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We don't have a lot to say about this article. It contains numerous characterizations against Republicans, but ironically they are all things Democrats actually do. We see this frequently. Republicans will complain about a anti-republican bias in the media, for example, and will document it. A while later, a random leftist will complain about the media being biased against Democrats. We have deemed this "Irony Alert," and have created a tag called "Mountain Man's Law."
There are several false statements as well, which we have labeled "False" or "Spectacularly False."
Lastly, there is one surprising true claim: "The other was a mistrust of Democrats. That they were the party that shamelessly pandered to minorities on spending and social programs at the expense of tax-paying middle class and especially working-class whites." We expect that the author will soon be excoriated by his party for this moment of candor.
Lastly, there is one surprising true claim: "The other was a mistrust of Democrats. That they were the party that shamelessly pandered to minorities on spending and social programs at the expense of tax-paying middle class and especially working-class whites." We expect that the author will soon be excoriated by his party for this moment of candor.
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The GOP beat the pants off the Democrats in Virginia, maybe New Jersey. It does that in far too many off-year elections that shake the political tree nationally. The wins are no aberration. The party has been doing that for a long time. It has a focused, disciplined game plan that has never and won't change for 2022.
The theories why the Democrats do so lousy in many off-year elections fly fast and furious. They lose because the GOP knows how to bend, twist, and manipulate voters with dog whistles, code words, or outright naked appeals to base race and gender fears. (We rate this False.)
The GOP beat the pants off the Democrats in Virginia, maybe New Jersey. It does that in far too many off-year elections that shake the political tree nationally. The wins are no aberration. The party has been doing that for a long time. It has a focused, disciplined game plan that has never and won't change for 2022.
The theories why the Democrats do so lousy in many off-year elections fly fast and furious. They lose because the GOP knows how to bend, twist, and manipulate voters with dog whistles, code words, or outright naked appeals to base race and gender fears. (We rate this False.)
The latest is the bogus issue of critical race theory. It screams beware it is coming to your local neighborhood theater, excuse me school. Duck for cover. (CRT is a real issue, not bogus. Beyond that, we rate this True.)
They shamelessly rig elections by lying, cheating, and then follow that by massive voter suppression. (We rate this False.)
They shamelessly rig elections by lying, cheating, and then follow that by massive voter suppression. (We rate this False.)
It has a Trump-friendly media behind it (We rate this Spectacularly False.)
to savage, hector, and belittle the Democrats openly and subtly. (We rate this Irony Alert.)
It's the party of take no prisoners. (We rate this Irony Alert.)
It sticks by its agenda, does not compromise, or conciliate with Democrats. (We rate this Spectacularly False.)
All this while the Democrats are timid, weak-kneed, and eternally trying to make nice with the GOP. (We rate this Spectacularly False.)
The example endlessly cited as a classic proof is then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell flatly saying no, no, no to then-President Obama's constitutional right to pick a Supreme Court replacement. (We rate this Spectacularly False. The President has no such "constitutional right.")
And then doubling down on that by watching as Obama meekly complied and did virtually nothing to counteract that. (Waaait. The author is criticizing Obama? We didn't think this was permitted.)
There's great merit in all these knocks at the Democrats. (Except not a single one is true...)
However, there's more, far more, to it than that. (Let's see if the author will be able to accurately assess why his party lost.)
Start with the GOP's core base. There's the great myth that is repeatedly shoved around to the point where many who should know better believe it and recite it as political gospel. The myth is that there are not enough less-educated, blue-collar, and rural whites in the electorate to push GOP presidential and congressional candidates consistently over the top.
But elections are almost always won by candidates with a solid and impassioned core of bloc voters. In the GOP's case, those voters, along with white males in general, and older voters, middle-income, college-educated voters vote consistently and faithfully. They vote in a far greater percentage than Hispanics and Blacks, and especially young voters. In 2016 and 2020, Trump secured the GOP's base, non-college-educated blue-collar, and rural whites. But he also got a lot of votes from middle-class whites, both male and female, college-educated, business, and professionals.
They had two things in common and one wasn't simply borderline bigotry, (There is no bigotry, borderline or otherwise.)
But elections are almost always won by candidates with a solid and impassioned core of bloc voters. In the GOP's case, those voters, along with white males in general, and older voters, middle-income, college-educated voters vote consistently and faithfully. They vote in a far greater percentage than Hispanics and Blacks, and especially young voters. In 2016 and 2020, Trump secured the GOP's base, non-college-educated blue-collar, and rural whites. But he also got a lot of votes from middle-class whites, both male and female, college-educated, business, and professionals.
They had two things in common and one wasn't simply borderline bigotry, (There is no bigotry, borderline or otherwise.)
loathing of Clinton and Biden, or dislike and rejection of a Democrat. (That is, people who vote Republican don't like Democrats. This appears to surprise the author...)
Many voters still wanted what powered Obama's 2008 win-change. The other was a mistrust of Democrats. That they were the party that shamelessly pandered to minorities on spending and social programs at the expense of tax-paying middle class and especially working-class whites. (A moment of honesty here. The author surprises us again. But this key component is relegated to an aside in the author's presentation. But we think it is key. Even Democrats are tiring of the hard-left, take no prisoners tactics of these leftists. McAuliffe, the losing Democrat, told parents that they had no right to involve themselves in their kids' education, calling them "domestic terrorists."
The Democrats have gone so far towards tyranny and oppression that even in a state that Biden won by 10 points, a Republican can win.)
There's more. The Democrats are a coalition party. (The Republicans are a coalition party as well, with a different coalition.)
It's been that way since 1932 when FDR cobbled together Blacks, Southern whites, Northern blue-collar workers, immigrant ethnic groups, and farmers into a winning coalition. The composition of the Democratic Party coalition has shifted and changed over time. But not the nature of the party. The coalition players now are Blacks, Hispanics, LGBT, youth, and middle-class college-educated white suburbanites, particularly women, progressives, and beltway, corporate wheelers, and dealers.
They bring many different views, outlooks, and agendas to the Democratic table. That often ensures clash, conflict, and division. (We rate this Irony Alert. The Left never, ever, shows its disagreements or conflicts. Such things are carefully concealed, while Republican disagreements are trumpeted all over the media. We cannot recall single news report describing an internal debate within the Democratic party.)
They bring many different views, outlooks, and agendas to the Democratic table. That often ensures clash, conflict, and division. (We rate this Irony Alert. The Left never, ever, shows its disagreements or conflicts. Such things are carefully concealed, while Republican disagreements are trumpeted all over the media. We cannot recall single news report describing an internal debate within the Democratic party.)
Those are the variables that far more than any naked GOP voter suppression don't inspire a stampede to the polls in off-year elections.
The GOP by contrast has no such problem. It is a hard-nosed, disciplined, ideological party that maintains order within the ranks, and sticks to its agenda with no wavering. (We rate this Spectacularly False.)
The GOP by contrast has no such problem. It is a hard-nosed, disciplined, ideological party that maintains order within the ranks, and sticks to its agenda with no wavering. (We rate this Spectacularly False.)
Even the mildest deviation from the party marching order brings instant reprisal. (We rate this Irony Alert.)
Wyoming GOP rep Liz Cheney found that out the hard way when she took a few stands on issues counter to the GOP line. The punishment was the imposition of party pariah status on her, and the threat to run a GOP candidate with the full backing and resources of the party behind that candidate in a primary contest against her. (Um, yeah, no. Shall we talk about Joe Manchin or Kirsten Sinemma?)
There's one more reason the GOP wins. The GOP takes off-year elections deadly serious. It understands the ancient maxim: all politics ultimately is local. It engages its base not just during presidential election times but continually. Be it an issue with a local school board, water district, or taxing issue, it bombards its supporters with emails, texts, and social media messages. It holds town halls, and rallies to mobilize the troops to act. It does not rely on chance with the issues and its core supporters. It hammers them over the head with them on the importance of action. (We rate this Irony Alert.)
Time is running out. November 2022 is just around the corner. The message for the Democrats from Virginia and New Jersey is simple: learn how to win off-year elections or watch as the GOP beats the pants off you again.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book in 2022 is Duped: The GOP's Lock on America's Underclass. (Middle Passage Press) He is the host of the weekly Earl Ofari Hutchinson Show on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network Saturdays, 9:00 AM 90.7 FM. His political affairs commentaries can be found weekly on thehutchinsonreport.net
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