Leroy N. Soetoro
2021-10-11 17:52:33 UTC
Liberal Democrats are taking their message to rural America, testing the
appeal of progressive politics in communities that remain supportive of
former President Donald Trump.
Though the party has often tread carefully on their messaging to more
conservative communities, some political candidates popping up in
unexpected places are embracing a liberal agenda that they argue will lift
up the working class.
For example, Jessica Piper, a Democrat running for a state House seat in
rural northwestern Missouri, doesnt hide her support for big government
proposals touted by the leftwing members of her party.
Ms. Piper has been publicly espousing her views on social media,
particularly TikTok, where shes accumulated more than 100,000 followers
for her content explaining the phenomenon of being a liberal Democrat in
rural America.
Im really progressive. I believe in health care for all. I believe in
Medicare-for-All. I believe that everyone should have a living wage. These
things, to me, resonate in rural communities, Ms. Piper told The
Washington Times.
Ms. Piper is among a growing number of progressive Democrats who are
embracing policies that historically tend to turn off rural communities.
Exit polling data by NPR found that rural voter turnout helped boost Mr.
Trump to victory in 2016, with the former president getting 62% of support
in rural areas.
In 2020, the percentage declined some, but Mr. Trump still managed to keep
much of his inroads.
Messaging on bold liberal ideas is a shift from traditional Democratic
strategy to distance rural candidates from the wing of the party who hold
strong in urban areas.
Several U.S. House Democrats who narrowly won their seats in 2020 blamed
their close races, as well as the loss of several moderate seats, on that
messaging, as well as rhetoric coming from urban, far-left members of the
caucus.
Swing district Democrats, the biggest GOP targets in campaign cycles, have
sought to differentiate themselves from opposition messaging thats
painted the party broadly as a liberal bastion.
Jamie McLeod-Skinner ran as a liberal Democrat for eastern Oregons 2nd
congressional district in 2018 seeking to bridge the urban-rural gap,
though the seat went to then-incumbent GOP Rep. Greg Walden. She received
just 39% of the vote.
Jessica Cisneros, a 28-year-old immigration lawyer, is challenging Rep.
Henry Cuellar, arguably the most conservative Democrat in Congress, in the
Democratic primary for Texass 28th District, in hopes of proving the
leftwing trend of the party is the key to its future.
Ms. Cisneros, who is backed by the liberal PAC Justice Democrats that
helped elect Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, has praised rural
towns in Texas that held Black Lives Matter rallies, which often have been
more visible in urban centers.
The candidate, who has been compared to Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, has expressed
confidence in her second challenge against Mr. Cuellar, whose district
holds large swaths of rural communities.
We saw that it was working. If it wasnt working, we wouldnt have held
Henry Cuellar to 51.8% of the vote, Ms. Cisneros told Politico in August.
Mike Berg, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional
Committee, gives credit to Democratic candidates who are embracing a far-
left agenda in red and rural districts for not trying to deceive voters
about their agenda.
Democrats should run more candidates who are honest about their liberal
views. At least the self-avowed socialists dont lie to voters and pretend
to be moderate, Mr. Berg said in a statement.
But political veterans in both parties are skeptical that the development
will produce victories for Democrats.
Jane Kleeb, chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party who has focused on
rural outreach, agreed, in part, with Ms. Dillingham that touting certain
platforms wont do much for the party.
Messages like the Green New Deal or Defund the Police are going nowhere
in rural communities, and quite frankly, theyre going nowhere in suburban
communities too because they arent based in peoples day-to-day
realities, Ms. Kleeb said.
Ms. Kleeb said Democrats instead should focus on localized issues and
target their message to subjects such as access to health care, or
breaking up monopolies that could pique the interest of family farmers who
have to compete with corporate farms.
The chairwoman said its a matter of investment and time that could make a
difference on whether the party can gain traction in rural areas in the
future, in addition to finding the right message.
There are plenty of issues where Democrats clearly are on the side of
rural voters, Republicans, Democrats and independents, Ms. Kleeb said.
But, we havent shown them that we care enough to even show up in their
communities. So, we have not earned their trust to earn their votes.
Patsy Dillingham, president of the Rural Womens Republican Club in
Montgomery County, Maryland, argues that many voters in rural communities
are generally more self-sufficient and in favor of limited government,
which fits the principles of her party.
When you use taxpayers money, its somebody elses money that they think
they can do anything with. Its wrong. I dont think [far-left proposals]
would be very well accepted out in rural areas, Ms. Dillingham said.
Though pushing rural communities to champion broader economic and social
plans seems like a long shot, local Democratic leaders are seeking ways to
personally connect with voters on the ground.
Anderson Clayton, the 23-year-old chairwoman of the rural Person County
Democratic Party in North Carolina, argues the party needs to do more to
vocalize that theyre trying to lift up working-class communities, many of
whom reside in rural areas.
I do believe the Democratic Party is the party of the working class and
we have a working-class message, Ms. Clayton said in an interview. But,
somehow that message is not filtered down in the way that it needs to be.
And I think that were really trying to come to terms with that as a
party.
Ms. Clayton, who calls herself an Elizabeth Warren Democrat, said it
helps that she grew up in the county that she now chairs, which makes her
familiar with its people and customs.
The chairwoman also noted that she has a policy of talking to people with
all kinds of political backgrounds, instead of limiting her outreach to
independents and more moderate Republicans who could be easier to swing.
I have a very open policy of accepting anyone and everyone thats willing
to meet with me and who will hear out my message, Ms. Clayton said. We
want to see new jobs, economic opportunity, new job training programs,
things like that, and when I have someone thats willing to hear that
regardless of their party, I go after [them.]
Zoe Nemerever, an assistant professor at Texas Tech University who
specializes in rural politics, said the issue with promoting large
economic or social programs in rural areas is partly a perception problem.
Rural Americans perceive that the benefits of these big government
programs are targeting urban populations, Ms. Nemerever said.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/8/liberal-dems-test-
progressive-appeal-rural-america/
--
"LOCKDOWN", left-wing COVID fearmongering. 95% of COVID infections
recover with no after effects.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Donald J. Trump, cheated out of a second term by fraudulent "mail-in"
ballots. Report voter fraud: ***@mail.house.gov
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
appeal of progressive politics in communities that remain supportive of
former President Donald Trump.
Though the party has often tread carefully on their messaging to more
conservative communities, some political candidates popping up in
unexpected places are embracing a liberal agenda that they argue will lift
up the working class.
For example, Jessica Piper, a Democrat running for a state House seat in
rural northwestern Missouri, doesnt hide her support for big government
proposals touted by the leftwing members of her party.
Ms. Piper has been publicly espousing her views on social media,
particularly TikTok, where shes accumulated more than 100,000 followers
for her content explaining the phenomenon of being a liberal Democrat in
rural America.
Im really progressive. I believe in health care for all. I believe in
Medicare-for-All. I believe that everyone should have a living wage. These
things, to me, resonate in rural communities, Ms. Piper told The
Washington Times.
Ms. Piper is among a growing number of progressive Democrats who are
embracing policies that historically tend to turn off rural communities.
Exit polling data by NPR found that rural voter turnout helped boost Mr.
Trump to victory in 2016, with the former president getting 62% of support
in rural areas.
In 2020, the percentage declined some, but Mr. Trump still managed to keep
much of his inroads.
Messaging on bold liberal ideas is a shift from traditional Democratic
strategy to distance rural candidates from the wing of the party who hold
strong in urban areas.
Several U.S. House Democrats who narrowly won their seats in 2020 blamed
their close races, as well as the loss of several moderate seats, on that
messaging, as well as rhetoric coming from urban, far-left members of the
caucus.
Swing district Democrats, the biggest GOP targets in campaign cycles, have
sought to differentiate themselves from opposition messaging thats
painted the party broadly as a liberal bastion.
Jamie McLeod-Skinner ran as a liberal Democrat for eastern Oregons 2nd
congressional district in 2018 seeking to bridge the urban-rural gap,
though the seat went to then-incumbent GOP Rep. Greg Walden. She received
just 39% of the vote.
Jessica Cisneros, a 28-year-old immigration lawyer, is challenging Rep.
Henry Cuellar, arguably the most conservative Democrat in Congress, in the
Democratic primary for Texass 28th District, in hopes of proving the
leftwing trend of the party is the key to its future.
Ms. Cisneros, who is backed by the liberal PAC Justice Democrats that
helped elect Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, has praised rural
towns in Texas that held Black Lives Matter rallies, which often have been
more visible in urban centers.
The candidate, who has been compared to Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, has expressed
confidence in her second challenge against Mr. Cuellar, whose district
holds large swaths of rural communities.
We saw that it was working. If it wasnt working, we wouldnt have held
Henry Cuellar to 51.8% of the vote, Ms. Cisneros told Politico in August.
Mike Berg, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional
Committee, gives credit to Democratic candidates who are embracing a far-
left agenda in red and rural districts for not trying to deceive voters
about their agenda.
Democrats should run more candidates who are honest about their liberal
views. At least the self-avowed socialists dont lie to voters and pretend
to be moderate, Mr. Berg said in a statement.
But political veterans in both parties are skeptical that the development
will produce victories for Democrats.
Jane Kleeb, chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party who has focused on
rural outreach, agreed, in part, with Ms. Dillingham that touting certain
platforms wont do much for the party.
Messages like the Green New Deal or Defund the Police are going nowhere
in rural communities, and quite frankly, theyre going nowhere in suburban
communities too because they arent based in peoples day-to-day
realities, Ms. Kleeb said.
Ms. Kleeb said Democrats instead should focus on localized issues and
target their message to subjects such as access to health care, or
breaking up monopolies that could pique the interest of family farmers who
have to compete with corporate farms.
The chairwoman said its a matter of investment and time that could make a
difference on whether the party can gain traction in rural areas in the
future, in addition to finding the right message.
There are plenty of issues where Democrats clearly are on the side of
rural voters, Republicans, Democrats and independents, Ms. Kleeb said.
But, we havent shown them that we care enough to even show up in their
communities. So, we have not earned their trust to earn their votes.
Patsy Dillingham, president of the Rural Womens Republican Club in
Montgomery County, Maryland, argues that many voters in rural communities
are generally more self-sufficient and in favor of limited government,
which fits the principles of her party.
When you use taxpayers money, its somebody elses money that they think
they can do anything with. Its wrong. I dont think [far-left proposals]
would be very well accepted out in rural areas, Ms. Dillingham said.
Though pushing rural communities to champion broader economic and social
plans seems like a long shot, local Democratic leaders are seeking ways to
personally connect with voters on the ground.
Anderson Clayton, the 23-year-old chairwoman of the rural Person County
Democratic Party in North Carolina, argues the party needs to do more to
vocalize that theyre trying to lift up working-class communities, many of
whom reside in rural areas.
I do believe the Democratic Party is the party of the working class and
we have a working-class message, Ms. Clayton said in an interview. But,
somehow that message is not filtered down in the way that it needs to be.
And I think that were really trying to come to terms with that as a
party.
Ms. Clayton, who calls herself an Elizabeth Warren Democrat, said it
helps that she grew up in the county that she now chairs, which makes her
familiar with its people and customs.
The chairwoman also noted that she has a policy of talking to people with
all kinds of political backgrounds, instead of limiting her outreach to
independents and more moderate Republicans who could be easier to swing.
I have a very open policy of accepting anyone and everyone thats willing
to meet with me and who will hear out my message, Ms. Clayton said. We
want to see new jobs, economic opportunity, new job training programs,
things like that, and when I have someone thats willing to hear that
regardless of their party, I go after [them.]
Zoe Nemerever, an assistant professor at Texas Tech University who
specializes in rural politics, said the issue with promoting large
economic or social programs in rural areas is partly a perception problem.
Rural Americans perceive that the benefits of these big government
programs are targeting urban populations, Ms. Nemerever said.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/8/liberal-dems-test-
progressive-appeal-rural-america/
--
"LOCKDOWN", left-wing COVID fearmongering. 95% of COVID infections
recover with no after effects.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Donald J. Trump, cheated out of a second term by fraudulent "mail-in"
ballots. Report voter fraud: ***@mail.house.gov
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.