President Bush wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 10:53 pm
Great idea.
The Harris campaign could run an ad showing Trump using terrible language describing immigrant populations.
Likewise, the Trump campaign could run an ad showing Trump using terrible language describing immigrant populations.
Which would be more effective at convincing you that they were the right candidate, Meadmaker?
I don't understand the question.
Eo you actually mean me, or do you mean that in the generic sense? i.e. which one do you think is more effective at convincing a generic voter?
Trump does run such ads, or at least ads that use terrible language against immigrants, and end with "I'm Donald Trump and I approved this message." They are effective.
When Harris, or surrogates, run such ads, they're marginally effective, because she is not trying to make a point about immigration. She's making a point that Donald Trump is unhinged. I think that has a small effect. I think there are plenty of voters who think he's unhinged, but are wondering if that's a good reason to vote for Harris. To the extent that it amplifies the feeling that he's unhinged, it does something.
On the other hand, there's a danger for Harris in such an ad. (I haven't seen one like that from her, specifically. I've seen some from surrogates, though.) If the voters viewing a pro-Harris ad like that get the feeling, "Ok. Sure Trump is going overboard saying that they're eating cats, but at least he will do something about the real problem! Harris doesn't seem to care about millions of illegal immigrants." If that's the message that a voter draws from those ads, it's a win for Trump.
What Maher, and I, would say, is that she has to deliver the message, "I understand that we need to do something about illegal immigration, and we have learned our lesson*, and we're fixing it. But we're sane, unlike our opponent."
As for me, specifically, I don't think either one matters, because illegal immigration isn't something I care all that much about. When it comes to policy approaches, I suppose I'm kind of along Trump's side. I think the border should be secured and illegal aliens deported, although I'm willing to compromise on that last part, because there are so many of them now it might not be practical. So on principle I agree with Trump's approach, even if I don't agree with his rhetoric, and I might think we have to compromise for practicality.
*Maher literally used the words "learned out lesson" when talking how Harris should have responded to an interview question.