The election margins were tight, with Trump securing a win by about 1.7%. Not a landslide. Interestingly, around 1.7% of the votes went to third-party candidates. These candidates, often seen in past elections with their shiny tin foil hats, typically advocate for policies aimed at preserving family val…
The election margins were tight, with Trump securing a win by about 1.7%. Not a landslide. Interestingly, around 1.7% of the votes went to third-party candidates. These candidates, often seen in past elections with their shiny tin foil hats, typically advocate for policies aimed at preserving family values. They oppose abortion, divorce, and sex education in schools, and push for limited government. They want to eliminate mandatory vaccinations and fluoridation in drinking water. A major theme among them is a distrust of science. Engaging with these folks can be challenging, as they often view the world through a distorted lens. Folks who voted for these candidates knew the day would never come there they could win an election.
So where does this leave Democrats? Our usual base among informed white, Black and Latinos voters went away. A small percentage of Latinos supported closing the border, while a few Black voters supported Trump’s racism. The Pandemic besides leaving hundreds of thousands dead and diminished public support for coronavirus restrictions gave way to a backlash against prolonged school closures; mask and vaccine mandates; and the public health experts who insisted on the measures. It eroded trust in government officials, elites, and the media. Trump skillfully used social media to introduce falsehoods, like Biden using US funds to financially support other NATO members, and his thirty-four felony fraud convictions were for crimes he did not commit. He floated the notion that Democrats attempted to assassinate him. Of course, factually, there is no rational evidence to support any of this. None whatsoever.
Fighting back by providing the facts was somewhat effective. But we need a candidate who is not perceived as woke, who like Bill Clinton was gifted with ability to explain things and like Obama could instill hope. Harris was not such a candidate, nor was Hillary. We need to start searching now, not wait for a few months before the election.
Democrats need to be more creative.
The election margins were tight, with Trump securing a win by about 1.7%. Not a landslide. Interestingly, around 1.7% of the votes went to third-party candidates. These candidates, often seen in past elections with their shiny tin foil hats, typically advocate for policies aimed at preserving family values. They oppose abortion, divorce, and sex education in schools, and push for limited government. They want to eliminate mandatory vaccinations and fluoridation in drinking water. A major theme among them is a distrust of science. Engaging with these folks can be challenging, as they often view the world through a distorted lens. Folks who voted for these candidates knew the day would never come there they could win an election.
So where does this leave Democrats? Our usual base among informed white, Black and Latinos voters went away. A small percentage of Latinos supported closing the border, while a few Black voters supported Trump’s racism. The Pandemic besides leaving hundreds of thousands dead and diminished public support for coronavirus restrictions gave way to a backlash against prolonged school closures; mask and vaccine mandates; and the public health experts who insisted on the measures. It eroded trust in government officials, elites, and the media. Trump skillfully used social media to introduce falsehoods, like Biden using US funds to financially support other NATO members, and his thirty-four felony fraud convictions were for crimes he did not commit. He floated the notion that Democrats attempted to assassinate him. Of course, factually, there is no rational evidence to support any of this. None whatsoever.
Fighting back by providing the facts was somewhat effective. But we need a candidate who is not perceived as woke, who like Bill Clinton was gifted with ability to explain things and like Obama could instill hope. Harris was not such a candidate, nor was Hillary. We need to start searching now, not wait for a few months before the election.