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

[swissmiss]

I'm always baffled by this "can't win" attitude. The one thing people around the world love about your country is the "everybody can make it" mentality. Wasn't it that what they used do call the Amercian dream?

 

[Joe Knows]

What do you use?

- jim

If they are familiar with Ron Paul, I always agree. (That's the old salesman coming out.) I say,

"Yes, I agree, Ron Paul might not win. But do you like his positions?"

If they respond positively, I come back with,

"If you like his message, why don't you help us change the national debate?"

Sometimes I use a variation.

"Yes, I agree with you. Ron Paul might not win. But do you like the direction the country is headed? Or do you like what's happening to America?

When they respond negatively, I come back with,

"Then, help us change the national debate and let's get this country back on track no matter who the nominee is."

Most of the time it is easier to agree on the issues than Ron Paul, but once they agree on the issues it is just a very short step to support.

 

[cjhowe]

If they are familiar with Ron Paul, I always agree. (That's the old salesman coming out.) I say,

"Yes, I agree, Ron Paul might not win. But do you like his positions?"

If they respond positively, I come back with,

"If you like his message, why don't you help us change the national debate?"

Sometimes I use a variation.

"Yes, I agree with you. Ron Paul might not win. But do you like the direction the country is headed? Or do you like what's happening to America?

When they respond negatively, I come back with,

"Then, help us change the national debate and let's get this country back on track no matter who the nominee is."

Most of the time it is easier to agree on the issues than Ron Paul, but once they agree on the issues it is just a very short step to support.

+1

 

[Rivington Essex]

MY REPLY IS RON PAUL IS WINNING. I used this successfully twice last night on a lawyer and a teacher I both overheard talking politics. They are almost converted. He almost made a donation.

1. Ron Paul beat Rudy in 15 / 16 polls.
2. Ron Paul won in New Hampshire.
3. He beat McCain in Iowa. He had more money on hand after q2.
4. He won a straw poll in Alabama.
5. I am surprised you haven't heard of him. You must not follow politics.

People like winners. They follow crowds. And they hate to look dumb, as in "I have never heard of this guy."

 

[Slugg]

MY REPLY IS RON PAUL IS WINNING. I used this successfully twice last night on a lawyer and a teacher I both overheard talking politics. They are almost converted. He almost made a donation.

1. Ron Paul beat Rudy in 15 / 16 polls.
2. Ron Paul won in New Hampshire.
3. He beat McCain in Iowa. He had more money on hand after q2.
4. He won a straw poll in Alabama.
5. I am surprised you haven't heard of him. You must not follow politics.

People like winners. They follow crowds. And they hate to look dumb, as in "I have never heard of this guy."

I had one chick say, " I know of Ron Paul, and I really like him. But I shouldn't have to 'look up' my candidate. I shouldn't have to go online to find out about him. So I'm voting for Fred Thompson!"

I wanted to smack her face, puke on her, and stamp "Idiot" on her forehead. Sadly, I said, "Oh... well, thanks for being part of the problem." And left.

 

[Dustancostine]

That is a good point. Sometimes I feel like carry around little Bill Engavil "stupid" signs and passing them out to the idiots.

 

[Paul4Prez]

Why Ron Paul Can Win

I reply that I don't think Republicans will nominate the pro-choice, pro-gun control Giuliani, the Massachusetts flip-flopper Romney, the pro-amnesty McCain, or the ex-lobbyist Thompson.

Who does that leave? Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee, and Dr. Paul's record on taxes and immigration is a LOT more conservative than Huckabee's.

 

[leipo]

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

That's the best response i've heard so far.

 

[ThePieSwindler]

I telll people that it is essentially a larger waste of a vote to vote for someone who will undoubtedly be the winner, because everyone else is going to vote for them right? So theres no point in going out, lets just stay home because Giuliani/thompson/Romney will win! Oh wait, but then EVERYONE thinks that, stays home... and they get barely any support at straw polls and whatnot. Always vote on principle, because then you can live with the consequeces of whatever ensues. Seriously, i find it a hilarious yet frustrating delimma - so many people WOULD support Ron paul if "he had a shot"... but if all those people supported him, he'd be the frontrunner by far.

 

[james1906]

I say that the media has made the mistake of comparing the presidential race to a horse race. With a horse race, you're supposed to bet for the horse you THINK is going to win. With the presidential race, you're supposed to vote for the candidate you WANT to win. The media thinks voting for someone that isn't considered a contender is a bad bet (wasting your vote), but there's no extra reward for someone who votes for the winner in a presidential election compared to someone who votes for the loser. In a horse race, there's a reward for voting for the winner.

I also mention that the mentality of voting for the lesser of two evils will only keep evil in power.

 

[dircha]

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

"Not unless people like me and you join the thousands of other volunteers working around the country to get the word out and vote for him in the primaries. Go to ronpaul2008.com and sign up to find out what you can do to help right now; I'll send you an email tonight to help you get started if you run into any problems."

 

[Trance Dance Master]

I also enjoy subtly threatening insurrection.

http://goldismoney.info/forums/showpost.php?p=709827&postcount=25

 

[SWATH]

response:
He HAS to win...or we're all screwed

 

[jblosser]

The "he can't win" argument has 0 credibility given the events since and including Iowa. I say this as someone campaigning inside the Republican Clubs in TX up to the Straw Poll. Several of them who like Ron's message give me that line with a guilty voice because they do want to vote for him. I immediately show them his real numbers from this recent offline polls and their tune changes immediately. These are people that know how the system works and this data speaks to them.

Ron is winning on the ground right now. He started out online, and those numbers mean nothing to these people, but now that he is winning pay-to-play straw polls as well they are noticing. They just have to hear about it.

 

[gravesdav]

35,000 grassroots volunteers across the country

 

[Paulitician]

I really have no comeback for it. I could pull the patriot card, but it's really no use. If one were a true patriot, then one would likely vote for Ron Paul (given that he or she actually knows of him), anyway. I find most people aren't patriots though. Or I can asked them why they allow themselves to be brainwashed by corporate-corrupt media. I think a big problem is the whole system is utterly corrupt, so I don't blame people for not even caring anymore. Being part of this campaign takes some serious dedication and patriotism just to try to get Ron Paul the same amount of face time as the frontrunners on TV and such. Once Ron Paul has more name recognition, hopefully the brain-dead masses will give him a chance. A lot of the problem stems from the system, but it's our complacent compatriots who don't shit about it.

Edit: I hate it when people say Ron Paul is equivalent to Dennis Kucinich or Mike Gravel. That is utterly false. I first point out that both Kucinich and Gravel have 3 grounded top tier candidates they're going to have to combat: Clinton, Obama and Edwards. Also, some pretty well supported 2nd tier like Richardson and Biden. They seriously have no chance in that regard. On the other hand, is America going to vote for another Bush Republican? John McCain is pretty much out. Romney has his flip-flop history, besides that he's doing ok. Giuliani... well where do we start with Giuliani? Once people start to find out about him, he'll become a goner. At the same time the neocon votes will be split among like 4, 5 or 6 candidates. Secondly, Ron Paul has way, I mean way more grassroots support and money. (Huckabee can't even touch him, and he's being propped up by the media as the only alternative to the current "top 3" of the Republican candidates.) No contest, Kucinich and Gravel put together don't even have half of Ron Paul support any way you look at it. Their chances are astronomical. Ron's are more down to earth.

 

[AnotherAmerican]

The only "poll" that matters is the one where we all vote; everything else is commentary. The appropriate place to bet on the outcome of the election is Las Vegas. In a voting booth, you're being asked what you really want. Respond accordingly.

Suspend Habeus Corpus, legalize torture, conduct warrantless searches, keep a permanent record of every phone and bank account in the country, require a "National ID" and/or passport for internal travel, and hold citizens indefinitely without charge or trial... ten years ago, did you think that could "win?"

 

[devil21]

"They said the Patriots couldnt beat the Rams in the Super Bowl too" (obviously audience oriented)

"We respect and appreciate things more when we have to work for them" (everyone can understand that one)

I like to play the underdog card.

 

[ecliptic]

exactly!

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.

WINNER!!!!

By showing them your absolute confidence, indomitable spirit, and unshakeable faith in your candidate Ron Paul . . . you WILL make an impression on them. When was the last time they saw such spirit?

 

[LibertyEagle]

Here is part of my toolkit for dealing with such comments.

From Jennifer....
"If you don't vote for what you want you will NEVER be able to GET what what you want."

I also use this...
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." John Quincy Adams


And sometimes top it off with this, which also came from someone on this board (sorry, I don't remember who)...

If Republicans want to win in November of 2008, they must nominate Ron Paul.
If they nominate anyone else, they will assuredly lose.
The Reagan coalition has turned into the Ron Paul Revolution.


Or, even this.... (but, of course I was a little perturbed at the moment)

FACT: The Republican Party has shrunk greatly. A large number of traditional conservatives have left the party and have largely become Independents or members of the Constitution Party.

FACT: No one is going to cross the aisle to vote for a Republican who is a warmonger, who is willing to break the Christian Doctrine of Just War and pre-emptively nuke a country that has not attacked us, nor poses an imminent threat. Nor, will they vote for any guantanamo-doubling, habeas corpus stealing, illegal wiretapping, Constitution-burning, BIG government totalitarian.

And neither will I.

THOSE ARE THE FACTS. Ignore them, and you will end up with Hillary or Obama.