I don't know if you can really talk anyone into making that self-identification. It comes when it is time, not before.

Regarding your uncle, I live in a very "red" area (rural Indiana) and generally the primaries are the "real" elections. I don't assume every Republican is "deep down" a Republican because frequently that's the only way to have a shot at office. Though it also works the other way; there's one recent candidate for local office who declared as a Democrat, who seemed more interested in sidestepping a crowded primary than in representing the party's ideals in office. (He seemed mainly interested in scoring jobs for his buddies.)

Still... I learned recently that a not-too-distant relation had been a moderately influential figure in Michigan Democratic politics in the 1940s (before an early death). A newspaper clipping commented on the many years he spent as one of the very few people in public life in his rural county who self-identified as a Democrat (as an example of the virtues of patience and being true to yourself in a piece urging Republicans not to panic about a perceived waning of their influence at the time).

My friend wanted to see my new Dogs Against Romney Cat Division bumpersticker when her neighbor came out. She is a 32 year old single mother of 3 children receiving Section 8 housing assistance. My friend, who I recently turned into a militant Obama supporter (she is on SS disability) asked her if she was registered to vote and that she should vote for Obama. She said she wasn't registered but if she was she would vote for Romney. That did it. A single mom on Section 8? A Romney supporter? Ding dong school was in session and I schooled her for the next hour about how her life would probably change under Romney. She was stunned. All she heard her whole life was a version of the World According to Rush. I thanked her for hearing me out and wished her a good evening.

Three days later my friend told me she just got back from taking her neighbor to the Secretary of State where she registered as a Democrat.

I know it won't often work but it is good to get through to somebody once in a while.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI

although I totally understand the problem. I know people that assume Democrats eat babies and yet has basically the democratic party platform as their own. They have nothing in common with the GOP, but they convince themselves somehow the GOP is really their party. They are going to change it. Ron Paul will finally wake up the GOP! They never seem to get their idol is just as big a fake as all the others. SAD.

There are probably deeper reasons why one identifies himself or herself as a repub when most of their stands are Dem. I personally find it rather presumptuous to lecture someone on how they identify themselves.

I know plenty of people who are Dem who have some repub positions and vice versa. Does that mean they should give up the political party they identify with?

Of course not.

What I would do is ask that person a question. "Why do you identify yourself as a repub or a Dem?"

Even if it gnaws at your core, respect them on it. Political identification is a hugely personal thing and it should be respected even if it's antithetical to what you believe.

At least interested. Right? And probably why he lost is that he belongs with us. Voters know that. If he aligns with the right party he will be successful.

Not his fault. Most people just do what they've always done. Check the R or the D without thinking, just habit. Now it's time to think about how he can best serve. Play that part up. Serving is his goal, not party.

She supports equality for all, regulations that protect workers and consumers, education, and the environment.
But I think that she is stuck being a Republican the same way that she is stuck with her 70's furniture.
I think that a lot of people reach a point in their life where they accept things as the way that it is supposed to be and don't see things as much as how they are. As a result, she doesn't seem to accept that businesses only goal is to make profit. She also doesn't seem to accept that the Republican party is a party of hate and doesn't seem to care about anyone who isn't white and rich. She is also a long time Central Committee member of the county Republican party.
By contrast, there was a woman with a "Walker" sticker (I'm in Wisconsin) on her truck at work. Despite this, most of the things she said, she seemed like a Democrat. Then one evening, she started talking about those "no good Hispanic and Asian immigrants" getting "special benefits" and I understood why she was a Republican.