General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Democrats' hunt for the white working-class male voter [View all]whatthehey
(3,660 posts)Remember we are talking about the white working class male, not ivory-towered politically enlightened sophisticates. 67% of the population drinks, higher for white males. Why would you think a bar is not representative? I spend a lot of time in them myself and I think my caliber is hardly sub-par. Why would above-average men avoid bars in your opinion? There are others like me there on the political spectrum, but precious few and fewer still who will speak up. I've found the same political concentration in most milieus dominated by white working class males such as softball games, pool and bowling leagues, work sites, car clubs etc. I don't think it's bars that are the problem, other than perhaps in the likelihood of unfettered open expression lubricated by alcohol and male-dominated company. Might there be exceptions? Sure - union meetings perhaps, gay bars/gyms certainly, or Democratic/allied groups for sure. But general access non politically-motivated white working class make gatherings? RW dominated by a mile.
The voting habits of white working class males are certainly not imaginary or in dispute in their RW tilt, and definitely of concern for Dem electoral success. It's just to me a concern that can only be overcome by bastardizing the whole point of being Democratic in the first place. To me, our best strategy with this demographic is to seek to peel off and motivate the "enlightened" minority. I'm not sure vague "expectations" or media nonsense like making Homer and Peter more stupid than Marge and Lois is driving men to vote RW. Why would it or could it?