Issues Under Fire: Pandering Exclusively to Women May Cost Democrats the Senate

Issues Under Fire: Pandering Exclusively to Women May Cost Democrats the Senate 

A Rising Tide Raises All Boats, an idiom coined by John F. Kennedy, describes the idea that when an economy is performing well, all people will benefit from it. If the Democrats had embraced that ideal, they'd likely be looking forward to the results of these 2014 midterm elections, instead of fearing the worst possible outcome. Delivering a message and narrative far to weighted toward women's issues, left far too many Democrats wondering what's in it for the rest of them. 

Failing to adequately address the concerns of the broader Democrat base, gave little reason, if any, to pay attention, let alone participate. Women's reproductive rights may light a fire under a critical Democrat demographic, but to others, quite frankly, they don't give a damn.

Even women of middle age and older, when asked, are far more interested in the strengthening of the nation's social safety net, refining Obama-Care and improving economy. The Democrats had nothing to say about the social safety net, ran from Obama-Care and relied on labor statistics to make their case for an economy on the mend. 

The Democrats failed miserably in delivering a message that spoke to the concerns of men. Think of the average middle aged male hearing his financial advisor tell him that his best option when it comes to retirement is not to live too long. Older people vote and older people are thinking about depending on their 401K's, pensions and social security to last long enough. Older voters are wondering how the Democrat's message will support a dignified retirement. 

Failing to adequately address income inequality and the concept of a living wage, as vigorously as the gender wage gap, did more to divide the base than bring it together. Why would an out of work construction worker, now depending on day labor, give a rat's ass about earning a few lousy pennies more than a women? When you're trying to motivate demoralized constituents, you have to generate a message expansive enough to keep everybody engaged. 

Failing to adequately address the concerns of the nation's youth, in order to push gender inequality issues may have been a critical error in judgement. While no one can refute the gulf that exist between the sexes on many levels, the nation's youth is far more worried if the investment in the exorbitant  cost of education will return a high enough yield to pay off their student loans.

Additionally, the nation's youth is hardly impressed with a falling national unemployment rate, when their demographic is struggling at around 14.5%. BTW, for African American and Latino youth, that percentage is significantly higher. If the Democrats did talk to a wider audience, they didn't talk loud enough!

Bottom line: While the Democrats claim to have a big, open and welcoming tent, once inside, they have simply failed to address the concerns of all who've entered equitably. In short, women should feel pandered to, African Americans should feel taken for granted, Latinos should feel betrayed and men should feel completely ignored. If the Democrats worst fears are realized tomorrow, they will only have themselves to blame. Podcast Below!