# Persuading one's friends to vote for Harris **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [August 16, 2024, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768 "2024-08-16T04:07:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/1 "2024-08-16T04:07:35Z")
So… I have a friend in Virginia who is leaning towards voting for Trump, because Harris and Walz are too far left. He’s a libertarian. He’s president of his conservative Jewish temple. He has a non-binary child whom he misgenders and deadnames. But his child (who is an adult, and also my friend) is still very fond of him. He’s mostly a decent guy. I expect to be spending a day or two with him between now and the election. Probably, i should just avoid taking politics. But if i do, any ideas on how i might persuade him to vote for Harris? Or hell, for Kennedy, or for the libertarian. (Is one even running?) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/2 "2024-08-16T04:08:48Z")
I don’t you can. Best avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/3 "2024-08-16T04:09:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > He’s mostly a decent guy. Where is the “decent” part? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/4 "2024-08-16T04:11:57Z")
Just assume that the two of us find each other pleasant, and I’m not planning on throwing him out of my life over politics. He’s also a physicist and a university professor. He enjoys hiking. He enjoys recreational shooting, but cares a great deal about gun safety. Just trying to throw out random details. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/5 "2024-08-16T04:13:05Z")
Chase Oliver is the only libertarian candidate who has wine more than one race. 6 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/6 "2024-08-16T04:15:06Z")
Deadnaming and misgendering an adult child is not “politics”. How much of this person’s life have you labeled as “politics” to smooth things over? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/7 "2024-08-16T04:16:04Z")
I’m not going to give up on him over that if his child hasn’t. I would if they did, fwiw. I’m closer to his child than to him. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/8 "2024-08-16T04:18:28Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Where is the “decent” part? Almost everyone has some redeeming qualities. When a Proud Boy tried to rob our store in 2021 and pepper-sprayed our LP guys and tried to pull a gun on one of them, it was our MAGA-asshole meat department manager who jumped him, disarmed him, wrestled him to the ground, and held him in a headlock until the cops showed up. That Proud Boy is now doing a dime in the state pen, none of our employees suffered any serious injuries, and we didn’t even have to throw out any of the product he tried to steal. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/9 "2024-08-16T04:23:43Z")
I also believe he’ll get over it and accept his child for who they are. This is a relatively to him. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/10 "2024-08-16T04:26:55Z")
The one thing I’m reminding acquaintances who are afraid that Harris is too far left is that she’s really likely to tack more to the center once she’s actually in office. She’s also going to want to win over the moderates in Congress, and she’s too experienced a politician to try to bulldoze them. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/11 "2024-08-16T04:28:29Z")
It’s probably useless to try and persuade him to vote for Harris/Walz. But perhaps he can be persuaded to vote third party, at least. It sounds like the vote for Trump is more a vote against Harris. You’re unlikely to change his mind on that. I have the most success employing the method of posing questions and listening. _If he raises the issue of voting_, you could start with something like, “What is it you perceive you’re getting out of a Trump vote? What is he doing for you that you admire?” That’s likely to open a door to point out that Trump has in fact done very little for regular citizens, unless he’s ultra wealthy. You may also have an opening with the Gaza situation. However one may disagree with the Biden/Harris approach, what you’ll get with Trump will be far worse. Rueful mockery can work, too. Not at the person, but at the ridiculous positions they may attempt to defend. Make them defend those silly positions and squirm in the attempt. Last helpful suggestion: I find I can present more actual evidence with, “Were you aware that (fill-in-the-blank)?” It’s more effective than just blasting them with irrefutable factual information. It’s easier for them to say, “Well, no, I didn’t know about that.” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/12 "2024-08-16T04:29:15Z")
I’m gonna stick with what Ol’ Granny always said, “Never loan money to relatives or talk politics and religion with friends. They never pay off” ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/13 "2024-08-16T04:29:31Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > When a Proud Boy tried to rob our store in 2021 and pepper-sprayed our LP guys and tried to pull a gun on one of them, it was our MAGA-asshole meat department manager who jumped him, disarmed him, wrestled him to the ground, and held him in a headlock until the cops showed up. That Proud Boy is now doing a dime in the state pen, none of our employees suffered any serious injuries, and we didn’t even have to throw out any of the product he tried to steal. That is a great ancedote! For the OP, if you go there, assuming your friend _actually_ loves his child despite the misgendering and deadnaming (which is a total asshole move by anyone, but especially a parent). _Then_ he might be reached by being personal highlighting the actual risk of harm given the in-your-face agenda of going after anyone trans as the beachhead to go after anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. Prolly not, but getting visceral might work where Project 2025 ad nauseum won’t. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/14 "2024-08-16T04:30:49Z")
Talking with someone about how they are to their children will get you in trouble too. It’s hard to do if you’re a blood relative. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/15 "2024-08-16T04:46:49Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > He’s a libertarian. He’s president of his conservative Jewish temple. Jews are supposed to help each other. They’re suppose to give tzedakah to those who need it. I know of a Hasidic Jewish doctor (in practice with a close relative of mine) who has to donate a portion of his paycheck (despite having 5 children himself) to his Hasidic community for other Hasidic men who spend their days studying Talmud instead of earning a living for their own large families. That is considered appropriate. Is that not socialistic? Would he approve of that, or as Libertarian, feel that it is wrong? The biggest difference I see between trump and Kamala Harris is that one of them wants to enrich himself over his community, and one wants to protect the community from those who want to enrich themselves first. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/16 "2024-08-16T04:53:21Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > So… I have a friend in Virginia who is leaning towards voting for Trump, because Harris and Walz are too far left. He’s a libertarian. He’s president of his conservative Jewish temple. He has a non-binary child whom he misgenders and deadnames. But his child (who is an adult, and also my friend) is still very fond of him. He’s mostly a decent guy. He sounds _swell_. You’re not going to convince him to vote for a radical progressive like Kamala Harris or an anarcho-communist like Tim Walz (I mean, check out that “hot dish” recipe; if that doesn’t say ‘I’m a traitor to Western Civilization’ I don’t know what does) but maybe convince him to fully express himself by voting for [Chase Oliver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chase_Oliver), who was certainly hoping to break into the “Single Digit” club until that jerk RFK, Jr. swept in to run away with the crazy-town vote. Look at that face…poor guy needs a lift, and by voting for him your friend squander his vote without doing any real harm. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/17 "2024-08-16T04:55:49Z")
The difference is that, if he is trying to get the support of a certain group of people he will tell them exactly what they want to hear even if they contradict what he told someone else the day before. If group #1 only listens to specific sources then they dismiss everything about the other groups and listen to the dude that gives them back their own stuff on a silver platter. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/18 "2024-08-16T05:18:26Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > But if i do, any ideas on how i might persuade him to vote for Harris? Or hell, for Kennedy, or for the libertarian Why should a libertarian vote for Harris? Trump is much closer, ideologically. If you wouldn’t vote for a third-party candidate because they are a closer match ideologically, don’t tell other people to do so for that reason. There are a few people who lean quite far to the “right” and have found reasons to vote against Trump, for example [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/opinion/harris-trump-conservatives-abortion.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/opinion/harris-trump-conservatives-abortion.html) ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/19 "2024-08-16T05:23:00Z")
I think doing that is kinda awful. You know your friend’s leanings, and they aren’t compatible with a Harris presidency. To pretend otherwise is basically to lie to your friend. If a friend of mine really wanted advice on who to vote for, my answer would depend on _them_. Democratic, Republican, independent, whatever. Not my right to try to get an extra vote by manipulating my friends. I’ll give them the best answer I can. And talk their ear off about why their choice should depend on whether they live in a swing state or not due to the Electoral College. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2024, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768/20 "2024-08-16T05:26:21Z")
I completely agree with **Dr.Strangelove**. ~Max [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuading-ones-friends-to-vote-for-harris/1005768.md?page=2)