As the election year unfolds, we’ve seen evidence that the Democrats are more united than ever before. It's a refreshing change from the usual bickering factions that often define the party. However, I fear that our philosophical leaders, including many of the excellent writers whose words grace the pages of publications like Salon.com, The Nation, The New Republic, and numerous blogs, are in great danger of squandering this unity in the same way that our current president squandered the nation- and worldwide unity we experienced after September 11.
As a resident of a red state, I know what it's like to be referred to as "Middle America," "the Midwest," or "the Flyover States." We are often portrayed as nameless, faceless masses who love McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, and Jesus, not necessarily in that order. We are depicted as Fox's minions who do Bill O’Reilly’s bidding.
It's frustrating to read articles that perpetuate this stereotype. For instance, in critiquing the president’s performance in a recent debate, Salon's Scott Rosenberg wrote, "His lines are writ in stone, and we've heard them already. Here they were again: "He changed positions." (As if that in itself were a crime.) "I know how these people think." (The line reeked of dismissive condescension in the first debate, yet here it was again: does it play to the know-nothing xenophobic heartland?)” While I agree with Rosenberg that Bush’s line was condescending, I question whether his analysis, however, is any less so.*
This attitude is all too indicative of that which permeates even the best lefty publications and organizations. There is a pervasive disdain for us non-coastal “folks,” and while the Left’s willful ignorance of our diversity is nowhere near as insulting as the right’s pandering while creating policies that show nothing but contempt for the people whose very votes (and ignorance) they depend on, that willful ignorance plays directly into the charges of elitism the right is so fond of making.
It is disheartening to read articles that refer to the entire middle of the country as if it doesn't matter. We are often portrayed as a barren cultural wasteland whose only value is a bunch of electoral votes, many of which aren't even worth fighting over. Neither presidential candidate is even running ads here, because we’re supposedly so red that either one might as well flush that ad money down the toilet. Well, yes, we’re a red state; a majority of us (inexplicably) voted for Bush last time. But we also have a governor and a senator and many other elected officials throughout the state who are Democrats. That isn't solidly red; that’s purplish.
As equally maddening is reading folksy articles about the swing states, where the interviewees seem hand-picked to suit the author’s (and readership’s) idea of the eccentric blues tucked in amongst the sea of reds.
The purveyors of ideas on the Left must rid themselves of prejudices that suggest we are Ground Zero of the Culture Wars. Yes, there are bigots and zealots and plain old run-of-the-mill idiots here—and there are in the big blue city in which I lived for ten years, too. But there are also plenty of people around here who don’t even understand what the fuss about gay marriage (for example) is all about, because it’s totally removed from their daily experience—not because they don’t know any gay men or women, but because they resolved it years ago as No Big Deal (also see: None of My Business). Any of Fox News Channel’s dubious newsmen can parade out an endless stream of fear-m.
The purpose of this article is not to whine or complain, but to bring attention to a pressing issue. There are individuals living between the coasts who crave more information, who are on the fence about their political beliefs, and whose minds are open to change. However, there seems to be no reliable source for them to turn to when elitism is rampant in our most credible sources of information.
It's important to note that many people view Democrats as elitists rather than simply as liberals. This belief could be harmful to the Left's efforts to gain support and make progress. While there's nothing wrong with being liberal, there's a significant problem with being elitist, especially when it's used as a weapon.
We Lefties tend to fall into the trap of intellectual snobbery, which is understandable to a certain extent. It's widely known that there's a correlation between education and liberalism, and we rely on reason and logic rather than on our voters' ignorance to win elections. Naturally, this makes us feel superior to the opposing party, and we tend to use our intelligence to distinguish ourselves from them.
In some situations, this approach may work very well, especially in blue cities where most of the people are already blue. However, in areas where the political climate is more conservative, it's necessary to be more strategic in how we communicate our ideas. We should focus on presenting our viewpoints in a way that's accessible to everyone and avoids coming across as condescending or superior
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