I have some of these hippie-elder types in my family. My brother tried to start an argument on Sunday but I stopped him with 'do you feel any compassion for the millions of innocent people that were slaughtered after we pulled out of Vietnam because the Democrats cut off funding'? No answer. Next question-'will you feel any responsibility for the tens of thousands that will likely be slaughtered if we leave Iraq before it's stabilized'? No answer.
Um, no. No they don't, and many are only learning about it now. At the time they weren't paying attention because they'd stomped their feet, threw a tantrum, and the spoiled brats got their way.
That's all that mattered.
Asking a lib "how do you feel about..." is the best way to engage their brain, rather than trying to have a logical discussion.
Because they base all of their actions on their feelings, such a question does not result in a usual immediate hostile rebuttal, but instead, causes them to pause - like your relative did.
I am trying to be the Johnny Appleseed of teaching people how to talk to a liberal. LOL! They cannot handle logic, which seems so normal for conservatives.