I had a chance to hear Markos (Daily Kos) and Simon Rosenberg (New Democrat Network) in conversation earlier this past summer in San Francisco. The theme of the discussion, which both Kos and Rosenberg illustrated repeatedly, was the dramatically shifting demographics -- (particularly of the two fastest growing groups, Latinos and Millennials) -- that are changing American politics.
And Republicans, exemplified by the older, significantly whiter crowd in the RNC, just don't see this massive shift coming. They may be in for a rude surprise in November.
Here's the problem that Republicans have created for themselves: they have insulted and alienated just about every major constituency in America.
More below the flip.
Unabashed racism is acceptable to many Republicans. Without shame, they refer to the fastest growing demographic, Latinos, as a bunch of "illegals" (whether or not they are documented). Califoria, one of the world's largest economies all by itself, is derided as "Mexifornia."
Black people are called the n-word in private and "Unamerican," "Muslim sympathizers," and "welfare recipients" on Fox News.
They say that the biggest baby boom yet, the Millennials, comprise a bunch of "dumb kids" who "won't vote anyway" (even though these "dumb kids" are getting involved in politics in record numbers).
Women who unapologetically have sex for pleasure are "wh0res," "c*nts," and "tr0ll0ps" (that latter two being McCain's terms) who enjoy "murdering" their "unborn babies" just for the heck of it.
People who are openly gay, lesbian, or transgender are "sinners" who should pray for a cure for their "sickness."
People who work for a living are "losers," because they're not smart or gutsy enough to find success through the Rich Dad, Poor Dad model of get-rich quick schemes entrepreneurship.
The poor, or people who are down on their luck, are "lazy," despite working two or three jobs, or being too disabled even to work part-time. If they dare to give voice to their economic struggles, they are suffering from "class envy."
Wounded soldiers, or veterans with PTSD -- some on the brink of suicide -- are "whiners" who need to "man up."
The millions of people who live in cities are "ghetto trash."
Fiscal conservatives who question the wisdom of spending $1 trillion on the war "don't support the troops."
Financially successful liberals really piss them off: they are "the elite." (Either that or every last one of them is George Soros.)
The educated are also "the elite," especially if they took out student loans and didn't rely on legacy preference to get into a top school.
Anyone who wants access to free (or, heck, just affordable) health care so that they can start a business, and compete in the capitalistic free market, is a "Socialist."
Union members are "Communists" who are beholden to "big union bosses."
People of faith who care about the poor and the environment are "not true Christians."
Perhaps nothing is worse than being a community organizer, unless the community organization you join is called the "Wasilla PTA."
And anyone who has the audacity to hope for change is "deluded into chasing rainbows and riding pink unicorns."
The problem, though, is that after alienating so many people and groups, they're not left with much. The rich, white, closeted gay @sshole demographic just isn't big enough to win an election.
Markos and Simon -- (along with Obama himself, of course) -- gave me reason to hope, and Sarah Palin isn't changing that.