Grassroots Poll: Best way to target seniors!

[libertythor]

A few days ago there was a lot of elderly bashing and teeth gnashing over our dismal performance in the 55+ age bracket. Instead of whining about it, let's try to work out a tenable solution.

Which one of these options do you find the best? Any input?

You can select more than one option.

Edit: I am +repping all constructive input.

 

[bcreps85]

I voted none of the above. I agree with your assessment, but judging from the oldies I know, I'm not sure any of it would have an effect. In my experience, they are not involved in social media, rarely if ever use e-mail, and are bullheaded in any rare instance that they actually discuss politics. They get their news primarily from the MSM and any discussion ultimately ends up with them spouting things right out of a CNN headline and refusing to hear anything different.

Sadly, I think the only way to start winning this age bracket is to find a way to overcome the media bias and strong debate performances where issues that they care about strongly are approached. You'd think they might care about the future of the country for their grandchildren, but most of them seem to be more preoccupied with social security and medicare in actuality.

I hope the older people here don't take this as age bashing; this is just my experience. My conclusion is that it isn't age brackets that are our enemies, but rather uninformed voters...there just happens to be more uninformed voters in the baby boomer generation and their primary source of news has a huge bias against our guy...

 

[swissaustrian]

(Nearly) everyone here has some relatives in the 55+ group. Reach out to them.
Especially grandmas and grandpas are always happy when they hear from grandchildren.
Talk about the things which affect them personally, i.e. the preservation of SS and Medicare by cutting overseas. Tell them that RP is the only veteran in the race and that he'll keep America safe. The elderly probably have younger relatives serving in the military. They miss them, show them the prospect of getting them home. Pass out the Carol Paul cookbook to the grannies and tell them that Dr Paul has delivered 4000 babies. Also mention the marriage of 54 years.
You can do the same thing by visiting retirement facilities, the inmates are so grateful when somebody young comes to them to talk. Let them tell their stories from the past (patience required!) and identify those who are still capable of voting (either by leaving the facility or by absentee/early vote).
Appeal to the romantic feelings of the elderly by telling them that Ron Paul wants to restore America by remembering what made the country great in the good old days.

EDIT:
I voted for Meetups and Grassroots canvassing and booths tailored more toward senior concerns.

But I think you could add an option like operation grandma and operation retirement facility.

 

[libertythor]

Perhaps a newscast-like informercial run by a pac targeting senior concerns and saving the entitlement programs?

I think that they youth vote and the college campuses can be instrumental in carrying caucus states, but it is a mathematical impossibility to rely on the "college campus vote" to win an actual primary.

A liberty senior pac that can put millions into primary states where 55+ are the bulk of participants would probably go a long way. I agree about the thing with social media. That is why we need to reach out via TV. Perhaps a special paid program after Matlock or even CSI would do the trick. Most seniors I know watch evening infomercials at times.

I voted none of the above. I agree with your assessment, but judging from the oldies I know, I'm not sure any of it would have an effect. In my experience, they are not involved in social media, rarely if ever use e-mail, and are bullheaded in any rare instance that they actually discuss politics. They get their news primarily from the MSM and any discussion ultimately ends up with them spouting things right out of a CNN headline and refusing to hear anything different.

Sadly, I think the only way to start winning this age bracket is to find a way to overcome the media bias and strong debate performances where issues that they care about strongly are approached. You'd think they might care about the future of the country for their grandchildren, but most of them seem to be more preoccupied with social security and medicare in actuality.

I hope the older people here don't take this as age bashing; this is just my experience. My conclusion is that it isn't age brackets that are our enemies, but rather uninformed voters...there just happens to be more uninformed voters in the baby boomer generation and their primary source of news has a huge bias against our guy...

 

[CaptUSA]

Go talk to them. That would be the first thing. Bring literature. Be nice. Make them understand you're not crazy. You just want to live in the America they grew up in.

I don't see how you can break through unless they are exposed. I don't even think you need to tailor the message. You just have to deliver it to them the way it has been delivered to us.

 

[rb3b3]

Ill say it again, go to bingo halls across the country! Every single one of them!!

 

[libertythor]

Ill say it again, go to bingo halls across the country! Every single one of them!!

Though stereotypical, those would be great places to locate information booths.

 

[Liberty74]

Just tell them that if we don't stop policing the world, end these wars and bring our troops home, that Newt, Romney and Santorum will cut their SS checks. We are broke and we cannot afford to continue to do both. Ron Paul is the only one who will make sure those checks are saved for the seniors.

Watch their ears perk up!

 

[slamhead]

With a drone? Kidding

 

[Liberty1789]

In votes cast so far, Paul is 20% amongst men, 16% amongst women. So equalizing means gaining 4% on 50% of the population, ie 2%.

Amongst voters younger than 40, he scored 34%, above 40 13%. Equalizing means gaining 16%!!! IT IS 8X MORE IMPORTANT !!!!

 

[libertythor]

In votes cast so far, Paul is 20% amongst men, 16% amongst women. So equalizing means gaining 4% on 50% of the population, ie 2%.

Amongst voters younger than 40, he scored 34%, above 40 13%. Equalizing means gaining 16%!!! IT IS 8X MORE IMPORTANT !!!!

Even making up half of the deficit would go a long long way. Thank you for pointing this out. Mathematically we MUST improve in the older age brackets. Most young people don't vote period, and many won't vote for any Republican. That means that people relying on the college vote are just relying on at most ONE HALF of young REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS.

 

[virgil47]

Why doesn't the campaign put ads on TV that target the seniors? I mean if they only get their info from TV then give them info about what Ron Paul truly stands for using medium that they gravitate towards. Mailers, newspaper ads, meet ups and Pacs are not going to be effective in getting our message out if those that are being targeted are going to the TV for info.

 

[Mark37snj]

He needs to scare seniors. If the others get elected the dollar will go bust and THEY WILL LOSE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, AND 401K. He does not spell it out like that, he just says we will be serious trouble. He needs to remind them what happened to seniors when the Russian currency collapsed.

 

[parocks]

I voted "none of the above".

If "let the official campaign do it, because the grassroots is bad at communicating with old folks" was a choice, I'd pick that one.

Do we think old people are the ones who want R[evol]ution?

Grassroots needs to move 18-29 year old males to the polls.

In any given state, the 18-29 year old males don't need to know much, but they need to know the voting rules. What day is it? Who can vote?

 

[cheapseats]

I voted "none of the above".

If "let the official campaign do it, because the grassroots is bad at communicating with old folks" was a choice, I'd pick that one.

Howz that workin' out so far?

I do NOT share your confidence in the "official" campaign.

Do we think old people are the ones who want R[evol]ution?

If American History is a guide, roughly THREE PERCENT can be expected to WANT revolution. It's about gettin' a decisive percent of the Silent Fearful Majority to PICK A SIDE.

Grassroots needs to move 18-29 year old males to the polls.

If 18-29 year old males, THE CORE OF RON PAUL'S GROUND GAME, still need Nanny Measures to actually VOTE for the man...well, then why should Seniors & Boomers & Women listen to advocacy of the man, official or otherwise?

In any given state, the 18-29 year old males don't need to know much, but they need to know the voting rules. What day is it? Who can vote?

I am harsh, but THAT is insulting.

 

[parocks]

The grassroots is currently sending garbage superbrochures to old people. That is working out badly. We're bad at targeting seniors. We should stop doing that. Every supervoter (old person) needs to get a crap brochure that makes the Ron Paul campaign look crazy? No. Our efforts are workin' out bad. We suck at communicating with old people and we should stop. Let the campaign do it. Letting the campaign do it hasn't been tried. We should try that. Because sending superbrochures is a failure.

Whatever you're saying about "pick a side", the grassroots isn't particularly smart about doing that. So far, it's weird superbrochures. Keep the weird superbrochures away from the old people, thanks.

Howz that workin' out so far?

I do NOT share your confidence in the "official" campaign.

18-29 year old males are not skilled voters, but they like Ron Paul. They don't need to know anything, because they like Ron Paul already. Even in South Carolina, we won 18-29 according to the exit polls. We need to get them to the polls.

The 65+ supervoters have all gotten our superbrochures and they're rejecting that message.

Young people respond to the revolution message a lot more than the old people are.




If American History is a guide, roughly THREE PERCENT can be expected to WANT revolution. It's about gettin' a decisive percent of the Silent Fearful Majority to PICK A SIDE.




If 18-29 year old males, THE CORE OF RON PAUL'S GROUND GAME, still need Nanny Measures to actually VOTE for the man...well, then why should Seniors & Boomers & Women listen to advocacy of the man, official or otherwise?




I am harsh, but THAT is insulting.

 

[thoughtomator]

The economic argument of liberty needs to be written in such a way as to appeal to seniors' interests. It can be done, it's not actually all that hard, but it really hasn't gotten out there clearly. If I knew someone in the campaign would read it and consider using it, I'd write it.

 

[daikonv]

The biggest thing is electibility. That's the only reason why Newt is gaining traction. We need to sell Ron's electibility. Push his numbers with independants compared to the other candidates. Also, not only stress his electibility but also how his win would help bring the things that they care about to the front stage: social security, medicare, the economy. The elder folks care less about foreign policy than domestic. So stress the electibility route, and emphasize dr paul's positions on the items i mentioned and how they would benefit not only them right now, but also their children and grandchildren.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Hit the retirement homes, shopping malls, wherever the old folks hang out!

 

[maxoutco]

Ill say it again, go to bingo halls across the country! Every single one of them!!

That is actually a really good idea.