What is your best argument for voting for Democrats instead of Republicans?

[kentuck]

Suppose you were making your case to an immigrant who had never voted before and knew very little about either political Party. What would you say to him to get him to vote for the Democratic Party? Without being too simplistic, what are one or two reasons he should vote Democratic?

[Cleita]

1. I would be stymied.

Thirty or forty years ago, I would have said to vote for the Democrats, because they are the party of labor unions, minorities and the working class. Today, I would have to say they aren't as bad as Republicans. It would be very hard to make a case today.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Exactly.

Thanks for saving me the trouble of typing all that.

[mick063]

5. I agree

Our traditional arguments are being removed, one by one.

Now we are totally reliant on defining the Republican party as crazy and extreme. All we can offer is less crazy and extreme.

[Go Vols]

8. yep

[abelenkpe]

22. +1000

[louslobbs]

24. You speak for me as well Cleita n/t

Lou

[Bluenorthwest]

3. In the scenario you propose, I have never had to make the case at all, immigrants

I've known have always asked pointed questions and related the political players to the ones they know at home or internationally. I've never once had to define the Parties or present a pitch to people getting ready to be citizens or to those just observing as visitors. I listen and wind up saying 'you got it'. The Republican heinousness is fairly self evident.

[cali]

4. to an immigrant? that the democrats are far more immigrant friendly than

repubs.

[Paper Roses]

6. Years ago I could have answered this question. Truthfully, I don't know any more.

[NuclearDem]

7. Join us! We're...uh...huh...mmm...

Well, we're not as crazy!

[corkhead]

9. Republicons are a coalition of the greedy and the stupid. Democrats are not quite as bad

[Poll_Blind]

10. First, what Cleita said. Second, it's like you're in a car with really bad brakes and...

...you have to swerve to hit a deer, only realizing at the last moment that your car is now going 50 miles an hour straight toward a huge tree. You can pump those shitty sold-out brakes or not. You're going through the windshield either way. Voting Democratic today, with a few notable exceptions, is mostly the hope not being killed instantly.

PB

[Rex]

11. The Republican party is anti-immigration.

They also do not believe in a minimum wage and want all states to be free markets with no regulation or oversight. This means higher taxes, higher inflation, higher prices in the stores. Lower wages, no health care and no retirement. They also hate social security, medicare and Medicaid. Unless they need it, in which it is only OKAY for them alone.

In short, if you want to vote for a group of people that only believe in hoarding money and trickle down economics then vote for the GOP. If you want a group of activists that believe in a living wage, are pro-immigration and believe in a social safety net then vote Democratic.

[pampango]

17. Well said, Rex. n/t

[Brewinblue]

12. Democrats get stupid drunk to escape reality.

Republicans were just born that way.

[Just Saying]

13. For me, it's not a hard decision.

Democrats work for women's rights, worker's rights, the environment, affordable healthcare, immigration, believe helping the economy doesn't mean tax cuts for rich people or that we should bomb everyone just because we can.

[ProSense]

14. I would

"What is your best argument for voting for Democrats instead of Republicans?"

...fill them in on Steve King's opinions:

Steve King on how he knows DREAMers are drug mules: 'You can tell by their physical characteristics'
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/24/1226160/-Steve-King-on-how-he-knows-DREAMers-are-drug-mules-You-can-tell-by-their-physical-characteristics

I would also tell them about the Republicans' attempt to repeal the health care law, and the changes to Medicaid since Obama took office, including this:

Obama Signs Children’s Health Insurance Bill

By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON — The House gave final approval on Wednesday to a bill extending health insurance to millions of low-income children, and President Obama signed it this afternoon, in the first of what he hopes will be many steps to guarantee coverage for all Americans.

<...>

The roll call ended a two-year odyssey for the child health legislation, which President George W. Bush adamantly opposed on the ground it would lead to “government-run health care for every American.”

<...>

In a major change, the bill allows states to cover certain legal immigrants — namely, children under 21 and pregnant women — as well as citizens.

Until now, legal immigrants have generally been barred from Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program for five years after they enter the United States. States will now be able to cover those immigrants without the five-year delay.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/us/politics/05health.html

And point them to this information:

The Huge Difference Between Democrats and Republicans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023350747

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. As a newly minted US citizen I registered Dem

I mean coming out of the ceremony and all. The only argument I could offer these days, I have since left the Democratic Party, is that dems are marginally better for immigrants...after that...why I am an independent these days.

As is, as a Reporter that is best anyway.

In 1998 it was a no brainer by the way

[questionseverything]

16. dems are still the only party that care

about feeding poor children

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

18. best argument for voting for Democrats instead of Republicans?

That the republicans have long given up on any pretense of standing for any positive forward moving policies in favor of blatantly announcing just how and to what depths their intent to screw the common folk is.Giving up,as well,any facade of integrity,morality or honor and flagrantly selling themselves to the highest bidder,to the huge detriment of the vast majority of the constituency.

That the Democrats talk good game,will make some show of and pay some lip service to progressive ideals,will be more selective in who they sell themselves to and will on occasion actually throw a bone to the unwashed masses.Very generally just that Dems are not as bad of bad guys as republicans tend to be.

[rrneck]

19. With a Democrat you get a chance. nt

[ErikJ]

20. The 2 worst economic crises in US history were caused by Republicans.

The Republicans controlled the govt from 1920 to 1932 resulting in the Great Depression and from 2001 to 2008 resulting in the 2008 Great Recession, the 2 worst economic crises of US history.
How many more times will it take for Americans to learn that the government-hating Republicans cant govern?

[morningfog]

21. Present the republican platform and tell them they only have one other party to choose from.

That is about it, these days.

[gulliver]

23. Easy

There is nothing good the Republicans stand for that the Democrats don't stand for better. Faith, hard work, loyalty, patriotism, liberty, neighborliness, intelligence, fairness, etc., Democrats are better. Republicans don't lack for these, mind you, but Democrats have far less fakery and mere "virtue only for show" than Republicans. If you are a Republican for its reputed virtues only, you should be a Democrat instead. We are as real or better on all counts.

Democratic politics also happens to be closer to the actual way life works from an evolutionary and scientific perspective. Republicans have strayed far into crazy land. Democratic politics are not just politically correct, they are correct.

Apathy and frustration can lead people to express the contemptibly idiotic opinion that the two parties are somehow equivalent. I don't take these expressions at face value. I think of them as cries for help, meant to try to influence Democrats. It's like when you are a kid and scream at your parents that they don't love you.

[jwirr]

25. I was born in 1941. I have witnessed both sides and what they have or have not done over those years

and what I have seen keeps me in the Democratic Party. Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, jobs programs, support for education, civil rights, etc.

Also as a welfare recipient for many of those years I can tell you who demands the most paper work with the least results everytime. When the republicans are in they yell - welfare fraud - add a whole bunch of paper work and demand the state hire workers to comply but they do not change anything in the long run except to increase the number of workers and cost to the state. The recipient just feels harrassed.

[RebelOne]

26. Because I do not like the Republicans and their values and issues against women. n/t

[cantbeserious]

27. What Is Your Best Argument For Voting Democrat Versus Green, Socialist Or Etc.

eom

[zbdent]

28. I don't believe that "tax cuts" are the miracle cure that

the religion of the Republicans make them out to be.

[Comrade Grumpy]

29. They're not quite as bad as Republicans? That's about the best I have.

Given that I view the two parties as the left and right wings of the Single Unified Capitalist War Party.