Not necessarily. It's all in the follow-through. Much of advertising is built around the premise of, to be blunt, telling people they're stupid and then telling them that your product will make them smart. From patent medicine to perfume, that's the basic advertising model.
The problem in this case is not necessarily calling the LIV "LIV" but in failing to follow through and show how voting republican will cure that condition.
I suppose my point is that they won't be much interested in listening, after the obvious putdown.
FYI that and many more common sense notions, may be found in Dale Carnegie's 1936 book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People." A summary follows:
http://www.westegg.com/unmaintained/carnegie/win-friends.htmlPart One
Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
1.Don't criticize, condemn or complain.
2.Give honest
and sincere appreciation.
3.Arouse in the other person an eager want.
Part Two
Six ways to make people like you
1.Become genuinely interested in other people.
2.Smile.
3.Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
4.Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
5.Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
6.Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.
Part Three
Win people to your way of thinking
1.The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
2.Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say, "You're wrong."
3.If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
4.Begin in a friendly way.
5.Get the other person saying "yes, yes" immediately.
6.Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
7.Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
8.Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view.
9.Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires.
10.Appeal to the nobler motives.
11.Dramatize your ideas.
12.Throw down a challenge.
Part Four
Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment
A leader's job often includes changing your people's attitudes and behavior. Some suggestions to accomplish this:
1.Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
2.Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
3.Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4.Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
5.Let the other person save face.
6.Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise."
7.Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8.Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9.Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.
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Upon reading this through, it immediately struck me how much these ideas are the opposite from the generally grumpy, negative postings on conservative forums. No wonder younger people tend to dismiss conservatism.
Reagan had the knack of making the story a good story. People were drawn to listen to him, and were confident he was leading them well.