I got a haircut today. The barber, a woman, first asked me if I wanted to watch the sports channel or CNBC, to see what the stock market is doing. I told her I’d be fine with watching one of the news channels. So, she happily told me she’d put on FOX because it is more ‘sensational’. I groaned to myself and nodded my assent.
As she began cutting my hair, she cautiously inquired about my presidential preferences. Not wanting a confrontation, I cautiously said I was supporting Obama. To my surprise, she lit up like a Christmas and told me ‘Thank God! Eighty percent of my customers are supporting McCain. If McCain wins, I think I’ll cry.” We got along fine after that.
A friend of hers came in to visit. My barber asked her who she was supporting. The friend was perplexed and expressed indecision. “I saw that Obama was gonna raise taxes.” I calmly explained that Obama would cut taxes for everyone making under $250,000 and would only raise them on people making more than that. I also explained that McCain’s economic policies were very much like George W. Bush’s and look at the economy today. That seemed to win her over. Then she asked me about McCain’s running mate. I said, “I don’t know why he would pick someone that doesn’t know anything.” The two of them both agreed wholeheartedly. “Imagine her as president? She doesn’t know anything, and McCain is really old.”
So, the lesson I take from this is that winning the argument is a LOT easier this year than in 2004. A few simple logical constructs are enough to sway an undecided voter. In 2004, it took a lot more effort and the end result was less decisive.
Get out there and talk to people. It’s easy this time.
