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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumsslate - "The Silliest Advice in That Asinine New York Times Op-Ed Promoting Democratic Centrism"
(Graphic warning - there's a pic of McCrory)
http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2017/07/06/mark_penn_and_andrew_stein_slam_transgender_rights_in_asinine_new_york_times.html
by Mark Joseph Stern
On Thursday, failed campaign strategist Mark Penn and money-laundering Trump supporter Andrew Stein declared in a New York Times op-ed that the Democratic Party must move to the center and reject the siren calls of the left. Penn and Steins ornery manifesto urges Democrats to imprison more opioid addicts, champion tough anti-crime measures, end sanctuary cities, and crack down on undocumented immigrants. The whole op-ed is really just an endorsement of centrist white nationalism filled with catastrophically asinine proposals that, if adopted, would enrage most Democratic voters. (Why, after all, should the diverse and progressive Democratic base cater to the prejudices of white ethno-nationalists who are already fleeing the party?) Yet the silliest line in the whole affair involves not race but gender: Penn and Stein exhort Democrats to abandon transgender bathroom issues for their own good.
Weve seen this advice before. Shortly after the presidential election, the Times published an op-ed by Mark Lilla calling for the end of identity liberalism. Lilla criticized Clinton for her rhetoric of diversity, as well as her focus on the concerns of African-American, Latino, L.G.B.T. and women voters. To drive home his point, Lilla proclaimed that America is sick and tired of hearing about liberals damn bathrooms. Straight white men whove never had to think twice about using the bathroom in safety are obviously very perturbed that the Democratic Party backs transgender rights.
Whats so strange about this particular complaint, however, is that trans bathroom access is a winning issue for Democratseven in red-leaning states. A February poll by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 53 percent of Americans oppose laws forcing trans individuals to use the bathroom that corresponds to the sex assigned to them at birth. Only 39 percent of respondents approved of such measures. Meanwhile, 65 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of independents oppose regulations limiting trans bathroom access. Summarizing the data, PRRI Chief Executive Robert P. Jones explained: This is a case where it really is Republicans kind of pulling away and being more of an outlier to the rest of the country.
Weve seen this dynamic play out on the state level repeatedly over the last few years. In North Carolina, thenRepublican Gov. Pat McCrory staked his career on support for the states controversial HB2, which restricted trans bathroom use and nullified local LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinances. He lost to a Democrat, Roy Cooper, who ran on opposition to HB2while Trump carried the state by nearly 175,000 votes. McCrorys loss is almost certainly attributable, at least in large part, to his relentless defense of HB2. In North Dakota, Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed a bill that would have prevented trans students from using the school bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. In Georgia, Republican Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed an anti-LGBTQ religious liberty law that also would restricted trans rights. Both governors feared toxic backlashnot only from liberals, but also from independents, moderate Republicans, and the business community.
snip - much more at the link.
Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)OMFG: This type of shit makes crazy!
NRaleighLiberal
(60,014 posts)mopinko
(70,112 posts)disgusting bunch.
lame54
(35,292 posts)And was purely a political move
ProfessorGAC
(65,057 posts)Taking the same position is never getting those people to vote dem. Never. The republicans did what they did KNOWING that most people either disagreed or couldn't care less what bathroom someone uses.
But, they did it to rile up the rubes. Stepping away from that issue went help the dems.
The advice should be about what they should emphasize MORE not what they should de-emphasize.
Like: Fair health care access; progressivizing (if there's such a word) the tax code; raising the cap on SS to improve its financial condition and make sure it's there for the people in the 30's and 40's; raising military salaries for the rank and file, but reducing new expenditures on things intended to fight the old wars; etc.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)almost everything Bush did as president was designed to keep those low information voters angry and/or scared and ready to get out and vote. His speeches on foreign soil would anger everybody here at DU, but were clearly designed to play well with much of his base, which they did.
And, Trump is following suit with his presidency, while also ramping up "tough guy" rhetoric while also blaming everybody else for his problems.
Dorn
(523 posts)floWteiuQ
(82 posts)If the election proved anything, it proved centrism is a loser! Period! End-of-story!
Solly Mack
(90,769 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,300 posts)is why and how the current Democratic strategy gets so many Democrats elected in California and other blue states.
Amaryllis
(9,524 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,300 posts)and I can say that is very true where I live.
Another factor is whatever cheating is going on to favor republicans in other states, they seem to be following a strategy of winning national elections without winning these states.
Amaryllis
(9,524 posts)early times, you've had some SOS who have done some great work even though it meant sticking their necks out.
Mr.Bill
(24,300 posts)that says at least one electronic voting machine has to be available at each precinct. What do you want to bet the people who make these machines lobbied for that law?
Now I live in a small town in a county with a population of only 60,000. Our demographics reflect an older population. These are the type of people who still write checks at the grocery store and don't have cell phones. I have worked about five elections at a precinct where a big in-person turnout at my precinct would be 150 voters. Most vote absentee. I think in five elections I have seen three people use the electronic machine.
And this law forcing us to have these machines at every precinct costs the county not just for purchasing and maintaining the machines, but also hiring and training people to operate them at every precinct. It's ridiculous.
We have had the same Registrar of Voters for over 25 years and her reputation is impeccable.
Amaryllis
(9,524 posts)Efilroft Sul
(3,579 posts)...one of those sumbitches is gonna take my spot in hell.
pansypoo53219
(20,977 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)These are the same geniuses who think Democrats should endlessly court "values voters" and "megachurch moms", derp.
Astraea
(468 posts)that the National Security State would require ever increasing prohibitions and laws, as the true enemy of the state turns out to be "we the people".
That's what I hear when I hear "imprison more opioid addicts" and 'tough anti-crime measures'.
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)Zero have been attacked by trans...but a rough looking transgender man would scare the bejesus out of them, if he were forced into the ladies room!