Opinion: Spare us the lectures from Democratic candidates about how Democratic voters are the problem
South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg. By Paul Waldman Paul Waldman Opinion writer covering politics Email Bio Follow Opinion writer March 29 at 1:48 PM If you thought we were past the tiresome “How can Democrats appeal to Trump-loving Trump voters in Trump Country?” conversation, I’m going to disappoint you. And I’d like to use some recent comments from South Bend, Ind.
There’s a bit more to the discussion, but it goes on in that vein. Buttigieg’s intentions are good, since he wants to promote mutual understanding and common purpose. But he frames the problem as one that stems from condescending liberals who don’t sufficiently appreciate the lives and perspectives of people in the Midwest. In other words, the divide that exists is the fault of liberals alone.
Just to be clear, I'm not saying you can't find liberals who are condescending toward conservatives and the places where they congregate, because you can. And resentment over that condescension is a powerful political force, in no small part because Republicans and conservative media spend so much time telling conservatives that elitist liberals are looking down on them.
Let me suggest something else. When Buttigieg says that he has to educate people in California on the fact that “Trump voters actually exist,” he may be speaking a little bit tongue-in-cheek, but he means that liberals have no conception of who Trump voters are or what might motivate them. But that’s also absurd.
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