We're allowing the rabid, racist, pro-illegal immigration, open borders advocates to dictate who can speak out against open borders and illegal immigration, now?
This is another job for which a blonde haired, blue eyed, white male need not apply, because we've all bought into minister Farrakhan's propaganda?
"IMHO - not-white, not-male, not-raving lunatic. :o)"Yes, the hard cold reality of political warfare is somewhat disapppointing, but not quite for the reason that you cite.We're allowing the rabid, racist, pro-illegal immigration, open borders advocates to dictate who can speak out against open borders and illegal immigration, now?
This is another job for which a blonde haired, blue eyed, white male need not apply, because we've all bought into minister Farrakhan's propaganda?
Like it or not, image is important in effective communication.
We had this debate at the Leadership Institute conference at FRiva, and in the LONG thread that followed the event, MANY of the folks involved agreed with you - that the messenger should NOT matter.The Leadership Institute speaker told us, however, of an abortion debate in which the pro-life side had a sharp, well-spoken, well-prepared GUY, and the pro-choice side had a not-so-bright, inarticulate, unprepared WOMAN.
After he spoke - eloquently, SHE started by saying that there was no way for him to appreciate the pro-abortion side of the issue - since HE had never been eighteen years old, pregnant, jobless, abandoned by the father, under pressure from her family, emotionally devastated, etc. - as SHE had been - in in that moment, she captured the hearts of many of those present - who may have otherwise been open to OUR side...Here are a few comments from that thread:
To: Auntie Mame
"If you're that man and you're asked to debate a woman about abortion, politely decline, and suggest a woman in your organization would probably be happy to debate. "
I'm not comfortable with that at all. Did he also advise that white folk not debate black folk on race issues?
84 posted on 08/19/2002 7:05 AM PDT by Harrison Bergeron
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To: Harrison Bergeron
I'm not comfortable with that at all. Did he also advise that white folk not debate black folk on race issues?
No, he was talking about the tactics of perception -- a black conservative might well be more effective in such a debate because of the "I've been there" factor.
Now of course the leftists have slathered this stuff with hypocritical pseudomorality to the point that they probably believe whites have no right to talk race issues with blacks. Matt's coming from a different perspective: understand your opponents and be willing to use their best tactics when it doesn't conflict with your core principles.
I ambled up between sessions and asked Matt if he'd read Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals -- Alinsky advised, among other things, staying within the experience of your group and working to maneuver your opponents outside their own areas of experience. He had, of course.
87 posted on 08/19/2002 7:31 AM PDT by Interesting Times
-- snip --
To: Interesting Times
Thanks for the reasoned response. I understand the tactic of knocking the racism or sexism slats out from under left-wing opponents by enlisting female or black conservatives for the debate - there's nothing innovative about this. But I'm skeptical of any insinuation that men have nothing to say about sexism or abortion, or that whites have nothing to say about racism. A good argument stands on its own without having to use appearances as a prop.
92 posted on 08/19/2002 7:57 AM PDT by Harrison Bergeron
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