I don't think we even need to specifically sell red state voters on the Democrats -- just tell people to vote for the candidates who do what needs to be done, like fund schools, fix bridges and build roads, and aren't in ideological bondage to a nasty little piece of work like Grover Norquist:

Eleven legislators are seeking answers about Gov. Bobby Jindal's "no tax" pledge directly from the man who issued it -- Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform in Washington D.C.

State Rep. Joel Robideaux, R-Lafayette, and 10 other Louisiana House members sent Norquist a letter Sunday night, asking Norquist to rethink his approach to Louisiana's budget and the "no tax" pledge.

Lawmakers are struggling with Norquist's restrictions as they enter the final four days of 2015 budget negotiations. They have to send the spending plan to Jindal's desk by Thursday evening.

The governor has threatened to veto any budget plan or tax bills that don't meet Norquist's "no tax" requirements. Currently, the governor is pushing the Legislature to adopt a controversial higher education tax credit -- commonly called SAVE -- that Jindal says will make the budget comply with Norquist's wishes.

Robideaux and others don't like SAVE and have argued the tax credit could lead to tax hikes in the future. Through the letter, they are asking Norquist to push back on the SAVE legislation.

"We are deeply concerned about the clear and present danger posed by this bill. As conservative Republican legislators, we firmly believe SB 284 is the biggest threat to fiscal responsibility our state has ever faced," wrote Robideaux, head of the Legislature's tax-writing committee, in his letter to Norquist.

If passed, SAVE would set up a new higher education tax credit to cover a nonexistent student fee. In spite of the name, the credit wouldn't save families and students money on college bills. Primarily, it would create the illusion of a tax break, which Jindal can say will "offset" other other tax increases in the budget pan.

"SAVE is a misuse of the tax system. The purpose of a tax system is to generate revenue to support needed public services. SAVE does not generate dollars for the state. ... It is being used merely to masquerade and promote tax increases," said the Louisiana's Public Affairs Research Council, a nonpartisan state think tank, in a recent report.

Man, the hoops these idiots have to jump through, just to appear to be doing their jobs!