Always Make Your Opponents Defend Their Record/Belief System

SteveDeaceTwo excerpts from a post by Steve Deace, which is from his new book Rules for Patriots: How Conservatives Can Win Again.” :

To the best of my knowledge, [the following] hypothetical has never actually occurred in my lifetime, but if it did it would’ve been the best thing ever.

In the hypothetical, [notice] how often Mr. Republican uses a question to set up his antagonist. In a relatively short exchange, Mr. Republican asks “Keith” eight questions. The questions are framed skillfully and used purposefully. They are somewhat open-ended and at times non-threatening (on the surface) invitations to dialogue, but structured in a way that it forces the other side to reveal their own belief system when answering.

We must add this arrow to our quiver, because without it we end up arguing their premise and playing defense all the time.

Revealing the true motive and worldview of your opponent by asking questions, as opposed to debating opposing declarative statements, has been a devastating tactic used throughout history. Often referred to nowadays as the Socratic Method, the use of questions to stimulate critical thought and deconstruct your adversary was used several times in the New Testament by Christ Himself.

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Your Republican champion is ready to take on a notoriously liberal member of the mainstream media, who is a Democrat talking-point regurgitator masquerading as an objective journalist.

His show might as well be called “The Graveyard,” because so many conservatives have gone there to die in the past that grassroots patriots wonder why Republicans even agree to do it at all anymore. “Keith” is snotty, snarky, and worst of all, smart. Like wickedly smart. The kind of guy you wish was on your side.

He’s also not known for exchanging pleasantries, and goes right for the throat with his very first question.

“Mr. Republican, you have been critical of Democrats calling for more policies to help the poor and downtrodden in our abundantly wealthy society, saying they are too expensive and taxpayers shouldn’t be asked to shoulder such a burden,” he says. “It’s easy for those who are well off like you to focus first on their own needs, and not the needs of others, but I believe I am my brother’s keeper. You claim to be a Christian, so isn’t it the moral thing to care for the less fortunate? Surely, in a country as wealthy as ours there is no excuse for poverty. Instead of tax cuts for the rich, shouldn’t we put others less fortunate first?”

As he closes his mini-monologue masquerading as a question, the liberal host squares his shoulders and he begins to subtly strut like a peacock. “Keith” is confident because this line of emotion-based drivel has driven so many other previous Republicans into the fetal position on his program.

Read more: Steve Deace