# Democratic operative: "we need to learn how to talk to White voters" **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 6, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842 "2014-11-06T02:52:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/41 "2014-11-07T02:17:14Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > There’s a fine line between “we need to do a better job communicating our message to (group X)” and “geez, those people in (group X) didn’t vote for us. I just don’t get it. I mean, we’re just so clearly BETTER…” You have a strange idea of what “fine line” is. Also, the difference isn’t between those two views. The second view is “they are a bunch of racists yahoos without a charitable bone in their bodies.” I mean… did you actually read the OP? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/42 "2014-11-07T02:35:15Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You have a strange idea of what “fine line” is. Also, the difference isn’t between those two views. The second view is “they are a bunch of racists yahoos without a charitable bone in their bodies.” I mean… did you actually read the OP? Ahh, it’s a bit confusing, because there’s the actual opinion in the OP, and then there’s the opinion of whoever the democratic operative on Fox News referred to by the OP is. I thought that the latter, being an opinion expressed on national news by someone of actual prominence, was more important, and I admit I pretty much skimmed over the rest of the OP. I agree that “Don’t ask them to think of anybody but themselves, their families, and people just like them. Anybody outside the tribe.” and its like is pretty inflammatory and arguably racist. That’s nothing I have any interest in defending. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/43 "2014-11-07T03:11:13Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > These are the threads I love. Liberals lash out in baffled, pointless fury. > > Republicans did not, of course, insult the intelligence of the voters. **Beware of Doug** does just that with his OP. That’s not my understanding of the OP. He’s saying what he thinks the Republican strategy is–which clearly seemed to work. Call it sour grapes if you want, but I don’t think it’s an insult to white people, but to conservatives. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/44 "2014-11-07T04:26:11Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > There’s a fine line between “we need to do a better job communicating our message to (group X)” and “geez, those people in (group X) didn’t vote for us. I just don’t get it. I mean, we’re just so clearly BETTER…” > Nothing in the Democrats losing reactions have struck me as any different than any other party’s reactions after losing any election in the past several decades. Actually, I think the Democratic reaction has been more mature and realistic than usual. Not sure about the President though, nothing in his demeanor or statements since Tuesday has made me think that he understands what happened. it may be true that he doesn’t have anyone in his inner circle telling him things he doesn’t want to hear. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/45 "2014-11-07T04:32:40Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Barack Obama, in 2008 and 2012. Kerry in 2004 and Gore in 2000 were also around 90% for the black vote. > > Am I missing something? I thought this was pretty common knowledge. Thanks for the info. Should I assume that you assumed **astorian** was only referring to Presidential elections when he said, “in any election”? I assume he meant “any” election when he said “any election”. You yourself asked, “Are you disagreeing that in most recent elections the Democratic candidate gets around 90% of the black vote?” Did you also mean Presidential elections? **astorian** claim was - Roughly 90% of the black vote goes to the Democrat, ANY Democrat, in any election. Up thread I offered up a list of current Democrat governors, U.S. Senators, and U.S. Congressmen. Did all of those Democrats also receive roughly 90% of the black vote? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/46 "2014-11-07T04:46:53Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > …Anyone see a trend here? > > Now remind me which ethnic group supposedly votes as a monolithic “tribe”? (post shortened) Wouldn’t that be the group which routinely votes roughly 90% of the time for the same party instead of the group that continually splits their vote among the major parties? And while I have your attention, when you said, “Roughly 90% of the black vote goes to the Democrat, ANY Democrat, in any election”, did you mean to say, “in any Presidential election” or “in any election”? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/47 "2014-11-07T05:26:35Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Actually, I think the Democratic reaction has been more mature and realistic than usual. Not sure about the President though, nothing in his demeanor or statements since Tuesday has made me think that he understands what happened. it may be true that he doesn’t have anyone in his inner circle telling him things he doesn’t want to hear. Are you deluded? Do you honestly think that Barack Obama does not understand basic civics? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/48 "2014-11-07T05:59:33Z")
He blamed the losses on the map. Never knew blue and purple states were so challenging for Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/49 "2014-11-07T06:28:52Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Time is on our side](http://www.salon.com/2014/11/05/enjoy_it_while_it_lasts_gop_base_is_still_white_and_aging/), at any rate. Is this kinda like how Wendy Davis was supposed to turn Texas blue? That’s a lot of cherry picked stats. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/50 "2014-11-07T07:36:28Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > He blamed the losses on the map. Never knew blue and purple states were so challenging for Democrats. I literally have no idea what point you’re trying to make with either this post or your previous post… ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/51 "2014-11-07T09:43:32Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Every knows that, between 1968 and 1972, the Republicans (led by Richard Nixon and Kevin Phillips) followed the so-called “Southern Strategy” to strip away the working class white voters from the Democrats’ long-standing New Deal Coalition, and create a winning coalition for the GOP. > > What’s less well-known is that, at the very same time, the leading liberal strategists of the Democratic party were working to push the white working class out of the coalition anyway, and build a whole new coalition built around racial minorities, feminists and intellectuals. Fred Dutton and George McGovern re-shaped the Democratic Party into what it is today: a party LED by an elite group of highly educated urban whites, built on the votes of women, blacks and Latins. I would love to know more about this: any books, articles, etc., you care to recommend? For those that asked, I believe the D operative on Fox was named Bill Burton. For those that didn’t ask (and nobody did), the bulk of my OP was meant sarcastically. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/52 "2014-11-07T11:23:53Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > For those who don’t believe me, who think “90% of the black vote always goes to the Democrat” is a gross exaggeration or a made-up number I pulled out of a hat or copied from Rush Limbaugh, some “cites.” > > \ > > Anyone see a trend here? > > Now remind me which ethnic group supposedly votes as a monolithic “tribe”? That’s not black people voting as a “tribe”; that’s direct result of the Republicans’ systematic and _effective_ efforts to brand themselves as the party of white racism since the 60s. A black person voting for the Republicans is voting for their enemy, and that’s foolish enough that only a small minority of blacks are stupid enough to do so. It’s no more “tribal” of blacks to oppose the Republicans than it is for them to oppose the KKK, and for the same reasons. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/53 "2014-11-07T12:09:09Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > Wouldn’t that be the group which routinely votes roughly 90% of the time for the same party instead of the group that continually splits their vote among the major parties? > > And while I have your attention, when you said, “Roughly 90% of the black vote goes to the Democrat, ANY Democrat, in any election”, did you mean to say, “in any Presidential election” or “in any election”? It would be awfully nice of you to admit I was right before challenging me again. But let that slide. Yes, I was referring to Presidential elections, because those are the only elections I’ve seen hard data for. But I strongly suspect the results would be similar in most other elections for other positions around the country. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/54 "2014-11-07T18:07:32Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > It would be awfully nice of you to admit I was right before challenging me again. > But let that slide. Yes, I was referring to Presidential elections, because those are the only elections I’ve seen hard data for. But I strongly suspect the results would be similar in most other elections for other positions around the country. Hahahaha. I wanted a clarification of your poorly stated position. Is that what you consider to be a challenge? Maybe you would prefer it if I reframed my question to something you might be more comfortable with? for example - _Dear **astorian** ; What the fuck are you talking about? Presidential elections or ANY elections. Try to type more distinctly in the future. If that is at all possible. It would save a lot of time and interaction between us. Thanks for being you. I know you’ll do better next time. (I hope)_. You see, that type of post would be tacky at best and would only lead to animosity between posters. I prefer not to stoop to that level. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/55 "2014-11-07T18:15:26Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > You see, that type of post would be tacky at best and would only lead to animosity between posters. I prefer not to stoop to that level. Yes, it’s clear that your confusing response where you brought up _black_ candidates instead of _democratic_ candidates and thus revealed a lack of basic reading comprehension was obviously meant to display your exceptional class. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/56 "2014-11-07T18:49:55Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That’s not black people voting as a “tribe”; that’s direct result of the Republicans’ systematic and _effective_ efforts to brand themselves as the party of white racism since the 60s. A black person voting for the Republicans is voting for their enemy, and that’s foolish enough that only a small minority of blacks are stupid enough to do so. > > It’s no more “tribal” of blacks to oppose the Republicans than it is for them to oppose the KKK, and for the same reasons. You never fail to disappoint me. Thanks for never changing. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/57 "2014-11-07T19:26:08Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That’s not black people voting as a “tribe”; that’s direct result of the Republicans’ systematic and _effective_ efforts to brand themselves as the party of white racism since the 60s. A black person voting for the Republicans is voting for their enemy, and that’s foolish enough that only a small minority of blacks are stupid enough to do so. > > It’s no more “tribal” of blacks to oppose the Republicans than it is for them to oppose the KKK, and for the same reasons. Demonising your political opponents is the oldest trick in the book. It helps shore up your own side. Such a tactic has been well used from diverse people and institutions such as the Catholic Church during the Counter Reformation; Protestant Churches during the Reformation; multitudes of Kings and Princes throughout history; Cromwellian Puritans, anti Cromwell Monarchists, communist regimes, fascist regimes, totalitarian regimes, democratic regimes, the Democrat Party, the Republican Party, the Bull Moose Party, the Tea Party, the Occupy Movement, Liberals, Conservatives, Libertarians, Social Justice Warriors, Reactionaries, pro abortion activists, anti abortion activists, pro Slavery activists, anti slavery activists, pluralists, atheists and every other movement you can think of. Well done, you follow in a long & glorious and line of shysters who demonise their political opponents. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/58 "2014-11-07T20:03:56Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > A black person voting for the Republicans is voting for their enemy, and that’s foolish enough that only a small minority of blacks are stupid enough to do so. Oversimplification + poisoning the well + generalization + misleading? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/59 "2014-11-07T20:20:51Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > Gosh, I wonder what skin color the Democratic operative (and **Beware of Doug** ) believe Pelosi, Biden, Reid, Durbin, Cuomo, Leahy, Schumer, Beebe, Brown, Malloy, Dayton, Nixon, Bullock, Kitzhaber, McAuliffe, Pryor, Udall, Blumenthal, Coons, Nelson, etc., etc., etc. have and how many white people, as well as many other races, voted for them? Are you suggesting that white Democrat voters do not exist? :smack: > [@doorhinge](#): > > 90% of the black vote? Really? > > Are you suggesting that white people split their vote among black, yellow, brown, and red female and male candidates? You must find that very irritating? :smack: > [@doorhinge](#): > > Is **astorian** statement correct? Is he talking about all black candidates, some black candidates, a few black candidates, one black candidate? > > Are you confirming his statement? > [@doorhinge](#): > > Are you confirming **astorian** ’s statement that roughly 90% of the black vote goes to the Democrat, ANY Democrat, in any election? > [@doorhinge](#): > > Since **Beware of Doug** didn’t provide a name - > > \*Bill Burton, a Democratic operative close to President Obama who served as deputy press secretary during the president’s first term, said the takeaway from the midterms is that Democrats don’t know how to “talk to white voters.” > > “Democrats are never going to win in midterms if we don’t figure out how to talk to white voters,” Burton told Megyn Kelly of Fox News. “I don’t think that the message that we have has been able to really translate to the coalition of voters that helped bring Republicans into even more power\*.” > > [Obama Advisor: Dems Need to Figure Out how to Talk to Whites - White House Dossier](http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2014/11/06/obama-advisor-dems-figure-talk-whites/) > > There’s even a video of Burton making this statement. > [@doorhinge](#): > > Then you should have no problems proving that **astorian** statement is correct. 90% of the black vote to ANY Democrat candidate. > [@doorhinge](#): > > Thanks for the info. Should I assume that you assumed **astorian** was only referring to Presidential elections when he said, “in any election”? I assume he meant “any” election when he said “any election”. You yourself asked, “Are you disagreeing that in most recent elections the Democratic candidate gets around 90% of the black vote?” Did you also mean Presidential elections? > > **astorian** claim was - Roughly 90% of the black vote goes to the Democrat, ANY Democrat, in any election. > > Up thread I offered up a list of current Democrat governors, U.S. Senators, and U.S. Congressmen. Did all of those Democrats also receive roughly 90% of the black vote? > [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > Wouldn’t that be the group which routinely votes roughly 90% of the time for the same party instead of the group that continually splits their vote among the major parties? > > And while I have your attention, when you said, “Roughly 90% of the black vote goes to the Democrat, ANY Democrat, in any election”, did you mean to say, “in any Presidential election” or “in any election”? > [@doorhinge](#): > > Hahahaha. I wanted a clarification of your poorly stated position. Is that what you consider to be a challenge? Maybe you would prefer it if I reframed my question to something you might be more comfortable with? > > for example - > _Dear **astorian** ; > What the fuck are you talking about? Presidential elections or ANY elections. Try to type more distinctly in the future. If that is at all possible. It would save a lot of time and interaction between us. Thanks for being you. I know you’ll do better next time. (I hope)_. > > You see, that type of post would be tacky at best and would only lead to animosity between posters. I prefer not to stoop to that level. > [@steronz](#): > > Yes, it’s clear that your confusing response where you brought up _black_ candidates instead of _democratic_ candidates and thus revealed a lack of basic reading comprehension was obviously meant to display your exceptional class. Well done. I brought up black candidates? Which post was that? 😕 Oh, and thanks for the opportunity to clear this up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842/60 "2014-11-07T20:24:03Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I brought up black candidates? Which post was that? 😕 This one: > [@doorhinge](#): > > Is **astorian** statement correct? Is he talking about all black candidates, some black candidates, a few black candidates, one black candidate? > > Are you confirming his statement? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democratic-operative-we-need-to-learn-how-to-talk-to-white-voters/703842.md?page=4)