Heartland Democrats to Washington: You’re Killing Us

Forgot to link the article.

Watered-down Christian Socialism. Pass.

He's a DINO, not a Democrat.

Same old shit we've heard hundreds of times before. There's never any data backing up the shit and no reason to believe that this is any different from the other times the news media have run these "Democrats in Turmoil" stories. Hell, they could even just dust off the ones they ran a decade ago and run them unchanged.

Dixiecrat -George Wallace style.

If these rural voters REALLY (independent of Jesus and racism) feel that Trump and co have their best interests at heart then they should vote for Trump.

If that's their attitude, then we don't even need Democrats.

Unfortunately most Americans are like him. The Democrats are going to have to get down with that to survive. This is one dumb fucked up redneck country and nothing will change that.

Democrats will struggle to win state and congressional elections until they are more Culturally attractive to huge numbers of voters like this.

The problem is the cultural divide has deepened, and The Democratic base has become more urban, affluent, nonreligious, and multicultural, which is at odds with the South, inner West, Plains, and much of the Midwest. Culture matter

[quote]he’s an anti-abortion, pro-gun, self-described “Bible-poundin’, aisle-runnin’” Pentecostal.

And if he voted without regard to that, it wouldn't be a problem. As a Democrat, I accept that not every Democrat is going to see eye-to-eye on every issue, but demand that if I show them that respect then they show me the same respect. To whit, when was the last time abortion was on the ballot? To me, it's a settled issue for several reasons: 1) the SCOTUS declared abortion a right in 1973; 2) as a man, the only abortion I should have any say in is with the woman I hypothetically (because I'm gay, after all) impregnated (and even that is arguably off limits, a discussion for another thread), and all other women's health issues are not only out of my wheelhouse but none of my business; 3) this is an issue between a woman, her doctor, and her god.

But no, this guy will vote to end all abortion because he's more concerned with being a "Bible-poundin’, aisle-runnin’ Pentecostal" than he is with "public education, affordable health care and a living wage, and the moral necessity of addressing the opioids scourge."

And then there's gun control. As a Democrat, I'm ready to give in completely on this issue. After Sandy Hook and the outright murder of babies at their school desks, we could do nothing in the face of the gun manufacturer's lobby — the NRA — and their death-grip on Congress. They have won. But, to what end?

At this point, any state-level gun control is a waste of time because for every state like California and Illinois, we have a Nevada and Indiana which does the exact opposite, right next door, and they make it so easy to acquire a gun that it is pointless to spend our resources trying to limit gun availability when any crook, psycho, thug or miscreant can drive fewer than 4 hours and buy anything they want.

Further, they get everything they want when it comes to expanding gun rights. I don't know when it ends, but I fear that the logical conclusion is that every citizen will be required to own a gun, and can foresee the day when, at 65 years old, you have to show up at the Social Security office with your gun and permit in order to collect.

We've lost our minds when it comes to guns, and it is thanks to voters like this. They simply will not accept reason or common sense — and forget facts and statistics showing that the likelihood of death by gun goes up by something like 400% when there is a legally-obtained, lawfully-permitted gun in the home.

I get that these people feel like they've been ignored or disregarded, but I think they need to take a hard look at themselves and ask why the country has moved past their concerns. Nobody is going to force them to get an abortion. Nobody is going to take their guns away. Nobody is going to deny them the right to believe in whatever fairy tale they want. Why do they have to force their viewpoint on everyone else?

Well said, r11. I agree completely.

Fuck these DINOs and their idiotic demands. There are more of us than there are them. He and his I'll are rethugs calling themselves Democrats.

I'm sick of hearing about these pathetic redneck handfuls of people demanding that the MAJORITY of people cowtow to them and their stupid demands. They are a MINORITY.

All human beings start off as sperm.

[quote] He wanted to talk about the importance of public education, affordable health care and a living wage, and the moral necessity of addressing the opioids scourge.

And no genuflecting to LGGBDTTTIQQAAPP? The Coastal Party is outraged!

I really don’t care about pro-gun, anti-choice white people. At all. He can join the Republicans (who he no doubt votes for anyway). I’ll be over here organizing with my fellow progressives and gearing up for the blue wave this November.

But that's just it, R14; when it comes to equal rights, Democrats should take a stand. Again, there is no one — and I mean NO ONE — who is demanding that people opposed to abortion be required to get one. There is no one trying to take away his guns. And finally, there is no one telling him he can't worship how he wants.

The only problems come into play when *he* wants to tell a woman she can't get an abortion, or *he* wants to buy a shoulder-mounted RPG, or *he* want to deny me service based on where I stick my penis.

*He* is not special, and does not deserve the special rights he's demanding.

Don't you feel 16 that part of the problem is that campaigns don't talk about these things in the language you just did. There aren't politicians out there who really work at communicating. Now I know most of these people aren't into a discussion but that doesn't mean you don't try to talk to them anyway.

Got to try and start a dialogue at some point even if they don't wan to hear it.

[quote]*He* is not special, and does not deserve the special rights he's demanding.

But he sees himself as the most American and the most Christian so he believes that he, in fact, *does* deserve to tell others how to live their lives, and legislate his beliefs if need be.

You can't reason with him when his entire premise is unreasonable and based on delusion.

He thinks he's special because he's White, male and Christian. And Trump, and everyone he's appointed, is just reinforcing that this man should get everything he's demanding. He's not being unreasonable or delusional if he's got people supporting his vision.

What Democrats want to take away guns? What Democrats want to force abortions on people who don’t want them?

Democrats are more concerned with "sexual predators" like Azis Ansari and Al Franken than bread and butter issues.

Democrats have let the SJW's take over, and we all know the entire SJW's platform is to crucify the likes of Ansari and Franken. Never mind the big sexual predator in the White House, Trump & the Republicans will tell them to go fuck themselves and the SJW's will scurry for cover. And for SJW's, the opioid epidemic, jobs, education and health care take a back seat when thousands and thousands of women are having their titties groped, their asses pinched and assorted other "atrocities."

Our only mission for the next seven years is to avenge Hillary's defeat. Do not sidetrack us from our mission.

[quote]Democrats are more concerned with "sexual predators" like Azis Ansari and Al Franken than bread and butter issues.

So are you, from the looks of your post. The second biggest issue according to you is something called “SJWs,” which is a thing I only hear about from conservative trolls.

What exactly are “bread and butter” issues to you? Hillary’s emails? Obama’s birth certificate?

R8, step away from the keyboard and spend a few Rubles today.

"What exactly are “bread and butter” issues to you?"

It sure as hell ain't whiny ass bitches and hos putting out for fame and fortune, then becoming bitter cunts when said fame and fortune isn't forthcoming.

And here we go with #10000 in "why oh why can't Democrats be Republicans?" articles.

Fucking hell.

When democrats can get more than just black women showing up to vote for them then they'll have a chance, until then...

It's been happening just fine since Trump was elected, R27, and 2018 doesn't look like it will be any different.

R25, how much are they paying you to link that to “the Democrats?”

Wow you guys are fucked aren’t you. Problem ? What Problem ,we will win. Of course you will,because feelings will always triumph over facts.

See to me the issue of the article was not about the gun loving Democrat, it was

“In 2009, the report notes, Democrats held 57 percent of the heartland’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Now: 39 percent. In 2008, Barack Obama won seven of the eight heartland states. In 2012, he won six. In 2016? Trump won six. There are 737 counties in the Midwest—Trump won all but 63 of them.“

See to me that says shit we need to look at new ways to reach out to these people, because clearly there is a problem . But to you the problem is irrelevant or lies or propaganda or who gives a fuck.

It is like there is introspection. It is just full steam ahead. You refuse to take responsibility. You are always the victim. You are on the Titanic and it is a clear night and you are near New York and these ice warnings are absurd . Full steam ahead.

No, the problem is that these people are NOT Democrats and never have been.

They're rethugs by another name. Why reach out to them? They're not Democrats, ffs.

Democrats or not they're voters.

R31, but the facts cited by r30 clearly reveal many of them previously voted Democrat but now do not.

So? If they are as guns, babies, jeebus as they claim to he, they're lying.

I'd be willing to bet that the majority of these people have bought into the whole fux noise world view. That is what has changed.

The Democratic platform hasn't changed much sine the 90's. If these idiots think anyone is going to believe that they suddenly woke up and realized that Democrats support women's rights, women's choice, LGBT rights,and gun control, they're stupid.

They're either lying about being Democrats to begin with or they're lying that they knew what the Democrats platform is.

Op and concern trolls in this thread=transparent shit stirring by deplorables intended to divide Democrats and desperately prop up the levee that will burst open under the tsunami headed their way in November.

Keep watching those retirements as the rats leap from the ship, Republicans. So much winning!

Much of it is, I think, bitterness. We've fought the culture wars and the conservatives lost. They can't accept this fact, We have abortion, We have marriage equality. We have civil rights. They are the ones who cannot get past the fact that they cannot control what everyone says, does, thinks and feels. It upsets them, and they're using what little power they have left to make their feelings known. And in the process, they're killing themselves and their children off. There won't be enough or a rural vote in 25 years to matter because their way of life is ending. They just have to make sure we all suffer along with them because misery loves company.

Hence, Trump. His campaign and his presidency is nothing but a big Fuck You to the coastal majorities. Well, they've let us off the hook when it comes to caring about them and their way of life. Go ahead, build the Keystone XL, and when it bursts and there is no water left to raise all that corn and wheat, don't call us. We'll be busy cleaning up the inevitable oil spills off our shores thanks to their hurt feefees vote.

The culture wars have accelerated and intensified since the 90s. Clinton was able to keep just enough southerners, Christians, and Blue collar whites to vote for him to win, but the trend among these groups was clearly away from the Democrats even back then. In the 90s, scores of Democratic officials switched parties to Republican as the culture wars intensified. By 2000, previous Democratic states like Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia had switched to Republican as voters there identified Republicans as closest to their cultural values

R11 & R12

You are the reason Democrats will be slaughtered in November.

Democrats should resoundingly vote against fake Democrats and Republicans should slaughter the RINOs who are Democrats or Libertarians in disguise. When you vote for someone of a particular party, you should be able to trust that they believe in all the core principles and policies. If there are people who don’t fit into the two major parties, they should form their own.

R39

Both parties are mortally wounded.

A new Communist party versus a new Libertarian party is ideal.

Commies would be crushed.

He’s a freak. Toss him to the curb. I know genuine liberals in the heartland, they’d be disgusted but this example. ,

He’s right. Statues and pronouns. Call out culture and scolding because you’re not as woke as me. The party seems to care more about posturing than it does about voters day to day lives.

And just pointing out what an asshole Trump is doesn’t make up for that.

[quote]Democrats will struggle to win state and congressional elections until they are more Culturally attractive to huge numbers of voters like this.

Nope. These types of voters(older whites) are dying off and being replaced with younger and darker voters who have completely different cultural values. They know it, too, and that's why they've been so loud lately because of Trump. They're scared because they can see the writing on the wall. You can't turn back the tide.

That’s what we’ve been saying for decades now. When’s it going to happen? Trump’s support among white middle American youth is horrifyingly strong.

these days, I'd settle for one pledge from "Democrats": I renounce White Supremacy and the President of White America Donald Trump. And I say that as a white guy. Let's get this on the table, racist party or non-racist party.

dems need to stick to attacking on the big stuff. This shithole thing was insane. I bet Trump picked up a few points. Dems keep blowing up bullshit stories that are of no consequence like it was 2015 and you could get a scalp (an apology/resignation maybe/permanently sideline a politician). Today it's just not working like that. Certainly not with Trump. And Haiti is a shithole.

Since the Democrats indicated they will vote against the spending bill without DACA, the Republicans plan to insert more Obamacare tax repeals and CHIP extension and dare the red state Democratic senators running for re-election to vote against it. The Democrats will be vote to shut down the government and deny Americans government services in order to protect illegals. It will not end well for them.

[quote]He wanted to talk about the importance of public education, affordable health care and a living wage....

If he isn‘t for free college tuition, then he doesn’t believe “public education” is all that important.

If he isn’t for Single Payer–Medicare for All, then he isn’t for “affordable health care.”

If he isn’t for $15 or more, per hour, for minimum wage, then he isn’t for “a living wage.”

R9 writes,

[quote]Democrats will struggle to win state and congressional elections until they are more Culturally attractive to huge numbers of voters like this.

It depends on the type of election which is coming up.

In the midterm elections of 2018, the Democrats are poised to win majority control pickups of both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate—along with a majority count of state governorships—because of the low-approval of the Republican incumbent U.S. president. So, even though so many Good, Loyal Democrats “hate” Donald Trump—he will be the reason for those majority-control pickups.

That would, of course, discredit your statement, “Democrats will struggle to win state and congressional elections until they are more Culturally attractive to huge numbers of voters like this.”

Young white southern and rural voters support Trump. It’s a myth young white rural and southern voters are much different than their ancestors

41 percent of white millennials voted for Donald Trump in 2016. It’s a fantasy that they are progressive

THE percentage of high school seniors who identified as conservative rose from 23% in 2000 to 29% in 2015, creating a group more conservative than the Reagan-era GenX teens of the 1980s.

iGen’s other social and political beliefs also defy expectations. Compared to previous generations when they were young in these national surveys, they are less likely to support gun control, national health care and government environmental regulation — usually considered conservative beliefs.

[quote]You are the reason Democrats will be slaughtered in November.

I look forward to bumping this thread when Democrates sweep the mid terms in 9 1/2months.

That will be great r54. Will I bump all the threads that said the Election was in the bag and that Trump was not only going to lose the Election , but be so obliterated that he would be the biggest loser in the history of American politics?

Perhaps you would like me to bump the threads when English people tried to warn you what happened with Brexit could happen to you and people laughed it off saying it wasn’t translatable to the US.

Perhaps I could push forward the threads that said that Trump would be out in a month, 2,months, wouldn’t last 6, would be the shortest President in history.

There have been a lot of claims. So far most have been wrong. It would be nice to actually get something right for a change.

Be sure to factor in Russian interference, R55.

[quote]A new Communist party versus a new Libertarian party is ideal... Commies would be crushed.

Said the idiot libertarian troll.

Actually, it's aggressive gerrymandering and overrepresentation of rural districts that's killing us.

Look what happened last night in 4 heavily Trump districts. Not looking good for Republicans at all.

Yeah, not looking good for Republicans, despite what some Republican trolls are trying to sell here.

R38, I'm curious why you think that my belief and observations regarding this voter and his ilk will cause the Democrats to be slaughtered. Let me step back and say a couple of additional things, probably adding fuel to the fire: I'm a life-long democrat. I believe in the principles of the Democratic party: healthcare, education, a safety net, workers' rights, religious freedom (including the freedom from religion)... the entire basket outlined in the party platform.

I know that prognosticators, like you, like to stand back and point to all of the electoral defeats the Democrats have suffered in the Obama era, claim it's a trend, and tell us how it's the end of the party. Every time I hear or read this type of prediction, I cringe because you're overlooking one key factor, and while I hate to try to bring everything that's happened over the last 10 years down to one word, I cannot help but feel that racism has played a significant role in everything that has happened since Obama stood on those steps and announced his candidacy.

I'll probably be excoriated here for saying this, but here goes: even Democrats are racist. It's not fashionable to be outwardly racist in the Democratic party the way it is in Republican circles, but we have our bigots and must deal with them. After all, as I'm sure you're one of those folks quick to point out, the Democratic party was the party of racism until Civil Rights split the party and the hardcore bigots became Republican. But nevertheless, racism persists, and it must be stamped out.

Part and parcel of racism is simple hatred, and seeing that someone *you* deem inferior getting any kind of advantage — as though equality is a zero-sum game. This is why when guys like this "heartland Democrat" say that using gender-neutral pronouns is a threshold they cannot cross, I shake my head. Who cares if someone wants to go by "xi" or "they" when it has no significance on your life? The Republicans love to use these wedge issues, but it is Democrats like this guy who are the pawns in that wedge and that, when push comes to shove, resort to tribalism and siding with the party that doesn't give two shits about them and their problems once they've cast their vote.

I submit that this "heartland Democrat" is a holdover bigot who cannot bear the thought that someone, somewhere, might be getting something that he isn't, even if he doesn't want it. He may not be, and in fact probably isn't outwardly anti-black or anti-latino, but he is clearly against minorities gaining any political power and asserting themselves as his equal.

It's hard to fight a party that welcomes bigotry, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and everything else that holds us back from living up to our American ideals. The Democrats learned this 50 years ago and reformed. The Republicans embrace this and pay lip service to equality, opportunity and American values. while hiding their real agenda: making the rich richer.

R42, so sorry, if you’re a gun loving evangelical who happily votes against your own best interests then I really can’t care about your day to day existence

The unwillingness of the Party to confront this is not good.

14 months ago everyone KNEW Hillary would be president, so this strategy of studious ignorance has failed once already.

You know of course the Russians have comprised the Heartland don't you?