Right- running straight, Christian white men gives the Republicans 4 less things to club any potential Democratic candidate with. It levels the playing field, so to speak. I mean, nobody here cares one way or another if a gay black Muslim woman were to be elected, but that’s not the way a lot of the country thinks, and the Democratic party would be smart to recognize that, even if it’s anathema to their views.
The problem is that so many of the Democratic candidates have risen up through the ranks by virtue of coming from one ethnic community or the other, and their campaign rhetoric and actions while in office reflect that. The perception is that they’re going to look out for their own, not for everyone. Unfortunately people are still surprisingly tribal when it comes to elected officials, and more so when it comes to those of different ethnic groups.
In a larger sense though, the Democratic party needs to figure out a strategy to counter the fear-based strategy that the Republicans have been pushing. All too often, they play right into the Republicans’ hands with that, albeit with the best intentions.