I’ve shared before that my household leaned right politically and was deeply Christian. My mom herself stayed fairly neutral, but just because she didn’t push a political agenda doesn’t mean I didn’t absorb one. I heard things from my church, my peers, the media I consumed, and the general culture around me.
When you grow up in deeply conservative spaces, you’re not just taught policies. You’re taught fear. You’re taught identity. You’re taught moral framing and propaganda.
Maybe you’re in a space where you’re just trying to understand how someone could even be Democratic. Maybe you’ve looked around and realized Republicans have ran Texas for the majority of your life. Or maybe you’ve talked to people until you’ve been blue in the face and want a different perspective.
Here are four of the most common narratives I grew up with and still hear echoed today. I’ll break down the tactics, the truth behind the claims, and offer a reframe to help shift the conversation.
1. “The Left Hates America and Wants to Destroy It”
“Liberals want to tear this country apart.”
Tactic:
Make progressive change sound unpatriotic or anti-Christian.
Framing:
Criticizing the government means you must hate your country. If you don’t like it, leave.
The Truth:
Wanting your country to do better is one of the most patriotic things you can do. Progressive movements gave us civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights, and labor protections. That’s not hate. That’s love in action. This country is meant to serve “We the People.”
Reframe:
Have you ever lived in a house you love but knew it needed a remodel?
Did wanting to fix the roof or updating the kitchen mean you hated your home? Of course not. You stayed because it mattered to you.
That’s how many on the Left feel. We want to improve what’s broken because we care deeply.
2. “The Left Hates Christians”
“They’re trying to erase God from everything.”
Tactic:
Use fear of religious persecution to justify making one religious view into law.
Framing:
Democrats are anti-religion and want to take away your right to worship.
The Truth:
Religious freedom protects all faiths and non-religion.
What’s being challenged is not Christianity but Christian nationalism.
Reframe:
Think about potato salad.
Everyone’s family has their own way of making it. Some add pickles. Others use mustard. Some include eggs, paprika, or a bit of sugar.
Now imagine being told that only one version of potato salad is allowed at every public event.
Even if it’s not the one you grew up with. Even if it makes you sick. Even if it goes against your values.
You’d probably say, “That’s not right. I don’t mind if they bring their version. I just don’t want to be forced to eat it.”
That’s the point. It’s not about banning potato salad.
It’s about making sure no one’s version is forced on everyone else.
3. “Democrats Kill Babies”
“They support late-term abortion and have no morals.”
Tactic:
Discredit your opponent morally before the debate even begins.
Framing:
Abortion equals murder. Democrats support late-term abortions for convenience and are okay with infanticide.
The Truth:
The Left supports access to reproductive healthcare, personal privacy, and bodily autonomy. More than 90 percent of abortions happen before 13 weeks. The very few that happen later are usually due to severe medical issues or fetal anomalies. These decisions are often heartbreaking and made under impossible circumstances.
Reframe:
Imagine a Category 5 hurricane is heading straight for your town.
You’ve seen the radar. You’ve heard the warnings. You know it’s going to be catastrophic.
You decide to evacuate because it’s the safest choice, but you don’t have the money. No gas. No hotel room. No family to call. You’re stuck.
Instead of help, people tell you to stay put.
They say evacuating is wrong. They judge you, shame you, and deny you help. All because someone else decided evacuation is not an acceptable choice.
That’s what abortion bans do. They remove the ability to protect and stabilize yourself during the most dangerous storm of your life.
And just because you might never face that storm or you have the means to weather it out, doesn’t mean others shouldn’t have a way out of harm’s way.
4. “The Left Just Wants Free Stuff”
“They’re lazy and want handouts.”
Tactic:
Use resentment and fear of scarcity to keep people divided.
Framing:
Progressives are freeloaders who don’t want to work and expect the government to support them.
The Truth:
Support programs like healthcare, food assistance, and student debt relief are investments in people, not handouts. These programs are funded by taxes, which most of us pay. The real problem is not people needing help. The problem is corporate greed, stagnant wages, and billionaires avoiding taxes.
Reframe:
Have you ever been to a potluck?
Everyone brings something. A casserole. A dessert. Someone always brings napkins and a 2-liter (bless their heart).
Now imagine someone shows up empty-handed. Not because they’re lazy, but because they just got laid off. Their kid is sick. Their car broke down. And payday is still a week away.
They didn’t come to take advantage. They came because someone said there would be a plate for them. Because in a community, we make room at the table.
Saying “The Left wants free stuff” is a way to shame people for asking for a plate when they’re hungry and hurting.
But most people on the Left want a system where everyone brings what they can. And no one goes without just because they hit hard times.
That’s not freeloading. That’s being a good neighbor.
Little Blue Texans 
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