Populists didn't leave the Dems, bible thumpers, bigots and gun nuts did

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Wednesday April 01, 2015 · 2:13 AM PDT

2015/04/01 · 02:13

The big problem with 'populists, ' which in the context of this diary means white guys, leaving the Democratic Party has absolutely nothing to do with cozying up to Wall Street. Or neo-liberal economics or any of the usual economic issues cited by today's populists. No. Very simply put, the Democrats' problem with working class white folks has nothing to do with economics at all and everything to do with cultural issues.

While I would agree that the differences between the parties on economic issues is not very big, the difference between them on social and cultural issues is vast. Not just on race and sexual orientation, but also on rural vs. urban, guns, and even choice of music and entertainment. The cultural gap between the two parties is huge. No amount of economic populism is going to bridge that gap.

Working class white voters vote GOP because the GOP is the party that identifies with their culture. They are the party of white people, Christians, guns, women who know their place and men who keep their gay a tightly protected secret. Even if it means screwing themselves economically. These folks are afraid of the America they see emerging and their fear leads to anger and tribalism. Barack Obama was exactly right. The run to their guns and religion as a safety blanket from the modern world. Its completely understandable.

But not tolerable.

So the Democrats are just going to have to leave these people behind because the future will keep on coming. There is nothing we can do to bridge the cultural gap between the parties. One party is going to have to break the other. I, as one Democrat, am not willing to abandon our beleifs in tolerance, diversity, and equal protection of the law for everyone just for a tax increase on the rich or some Wall Street regulations. Sorry, no deal.

If working class white voters want to vote for a Democrat, I welcome that. But if the price for that vote is giving up on the way of life that my children and grandchildren want, that so many of my ancestors sacrificed for, then they can keep their votes. I'm willing to wait it out.

6:31 AM PT: I should note, for the record, that I am not advocating against populism. Im all for it, in various ways. Im a protectionist, in favor of tight regulation of not just Wall Street but host of other big industries (especially Big Data/Silicon Valley), and substantial taxes on corporations and the wealthy. I'm pro union. I think that's populism.

But I do not think these policies are likely to win us much more of the White working class vote than we already get. Mainly because we lost these voters over social and cultural issues long before Democrats abandoned 'populism.' This diary makes the point that winning those voters back will require changes to the Democrats core positions on social issues, and I'm not willing to do that.

We have to win with both. With our core supporters in place and with infusing those supporters with populism. That is what I support. Any extra support we get in the bargain is bonus.

6:54 AM PT: ~~anastasia p~~:

It's time they started fighting for women (1+ / 0-)
We're seeing an ongoing willingness to sell women's rights short, telling us to go to the back of the bus and our rights just aren't important. We're advancing so quickly on LGBT rights despite the panic of people like Mike Pence, but we are rocketing backwards on women rights.

Bingo.

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