Am I the only one here who believes that our nominee demonizing all Republicans would solidify

[highplainsdem]

their support for their nominee in the same way that Republicans demonizing Democrats solidifies our support for ours?

There's strategy -- not naivete -- behind Biden's statements separating Trump from Republicans in general.

[NYMinute]

1. Exactly

Biden's subliminal message to republicans is "you are not like him so don't destroy your character and your future for that vile and stupid guy." Some republicans are likely to bite.

On Edit: A republican congressman from Michigan said yesterday that Trump should be impeached and enumerated the reasons.

[Tribalceltic]

2. It sure beats us eating our own

[abqtommy]

3. Unfortunately for us

the rePUKES have a corrupt system in place to support their election and agenda and wishing
for a Kumbaya epiphany isn't going to cut it.

[kcr]

4. What's naive is thinking the playing field is even in modern media.

Thinking that the GOP will play fair so long as we treat them nice and play the game is, I'm sorry, delusional.

[DCofVA]

5. The Republicans are set in their convictions

Nothing Democrats do or say has any effect either way. So why bother?

[nolabear]

6. He's refusing to wallow in the same mud.

I’m surprised how many people want blood rather than change. I understand it at the rageful, simplistic, “oh YEAH?” level, but we’re talking about giving an out to those who are appalled by the extremes and the backing of those extremes by people who sadly will vote along with them in order to remain loyal to a party and keep a job. I think those people are moral cowards but still, they’re what we’ve got to work with and I think we can peel enough of their voters off so that they’ll see the tide turning and not be as supportive of Mitch and his ilk when we do win.

Joe didn’t bring up Gettysburg for nothing in that speech. We killed one another in droves. He didn’t quite a Republican President for nothing. I grew up with Baptist preachers. I know “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling” when I hear it. If it helps us bring some lambs in, I’m all for it.

[DCofVA]

7. None of the Democratic candidates are demonizing the Republicans

They’re just pointing out all the atrocities that have been committed by the Republicans.

[Indygram]

8. I think the key is in how you approach "reaching out."

I honestly think Biden is expressing his view on this in a sloppy way that makes it sound like he may take the base for granted in order to reach out to Trump voters. That's going to rub a lot of people the wrong way.

Now, Beto O'Rourke is also running on a message of unity but I think he frames it so much better. He makes a point to be very clear that he is NOT going to write those Trump voters off but he's NOT going to take the Base voters for granted either. And he will NOT adjust his message one bit...it will be the same for all people. So while he is not going to write those Trump voters off, he is not going to go tell them what he thinks they want to hear. Instead he is going to talk about the same exact things he always does and how and why those progressive policies are good for them. I think that is how to approach the issue...not by trying to "WIN" Trump voters over but rather by presenting what he has to offer and welcoming them in IF they choose to take the right path now, no matter what path they were on previously.

[duforsure]

9. No need to demonize

all candidates need to do is suggest president Obama,Hillary Clinton, John Brennan, James Comey, and others could become the next VP, or Attorney General. there heads would explode. then they would again make fools of themselves.

[peggysue2]

10. I suspect Joe Biden is playing the . . .

the long game here because he's a seasoned politician. Demonizing the GOP and Republican voters is not a winning hand, particularly in the Age of Trump. Better to play to our values as a Nation, even though we fall short on too many occasions. It's giving the electorate a choice between continued vindictiveness or a plan to be the country we've always struggled to be--a country of big ideas and noble aspirations.

Trump's vision of America is small and mean, all about him. Biden's vision for the country is just the opposite. It's all about us, how we wish to be defined as a people.

[Fresh_Start]

11. The minute the basket of deplorables made the news

I expected Clinton to lose...because it gave the asses on the other side a rally cry

[Politicub]

12. The primaries will be interesting since it will be a true view of what the base wants and thinks

We'll see if Biden's pitch resonates, or if someone else catches fire. At this point, all we are doing is guessing and relying on polls that show Biden as a front runner before any votes have been cast.

Biden's strategy strikes me as something someone tacking to the center would say after he or she clinches the nomination. The timing is off. He needs to woo democrats right now. Not republicans.

And I could be wrong. His approach may be the right one. If it is, and he wins handily, I will enthusiastically support him in the general... without reservation. Heck, I support him now but not as much as Harris, Warren and Buttigieg.

[Turin_C3PO]

13. I think Biden has a good strategy.

Whether Republicans will come to their senses remains to be seen (I highly doubt it).

[Jose Garcia]

14. Hillary regretted doing that

http://time.com/4486601/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-basket-of-deplorables-half/

[betsuni]

15. What Americans say when asked what's wrong with government: partisanship.

Most people think it's both sides. Bipartisanship is a good message for the general public.

[Drunken Irishman]

16. Hillary took a hit for her deplorables comment...

Was it correct? Yes. Was she helped by it? Absolutely not. It was an unforced error that hurt her. The whole thing was needless. We should focus on Trump. Not his supporters.

[Honeycombe8]

17. "Demonizing" is the word Biden used for pointing out what the Repubs have done.

It's not demonizing to accept reality and point out what has been going on for over 2 1/2 years. That's the nominee's job, and ours.

The Trump cult is with him all the way. Nothing we say or do will change that.

It's only centrists and a few establishment Republicans who might vote Democratic. And they certainly have accepted the reality of what's been going on, or they wouldn't be turning on Trump.

Demonizing is what Trump does when he says Mexicans are "infesting" our country and are gangsters, rapists, and murderers.

[elleng]

18. There's strategy -- not naivete -- behind Biden's statements separating Trump from Republicans in ge

[George Eliot]

19. I agree with that statement and I think he's right not to do it.