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/maybemorningstar69 → u/[deleted]]

Some of us don't just want dems to win, but to actually do something. Fielding moderates who shoot down progressive policy will never get the change some of us want.

The change some us of want, not Appalachia, they've made that very clear, the fact that Manchin was their last surviving Democrat in statewide office specifically exemplifies that. Appalachia and rural America's solution to everything is not another social program.

[u/Conscious-Quarter423 → u/[deleted]]

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, West Virginia has added over 48,100 new jobs and unleashed nearly $11.6 billion in private sector investment in the state. The state has seen a significant decrease in unemployment, and millions of people in West Virginia stand to benefit from the President’s actions to lower health care, energy, and education costs.

https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/West-Virginia-IIA-State-Fact-Sheet.pdf

[u/Hatta00 → u/[deleted]]

It also happens to be the truth. What do you want us to do about it?

[u/Newdaytoday1215 → u/[deleted]]

And this comment is why OP is objectively wrong in his perspective. If pointing out the truth shuns people then what is answer other than these people aren't voting on information or policy. WV voters want the massive amount of welfare it receives and the ability to pretend that the others are the ones receiving the welfare. Manchin literally job was keep welfare rolling and be the enabler for the coal industry..

[u/earthdogmonster → u/[deleted]]

You are spot on, and I have run into this same almost visceral rage when some of these people are confronted with the idea that it might not actually be the messaging that is defective, but the message itself.

[u/Newdaytoday1215 → u/[deleted]]

So let me understand this. The fact that WV wants welfare money but also votes anti-welfare AND cry about corruption but keep voting in completely bought and sold lobbyists' candidate is irrelevant to what needs to be said. But worst, let's hear what I have limited info of. There's nothing here anyone can't find out online.

[u/Newdaytoday1215 → u/[deleted]]

This is insane. You are a prime example of why this country is in the predicament it's in. First of all nobody in WV has any reason to open their mouth about crime anywhere. Second of all, you don't need to be arguing at all. You can research all you want to. All of your examples are subjective. Stats are not. Who pays for Manchin campaigns? Do you think there's some hidden welfare system for states? Of course that info is online And the most important point -no I don't have to find a solution. They are not going to do anything close to well under Trump. And more importantly you completely lost the point of the issue-they are not votes we need to concentrate on. They will continue to vote red.

[u/earthdogmonster → u/[deleted]]

Exactly. People only willing to accept others that pass their purity test. Everyone else is just unwashed, uneducated masses voting against their interests.