Your favorite comeback to "He can't win"?

[jm1776]

The "He can't win" attack seems to be the current and number one attack against Ron Paul. We see that argument everywhere, the rare mentions on the MSM on all stations, talk radio and in major publications. It's like everyone got the same memo. Stephanopoulos kicked it off mainstream.

I hear it from people I talk to who have heard of Ron Paul and like what he says. "Yes, but he can't win." The underlying connotations are; voting for Ron Paul is throwing away your vote, supporting Ron Paul is a waste of time. All of this from just three words!

I think we should be just as pervasive with counter arguments and we should have them at the ready. They should be in online posts, one on one and in our letters to the editors, fliers, etc... I think we should bring it up before they do and debunk it. Many people who don't say it will be thinking it.

Here are my current top two comebacks to "Yes, but he can't win".

1) Yes, but when you vote for someone you don't believe in, you can't win.

2) Yes, but that's what they said about George Washington.

What do you use?

- jim

 

[Sematary]

I tell people that he CAN win, if we vote for him
I also tell them that if we want to have a future our children can be proud of - we HAVE to vote for him.

 

[Brasil Branco]

I mention that Bill Clinton once polled single digits. I also mention the massive amount of support on the internet and grassroots, and the fact that there's still loads of time ahead!

 

[Kregener]

"Then neither can the spirit of freedom that was the American Republic"...

 

[SeanEdwards]

Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate that would be a win for America.

 

[john_anderson_ii]

My reply:

"Really? Watch this, watch it closely."

If that doesn't work:

"Ron Paul's philosophy pretty much owns the middle class who are subsidizing the rich companies and the welfare receiving poor alike. We want our money back for our families, and we are still huge. The only way Ron Paul can't win is if the middle class don't know about him. Since when did the middle class "miss" something that saves them money?" Once the working class knows we can keep what we make under Ron Paul...who else has a chance?

 

[BuddyRey]

"Yeah, well...so's your face!"

Just kidding, of course! Usually I'll tell them that the defeatist attitude we've been conditioned to adopt when it comes to real candidates is fed to us by the media with the elite's hopes that it will become a self-fulfilling prophesy.

 

[0zzy]

"Oh, you can predict the future can you? Then you should of stopped 9/11, but you didn't. You can't predict the f'ing future so stfu and stop acting like it."

"Ya, because, you know, that's democracy."

"Last time I checked I lived in America. Where do you live?"

 

[constituent]

Says who?

they say

'Everybody.'

who? on tv?

uhh, well. and uhh.. he's not even a top-tier candidate. he really is a longshot.
they get a funny look and trail off.

(or)

I've already made up my mind thanks (i'm voting for the black guy Obama because the means that i'm not a racist and I have compassion for the poor cuz universal healthcare).

say ok, and move on. nothing you can do, let the good dr. speak for himself.

 

[max]

"So what you are really saying is that we should only vote for those candidades that the media picks for us? Thats really pathetic . It's YOUR vote, not the media's!"


"Thats a defeatist mindset. It says a lot about your personality. If the people like you who say "I like RP but he can't win"...would get off your butt and do whats you re supposed to do, he would win!"

 

[john_anderson_ii]

"So what you are really saying is that we should only vote for those candidades that the media picks for us? Thats really pathetic . It's YOUR vote, not the media's!"


"Thats a defeatist mindset. It says a lot about your personality. If the people like you who say "I like RP but he can't win"...would get off your butt and do whats you re supposed to do, he would win!"

The Fred Heads try to take a somewhat "I'm lost" approach that I don't buy. My best friend since grade school is a Fred Head. I've had this argument many times. He thinks it's the "lesser of two evils".

I just recite the old proverb:

"I'd rather vote for what I want and not get it, then vote for what I don't want and get it."

He doesn't see the wisdom of these words.

 

[ChristopherJ]

For the "longshot" comments I like the definition of of the word.

Pronunciation: 'lo[ng]-"shät
Function: noun
1 : a venture involving great risk but promising a great reward if successful.

 

[Dustancostine]

I just look them in the face and say with determination and conviction.

Yes He Can!

BTW: This puts the burden of the argument on the other person. If they were unsure and just parroting MSM, they will likely trust me and start parroting me (He Can Win). If they truly believe that he can win, then they must present their argument and I can easily tear that to pieces.

This works much better than me having to "prove" he can win.

 

[richard1984]

I just look them in the face and say with determination and conviction.

Yes He Can!

Haha! I like that one.

I've used several different responses. They're usually something like, "well, you'd better hope he wins, because if he doesn't there is no hope for America because..." etc. etc. I'm gonna start using some of the ones posted so far. Some of them are great!

 

[nullvalu]

I usually say to people (who already think he's a good candidate) that you already know he's the best choice, so...the only reason he can't win is if people keep attitudes like that"

 

[jgmaynard]

"15 months from the election, Carter, Reagan, Dukakis (won nomination) and Clinton were ALL polling at similar levels. They won, didn't they?"

JM

 

[Trance Dance Master]

I always respond with "he WILL win" and I say it confidently while looking them in the eyes. I've never seen anyone say "he can't win" while maintaining eye contact. I always maintain eye contact with every person I debate with, it's an honest signal of high status behavior.

 

[Darren McFillintheBlank]

..

 

[stevedasbach]

"Ron Paul is the only Republican who can win."

 

[Slugg]

"I like him, but he can't win"

"Why?"

"The system is corrupt, someone like him could never win."

or

The one answer I hear, over and over again, is "Because he isn't on television." This one is tough, because in some way's I agree (which is why we fight so hard).

I usually then ask, "Have you ever voted in a primary?"
All, so far, have said, "No."

Then I explain how he is the guy most non-politically involved people have been waiting for. And, as a result, it's next to impossible to predict his votes. Top that off with a little grandstanding on how WE ARE THE PEOPLE. If you like the guy, at the very least register republican and vote for him. Then, donate 20 bucks. I finish off with, "If everyone who liked him would simply donate $20 and vote for him in the primaries; he'd win by a landslide. So, if he doesn't win, don't blame the system; blame the public.