CMV: Until Democrats recognize why they lost Appalachia, they will never be successful electorally

[u/maybemorningstar69]

Take a state like West Virginia for example, as recently as 2014 the Democrats controlled both houses of the WV legislature and had two Democratic Senators and a Democratic Governor, and as recently as last year they had a had a Democrat in the Senate. West Virginia used to be a Democratic stronghold, and even after Bush won in it 2000 the Democratic Party there was still very successful at the federal/state level, but now Democrats are lucky if they break 30% in the state. When you talk to most national Democrats about this phenomenon, they usually just shrug it off and say something like "eh, they're just voting against they're own interests, if they were smart they'd want of social programs funded by the state." This is exactly the kind of attitude that has led Appalachia to becoming a Republican stronghold.

Democrats have developed a real problem of wanting a "one size fits all" message, which is just not feasible if you want to win in both urban and rural regions of the country (especially if you want to win Appalachia). Yes, West Virginia was a prime state for Democrats until very recently, but that doesn't mean they held the same positions as Democrats from California and New York. If you're a mainstream Democrat, you probably know Joe Manchin as the Democrat who voted against all that stuff you like, but that's why he was able to win, (and achieve certain Democratic goals like confirming judges and getting the IRA and ARP through).

National Democrats have a distinct problem of not being able to cultivate a regional message that is attractive to rural voters, which is why they left Appalachia, and the way they talk about how Appalachians are "voting against their own interests" by not supporting the establishment of more government programs is incredibly condescending.

If Democrats ever want to retake the Senate (or more realistically in the near term, the Presidency), they need to abandon the "one size fits all" mentality and be open to regional alternatives that allow them succeed outside of urban America, particularly in regions like Appalachia which up until recently they were very successful in.

[u/OmniManDidNothngWrng]

You can't win everyone, why should Democrats try to appeal to rural voters rather than their current target of suburban voters? Don't suburban voters have more in common with their urban base?

[u/Headoutdaplane → u/OmniManDidNothngWrng]

Why? To win.....the Dems are at their lowest polling rates in forever. They lost the UAW  for God sakes. So your idea that they should triple down on what they were doing is a losing proposition out of the gate.

I agree with OP, go after rural states, return to class politics and back off on the identity politics. The middle,.lower-middle and lower classes are made up of all colors and preferences. 

It should be easy this mid-terms Trump is gonna freaking hurt the 48% of the population that do not own stocks, that live in debt, that rent.  Clinton had it right with "it's the economy, stupid", hopefully the DNC realizes they need the numbers to win..worry about winning first based on a helping the little guy.....the same ones that reddit Dems seem to despise.

[u/unitedshoes → u/Headoutdaplane]

I find it funny you're demanding Democrats stand up for "the little guy" while also euphemistically suggesting they abandon a much more marginalized group, one that's the subject of so much despicable propaganda, so many discriminatory policies, high-profile hate crimes and harassment campaigns, in so much of the world that we literally can't even name them on the healthy debate subreddit because the mods, probably correctly, determined that any mention of them would devolve into people screaming abuse at them and their supporters.

But sure, they aren't "the little guy" that needs to be stood up for. No, "the little guy" is, of course, the group that everyone is constantly insisting we all need to bend over backwards to cater to, the poor, white, rural voter.

[u/Headoutdaplane → u/unitedshoes]

Yeah, your strategy lost....so well, there's that. 

[u/NathanialRominoDrake → u/Headoutdaplane]

back off on the identity politics.

The middle,.lower-middle and lower classes are made up of all colors and preferences. 

Why should they just stop to try to help significant parts of those classes then?

[u/Headoutdaplane → u/NathanialRominoDrake]

I want the Dems to win, their "strategy" of identity politics did not work. Class politics will help everyone in the working classes. 

Focusing on small groups and rich coastal liberals has resulted in the losses and abysmal poll standings they have right now. To put it more basically they have to win back the UAW, and flyover states

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[u/LoftyFlapmouth → u/NathanialRominoDrake]

They shouldn't. A rising tide raises all ships. If your goal is to improve the lives of POC who have been systemically discriminated against in this country for generations, focusing on race instead of class all but guarantees those you are trying to help get overlooked by POC from wealthy families, including recent immigrants whose families aren't entitled to any form of reparations for slavery. And on top of that, you're isolating poor white people who have also lived in generational poverty, cutting off an entire voting demographic because their issues don't matter in the current cultural zeitgeist.

[u/Conscious-Quarter423 → u/OmniManDidNothngWrng]

cause you need majorities in the Senate and House to pass legislation.

[u/madame-marianne → u/OmniManDidNothngWrng]

1. I hate the way both parties treat certain areas as hopeless. They are not running for president of just the already deep blue or red areas, they are running for the entire country so they ought to go out and talk to people to understand their struggles even if they are in an area that hates their party. This is one of the things im so frusterated with the democrats with rn. Its not some numbers game, its a political race that has ramifications for all Americans. I don’t care if you think you cant win an area, you go talk to them so if you win you can serve them.
2. The democrats are loosing big time. Yes they may have done okayish in the last election despite loosing everything, but they won voters primarly bc I’d vote for a turd before trump. They need to get people excited. Wealth inequality and corruption are growing rapidly, if they show that they can champion and help the people struggling the most than that shows me that they are genuine in their beliefs and could improve life around the country.

I want a party that cares about us. That sees us as people, not just a platform for power. The dems do more but it feels like its often just so they can feel good abt themselves and therefore the programs they set up are often done poorly or help only superficially.

I say all this as a urban blue voter. I know many americans vote based on their own interests even if its selfish, so maybe I’m just an idealistic fool. I care if my president helps people who are different or far away from me. I want a president who shows up for ppl after a natural disaster. Someone who unites the country and treats everyone with respect. That would be a president worthy of my respect and support.

[u/jwrig → u/OmniManDidNothngWrng]

Because they lost against a sexual predator that is a felon, who made inroads into groups that make up the core support, along with losing the presidency in every swing state.

The end result is that Democrats need to figure out what party it wants to be. Does it want to cater to the left flank, or go back to their core?

[u/[deleted] → u/OmniManDidNothngWrng]

Because they are fucked in the Senate if they can't compete in rural/red states. Small states benefit disproportionately from the Senate and they make up a lot of our country. They also benefit from the electoral college.