Fetterman on whether Democrats can win back white men: 'Truthfully, I'm not sure'

[tishaLA]

33. One of his former staffers was on Sarah Longwell's Focus Group pod on YouTube

He's written a book in which he argues that Democrats spend too much time worrying about "special interests" in the party (he may not have used those exact words) and too little time trying to win elections. He says there's too much emphasis on progressive orthodoxy and checking boxes that repubs use to make Democratic candidates appear extreme and beholden to things that don't matter/actively turn off the voters we need.

It was interesting even though I don't necessarily agree with his thesis. For example, ihe completely skips over the possibility that we can create messages that demonstrate to a broad swath of voters why issue x or y effects them. But he did mention something that was maybe compelling: when Pres Obama first ran, his stated position was that he opposed marriage equality. I don't think any progressive who'd known anything about his career and history believed it, but it was his "Sista Soulja" symbol of how he could be independent of the vocal forces trying to push him into supporting it -- at least until the broader public moved enough that support would be acceptable enough.

Anyhow, this guy says to use strategies that won't pass so-called purity tests as a way of getting elected so they can actually legislate for left of center policies. I'd say Fetterman takes this too far sometimes, as with his unblinking support of Israel's excesses in Gaza, but apparently breaking with the party has improved his poll numbers in Pennsylvania, so maybe I don't know anything.