2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Where was the sympathy for Bush voters [View all]Martin Eden
(13,475 posts)First off, it's not about "sympathy" it's about winning elections.
Secondly, we don't have to budge one inch on our progressive values or throw POC or anyone else under the bus.
What we need are policies that are unmistakably in the interests of the vast majority of the people, a consistent forceful message hammering home that fact, and candidates who will inspire people to come to the polls and vote. And YES -- this includes fighting disenfranchisement tooth and nail. GOTV is essential.
Democrats lose elections because we lose the battle of public perception. Right or wrong, far too many voters lump Democratic politicians in with a Washington establishment that has ignored the economic interests of the working class. A major factor in this election was a backslash against the establishment. Millions of voters in the so-called blue wall fell for the lies of a con man.
And YES -' millions of racists and other deplorables saw Trump for what he is and embraced the racism. We can never reach those people. Nor should we try.