds of our men and women. Thousands of our soldiers are being maimed and injured. There's untold numbers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (http://www.iraqwarveterans.org/ptsd.htm) --- a living hell if there ever was one. MSNBC reported back in 2004 that 1 in 8 returning soldiers suffers from PTSD (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5334479/), but less than half with problems seek help. Imagine the numbers now as our soldiers are being forced to take longer tours of duty and those who do have PTSD are sent back!

Who is going to pay for all of the lives lost and our debt to countries like China (we're borrowing from them like crazy to continue funding our wars (http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2005/tst082205.htm))? Some of it will be paid by our parents' generation. But not all. It'll be our generation, and the generation after, and the generation after if we continue this senseless war and occupation of sovereign nations.

To paraphrase this one soldier who expressed his thoughts on video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiFsxp5qOpM), why not send our troops home with their lives? Why not? Why not set the generations to come free from having to pay for the mistakes we've made today?


Resorting to a medical analogy, a wrong diagnosis was made at the beginning of the war and the wrong treatment was prescribed. Refusing to reassess our mistakes and insist on just more and more of a failed remedy is destined to kill the patient-in this case the casualties will be our liberties and prosperity here at home and peace abroad.

- Dr. Ron Paul
Statement on the Iraq War Resolution (http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2007/cr021407.htm)


Fin.


ETA: Not quite.
I'd also like to point out this article from the AP: In Basra, violence is a tenth of what it was before British pullback, general says (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/15/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Basra.php). Our presence in Iraq is what motivates the Iraqis to strap bombs on themselves and blow us up. We're also not winning their hearts and minds when we we have reports like Iraqi Soldier Who Killed U.S. Troops is a Hero in Iraq (http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/72996/).

It's a mess over there and the sooner we stop meddling in the affairs of others, the better for all those involved. Give the Iraqis their liberty and the ability to determine what course they want their country to take. Fix our own problems here at home and set a good example for other countries instead of bombing or bribing them to do as we wish. Please.

[Luke808g]

"I almost have my mom. Only thing holding her back is that she agrees that we never should have gone into Iraq, but pulling out now would be a big mistake.

My dad will be harder. He's way more stubborn."
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This is when you hit them.
The people who're saying it will be a bloodbath are the same people who said it would be a cakewalk, no one was willing to listen to Ron Paul back then when he was right, the same as no one is willing to listen to him now, so why keep listening to the other candidates who have a proven track record for being wrong?
Besides, America is broke, we simply can't afford it anymore, we could get out of Iraq now while it's still a choice, or we could wait until we're forced to crawl out with nothing left but the shirts on our backs.