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DemocratSinceBirth

(101,929 posts) Thu Jan 5, 2017, 01:09 PM Jan 2017

It was the racism, stupid: White working-class economic anxiety is a zombie idea that needs to die [View all]

Donald Trump was supported by white voters across all demographic boundaries. Can we stop coddling some of them?

On Jan. 20, Donald Trump will become president of the United States of America. Donald Trump is an authoritarian and demagogue who meets the definition of a fascist, as I have argued on multiple previous occasions. His election, and the 60 million voters who supported him, are a threat to American democracy.

How did this happen?

The first draft of this history is being written now. In the years and decades to come, we will have the benefit of hindsight, as well as more information and context, to make better sense of Donald Trump’s victory on Election Day 2016 and its implications for American democracy and global politics.

But in the immediate present, the dominant narrative for explaining the rise of Donald Trump and his fascist movement has been centered upon the “white working class” and its purported “economic anxiety.” For a variety of reasons, this is a compelling story for the American corporate news media, the pundits and other elite opinion leaders.

http://www.salon.com/2017/01/05/it-was-the-racism-stupid-white-working-class-economic-anxiety-is-a-zombie-idea-that-needs-to-die/

63 replies

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Highlight:

It was the racism, stupid: White working-class economic anxiety is a zombie idea that needs to die [View all] DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 OP

It Has Been About Racism, Was About Racism And Will Be About Racism 100%. TheMastersNemesis Jan 2017 #1

Murdoch and his Buddies have Wellstone ruled Jan 2017 #6

I agree... all anxiety gets blamed on the "other" Fast Walker 52 Jan 2017 #19

Well said. rainlillie Jan 2017 #37

Racism,bigotry and misogyny. libtodeath Jan 2017 #2

A prescription for the ultimate doom ... earthside Jan 2017 #3

ONCE again, irresponsible, selfish and intellectually lazy voting choices don't get a pass with me. HughBeaumont Jan 2017 #7

Nevertheless ... earthside Jan 2017 #9

You can't make them realize. wcast Jan 2017 #10

We won the pop vote by 3,000,000... We lost the EC by freaking 80,000... DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #12

Get a better ground game. HughBeaumont Jan 2017 #13

Don't worry, trump will make them realize they made a mistake. And btw . . . brush Jan 2017 #16

It yet begs the question, how would you yourself welcome and embrace racists...? LanternWaste Jan 2017 #43

apparently getting them medical care DonCoquixote Jan 2017 #57

what are you talking about? We can point out racism in a positive way as Obama did on occasion. Fast Walker 52 Jan 2017 #20

What do you say to this: Adrahil Jan 2017 #61

Let's insult it until it goes away. Throd 2.0 Jan 2017 #4

To be fair.. JHan Jan 2017 #8

The coddlers here on DU need to acknowledge the elephant in the room. brush Jan 2017 #5

+1000 wcast Jan 2017 #11

+ 1,000. HughBeaumont Jan 2017 #14

You would think we had our asses handed to us. DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #15

In a way, that makes it even worse. HughBeaumont Jan 2017 #17

Do Not Forget About Voter Suppression erpowers Jan 2017 #63

+1, Obama wasn't running against an overt racist in 2008 and 2012. uponit7771 Jan 2017 #26

Correct. raging moderate Jan 2017 #51

Over 50% of voters with incomes below $50K voted for Clinton. raging moderate Jan 2017 #52

It's the insecure affluent white guys we have to worry about. hunter Jan 2017 #18

So the same people who enthusiastically voted for Obama became racists in the last 8 years? Ron Obvious Jan 2017 #21

Ninety three percent of DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #24

You realise the population has grown since 2008? Ron Obvious Jan 2017 #25

None of those new voters voted for Obama. So what's your point? n/t pnwmom Jan 2017 #27

Think about it. Ron Obvious Jan 2017 #29

Think about it. Voter suppression was targeted at minority voters. pnwmom Jan 2017 #31

There was very little enthusiasm for Clinton Ron Obvious Jan 2017 #39

Garbage. I live in liberal Seattle and I noticed plenty of enthusiasm for Clinton, pnwmom Jan 2017 #48

"... but I'd say racism is a complete non-starter for assigning blame..." DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #32

Then what explains the difference between 2008 and 2016? n/t Ron Obvious Jan 2017 #36

Did President Obama win by universal acclamation? DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #42

So the racists were nevertheless MORE likely to vote for a black man? Ron Obvious Jan 2017 #46

President Obama didn't win by universal acclamation. DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #47

Actually the analysis disputes the idea that "Obama voters" voted for trump etherealtruth Jan 2017 #56

Ahhh . . . vote suppression. Ever heard of it. The repugs spent big money to stop AA votes. brush Jan 2017 #60

Uhh yes ... that simply furthers my point that Obama voters did NOT vote for tRump ... ? etherealtruth Jan 2017 #62

Missing the point brush Jan 2017 #30

Campaigning was done with an eye on the EC and the current rules Ron Obvious Jan 2017 #34

I don't have to prove it. 17 intel agencies and the FBI have all reported that the ruskies hacked brush Jan 2017 #38

Sorry, that really smacks of desperation Ron Obvious Jan 2017 #44

Okay, take trump's position. Nobody cares. brush Jan 2017 #59

That is the consensus of seventeen intelligence agencies. DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #45

I thought you said it was racism? n/t Ron Obvious Jan 2017 #54

You brought up the Trump/Palin/Assange/Hannity suggestion that the Russian hacking was apocryphal. DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #55

So racism is why America elected a black person NobodyHere Jan 2017 #22

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh, Wrong, but thanks for playing! HenryWallace Jan 2017 #23

K&R! stonecutter357 Jan 2017 #28

Agree .. to a point. ananda Jan 2017 #33

I never believed that horseshit anyway. Aristus Jan 2017 #35

But Racism itself isn't just about Racism. There is a very good psychological reason why JCanete Jan 2017 #40

Racism and sexism mcar Jan 2017 #41

You're only saying that because they hate people who aren't white. Orrex Jan 2017 #49

Me ? The author is saying racism was a motivating factor in Drumpf's election. DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2017 #50

Ok, all you racist white assholes who need a more "loving" message to not vote Republican. world wide wally Jan 2017 #53

B/S Lithos Jan 2017 #58