How to Eat an Elephant is based on Sarah Longwell’s eight years of qualitative field research and hundreds of focus groups with ordinary Americans across the political spectrum. Rather than relying on standard pundit guesswork, Longwell uses direct quotes and emotional vernacular from voters themselves to illustrate what voters are concerned about.
With the Mid-Term Elections right around the corner, the fate of our country is in the hands of the American Citizens. But…who will vote? Who will stay home? Who will automatically do what Trump tells them to do?
“Longwell lays out the playbook for building a coalition big enough, bold enough, and tough enough to defeat authoritarian populism for good. Not with a single election. Not by doing another poll or debating the benefits of being more progressive or more moderate, but by building something new: A modern pro-democracy movement that can create its own communications infrastructure—just like the right has done for decades—achieve narrative dominance, elevate more compelling leaders, and talk to voters like adults.”
Hopefully, the Democrats can take back the House. If they can also win the Senate, we’re one step closer to stopping the Trump madness that is ruining our country. Longwell provides a political blueprint on how to win Elections even in Red States! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
There’s Something About Sarah: Foreword by Jonathan V. Last — ix
Introduction — 1
PART I: WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
- Listen — 21
- The Elephant in the Room — 37
- Focus Groupie — 48
- ABC: Always Be Communicating — 57
- The Great American Media Crack-Up — 64
PART II: WHO ARE THESE VOTERS, AND WHAT DO THEY WANT?
6. Anatomy of a Swing Voter — 85
7. It’s the Affordability, Stupid — 107
8. Border Blues — 119
9. Persuasion and Its Possibilities — 136
10. Trans-America — 146
11. Republicans are from Mars; Democrats are fromVenus — 159
12. Character Doesn’t Count — 175
13. Trump’s Children — 188
14. Conspiracyland — 199
PART III: WE’RE NOT GOING BACK
15. A Lesbian Former Republican, a Black Presidential Candidate, and Darth Vader’s Daughter Walk into a Bar . . . — 221
16. RIP GOP — 236
PART IV: CONCEPTS OF A PLAN
17. Wartime Generals — 257
18. Offense — 269
19. Put a Quarter in the Machine — 278
Conclusion: The One You Feed — 288
Acknowledgements — 303
NOTES — 307
INDEX — 309