2016 Election Review

[Jason1961]

We're still working on analyzing the mountains of data that have been thrown at us but we've found some interesting trends that escaped our attention.

We are learning what we did right, what we need to improve on, and what we did so wrong we just need to never do it again.

The overwhelming thing that seemed to motivate White Voters like never before was Donald Trump's unabashed racism. I hate to say it but given this it makes perfect sense that the previous two Republican Candidates failed to motivate White Voters because they failed to be racist enough.

We won the vote and lost the election so we're doing almost everything right.

For all of the people saying we need to cater to White Voters more I say we need to do the opposite. We don't need racism to win elections, we just need to sit back and watch Donald Trump steer the Republicans so far to the right that they drive all but the most hardcore racists away from their party.

Our Platform is fine, we won the majority of voters and we will win again if we stay strong.

[RBInMaine]

1. You don't get it.

First, enough of the "racism racism racism" stuff. Sure many Trump voters are racist, but most likely FAR from the majority.

Next, we are talking about winning back some of the working class folks in rural areas who used to be with us but have left us BIGTIME because the party ignores them. And that is UNACCEPTABLE. A national party needs to compete EVERYWHERE, and a party can fight both for economic justice AND social justice. The two go hand in hand.

Anyone who doesn't see that we have been hollowed out in off year elections because of this and LOST this year to orange man because of this has blinders on in a BIG way.

[DemonGoddess]

2. They left us en masse

with Nixon. Then the rest with Reagan. We won't be getting them back, UNLESS we go the route of the Republicans.

I, for one, refuse to do that.

[NCTraveler]

4. I believe this to be highly inaccurate.

"Sure many Trump voters are racist, but most likely FAR from the majority."

It is a majority of them. We have a shitload in our own party. To say otherwise is offensive and shows a lack of understanding as to how prevelant racism is in this country. Systemic racism is a part of our government and society. That isn't because a small percentage of people are racist. Just because someone isn't overtly racist does not mean they aren't racist to the core. Trumps thoughts on education are inherently racist and will further the systemic racism that can be found in government policy. A strong majority of Trump supporters back that policy. How about their thoughts on private prisons? Nope. No inherent racism there.

[uponit7771]

5. The toleration of racism is just as bad, no one needs to call them racist so lets not minamize

... the toleration of it by setting the bar to racist levels.

[NCTraveler]

3. We have a great platform.

The racist asshats are in their death throes. They will be around forever but as a percentage they are going backwards. While the results of the election are painful, there was a whole lot of positive.

[SpareribSP]

6. Why do you think that?

I'm trying to understand it, but Trump got more of the minority vote than Romney. Clearly Trump is a terrible person, but here's the issue.

The logic I'm seeing on this board is this:

1) Trump won because white people love racism.

I don't see how this follows. There has been a sharp decline in racist views over the years and I see no reason why this should stop. Can you back this up with solid data? I don't buy it.

Then, the followup

2) Because white people love racism so much, the only way to get white people on board with the Democrats is to be more racist.

HELL NO. This logic doesn't follow first of all, and clearly no one wants that. It's also a cheap generalization and I think it's doing serious damage for people to think this way.

I think it's more like what Michael Moore said - http://www.salon.com/2016/10/26/michael-moore-people-will-vote-for-donald-trump-as-a-giant-fk-you-and-hell-win/

White people have been having a hard time lately and they're willing to blame any politician they can get their hands on. This also is anecdotal on my part, but I find it a much more likely explanation than racism being so rampant in this country that it wins elections and pulls in a huge amount of the white vote.

Hell, if it was true, it would be really, really sad for America and us Americans, and honestly I think the people of America are better than that. Call me naive if you will.