IRS won't require NRA, other groups to disclose donors to tax officials

[Benton]

(07-25-2018, 03:19 PM)PhilHos Wrote: We're talking about changing people's beliefs. And those are 2nd only to religious beliefs in terms of convincing people their current beleifs are "wrong".

So, sure, maybe they're able to convince a few more people with a significant increase in their budget, but i still don't see how that equates to a foreign country influencing our elections.

To the bold, I think maybe a word got left out? Maybe "gun beliefs"?

Either way, it doesn't really matter whether you're talking gun belief, religious belief, whatever. The more exposure someone has to something, the more open they become to the idea. Especially if that is coming from someone they think they're supposed to trust.

A lawmaker speaking at a county fair in Des Moines about the horrors of reforming healthcare gets zero traction. But put him on a national commercial with good graphics and art (happy people signing insurance checks or sad people lined up at the VA), and BAM! you've got a movement worth the money your lobbyists are paying you. Don't like that movement? Well, then get a marketing firm to come up with terminology people won't like... maybe call it "Obamacare" and then get someone to make a better commercial talking about how bad it is.

Marketing influences people every day. And the more that is spent on it, generally, the bigger the influence. And when that influence comes from a foreign country — one we've been opposed to for decades — it should raise some questions on why they want you to feel and vote a certain way.