Eyes on The Prize

How does attacking the protesters of health care reform boost the approval of health care reform?

Chris Bower's has the answer: it doesn't.

The forum of public opinion is just like any other forum. Attacking your opponent has limited utility. At best, it only makes their ideas look worse. It does nothing to make your ideas look better. So, when someone tries to make you look bad by attacking, the best approach is to simply soldier on and continue explaining why your ideas are good ones. If they are, and all the other side can do is say "Boo!", then you will win.