Principles for Defeating Alinsky Tactics

1. Anticipate that the tactics will be used against you. You MUST be prepared with a response that does four things: (1) The response must adequately answer and/or deflect the charge; (2) The response must be sincere and honest; (3) The response must reveal the tactics they are using; (4) The response must flip the tactic and transfer the pressure from you to your opponent.
2. Define yourself positively before your opposition has the chance to define you.
3. Use ridicule to your advantage.   There are two things to keep in mind when using ridicule: (1) ridiculing your opponent can be effective if it is funny and not mean-spirited; (2) ridiculing yourself in a self-deprecating manner can be just as effective as ridiculing your opponent.
4. Emulate their use of Alinsky’s fourth rule – make them live up to their own book of rules.
5. Force your opponent to back up any and all accusations made against you.
6. Refuse to be targeted, and refuse to be smeared with the deeds of others.
7. Fight fire with fire.
8. Embrace religion, and not run from it.
9. Use what your opposition gives you.
10. Take away their talking points.
11. Be open and honest about your faults and failures from the outset. If your position on an issue has evolved, then admit it and explain what changed your mind. Remember, even Ronald Reagan was a Democrat at one time.
12. Never apologize for success, and extol the virtues of opportunity and individual achievement.
13. Always to make your argument, and your candidacy, about America. America’s best days are still square in front of her. NEVER apologize for America!
14. Not to allow yourself to be lumped in with any group or any less than flattering ideology.
15. Always to project America as strong.
16. Think more than one move ahead.
17. Know both sides of the issue.
18. Control the pressure.   Always force your opponent to react.
19. “Don’t fall for ‘implied’ attacks”.
20. Remember that the sooner you reveal anything that can be used against you – the sooner it will become old news.

Source: Rules for Radicals Defeated: A Practical Guide for Defeating Obama/Alinsky Tactics (2012) by Jeff Hedgpeth.

Good advice to anyone debating the Left especially conservative politicians even if Obama is out of office. The Left still use Alinksy tactics. Hillary Clinton sure does.