John Pavlovitz - No, the Democratic Party Can't "Message Better" to Racism, Misogyny, and Ignorance

John Pavlovitz
Nov 18, 2024



In the wake of the election results, one of the most common media postmortems has been the Democratic Party’s supposed failure to reach those Americans who they were unable to persuade over the course of the campaign; rural and working class voters, especially. The airways have been filled with politicians and talking heads offer their critiques and suggestions on how Democrats need to rethink how they are messaging.

I’m sorry, but that’s largely nonsense.

This election result isn't about Dem messaging.

Their messaging during the campaign was pitch-perfect in any other iteration of America. It was about helping the middle class, lowering taxes for the average American, continuing with sound economic policies to cut rising grocery prices, preserving democracy, taxing the wealthy, affordable healthcare and education, the rights of women, strengthening the border, unity, opportunity.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz formed a balanced ticket filled with character, intellect, and genuine love for this country, and they delivered their vision beautifully and eloquently. Their respective resumes contained exemplary histories of their work on behalf of the working people of this nation. They were experienced, mature, and competent.

And none of these realities could overcome the America that we’ve become—or at least a sizable portion of it has.

This election result isn’t about policy or platform, it’s about racism, misogyny, lack of education—and a Right-wing media machine that caters to those realities.

/snip