I’ve read a lot of opinions on who Democrats should be trying to appeal to since the Ossoff loss. Personally I liked Jon. I know many thought he was the wrong candidate. You are correct. But I don’t think that really matters because I don’t believe anybody could have won that pissing contest this close to the Presidential election. I think we are delusional if we think that we can convert many old Republicans in the South. I cannot honestly speak of other areas of the country. As an example, I once had an older lady tell me that she was from Minnesota and had never seen a black person until she married and moved to Miami, FL at 23. This was said to me when I was younger. I didn’t know how to respond. I’m an older white woman now living in GA and I mention this only because different areas have their own history and beliefs and situations I have never experienced.
I have many Republican, church- going relatives and friends that I know truly believe, that Democrats are trying to destroy Christianity and therefore America. We are, apparently, in league with the devil because we stand for equality in civil liberties for everyone.
I cannot discuss the freedom of religion with them because the Muslims are trying to take over America with some covert infiltration plan continually reinforced by every terrorist attack.
They know gay people exist but they can’t be Christians and shouldn’t be allowed to teach their children or adopt or marry or live next door or use the restroom and on and on.
I won’t go into the race issues except to say that racial prejudice is still embraced by many and those who don’t have a total hateful attitude often come with provisions regarding bi-racial marriage and “place”. If one needs confirmation look for confederate flags. I can’t tell you how old I was before I realized how romanticised my opinion of the Civil War was from “ Gone With the Wind” and my Virginian relatives who were more outraged by the destruction of the South then the issue that had caused it. Okay, I guess I did go into race some. I’m older and I like to tell my personal stories about the “good old day” . (“s” missing on purpose)
And now for my point: Do not spend money trying to change Old Southern White People. The ones that believe the way we do are already Democrats or have no allegiance to party first and will vote with us when they want to. In the south, spend money on trying to find the young Black, Brown, Asian and Whites who agree with our ideology. Empower them with their vote and involvement in our party. Encourage and praise those that worked hard on campaigns to get candidates elected, even if they failed. Encourage young Democratic Groups on Campuses. Include and encourage youth groups in local Democratic Organizations and Indivisibles. Find out what they think is important. Sometimes from the mouth of babes….The change we want has to be built from the bottom up. Trickle down politics doesn’t work either. Don’t waste money on me and my kind. Whatever we are, we are and you can’t change us, so don’t even try. You can’t put us out to pasture either, you need our money, but spend the money where it will do some good. We do need a more youthful attitude. We are a party that should embrace Immigrants and Technology and Universal Healthcare and Student Loan/College costs and the Enviroment Issues and Jobs and Marijuana and anything else anybody can think of. Listen to the experiences of the old but hear the young too and keep moving forward. AMEN