...But if you need 'messaging' in order to see what's right in front of your eyes, then you're just damn stupid, or lazy, or both. Who votes against their best interests because of messaging? Stupid people.
Disagree.
Here's why...
Most people don't give a rat's fat behind about politics.
They have a short attention-span when it comes to that topic.
They're far too busy with families and careers and school and mortgages and bills and social lives to bother much with it.
They wake-up to "politics" in the last few weeks before an election... prior to that, they're too busy with Life to deal with it.
They're not "stupid" or "lazy"... they're just interested in different stuff than YOU are...
And you NEED their votes to win nowadays... neither party can win any longer on the national level without Independents...
So save yourself the trouble... and four or eight new years on the sidelines... by doing a better job with messaging...
Regardless of WHAT you think about it behind closed doors...
Oh... and... people oftentimes do not vote against their interests...
Rather... they oftentimes vote for or against a Person or to create or overcome a set of circumstances...
And if a PERSON rubs them the wrong way they may very well vote for The Other Guy even if it is ultimately against those interests.
It's human nature... and you've got to accept that and deal with it when it comes to your messaging strategy...
On reflection, that's actually not a very high price to pay for WINNING elections rather than losing, is it?