How to Lose Voters and Insult People

Wisconsin Democrats did not lose the Supreme Court race because of Bernie Sanders.

This very notion needs to stop.

I should know. I made the trek across the border as a volunteer to canvass for Sanders. I visited hundreds of doors. Every time, we handed voters literature for the Kloppenburg campaign. It often seemed like every Sanders sign was married to a Kloppenburg sign. There was a good reason. Bernie’s campaign was actively involved in that race.

Several article authors have made the case that because exit polling showed slightly more Sanders voters skipped the Supreme Court race than Hillary voters, that the campaign itself was somehow to blame due to “making attacks on the party.”

There are three reasons why this line of reasoning does not even begin to make sense.

#1 — Age.

Many Hillary voters are cashing Social Security checks. Bernie won more than 80% of voters under 30.

From past experience running for office in Minnesota, younger voters are less likely to vote downballot. They may be excited to vote for the first time, but they haven’t discovered the importance of judicial races yet. They may have had no interactions with the judicial system.

#2 — Independents.

Over 40% of Americans consider themselves independents and many showed up to the Democratic primary for the first time to vote for Bernie. Bernie won 72% of independents.

The Democratic Party has not yet won over many young voters turning up for Sanders. You cannot assume votes belong to a party.

Frankly, I have serious qualms with people who believe voters should reflexively vote for a party like it is their tribe. When I ran for office, I remember a Republican voter pretending to know why he supported my opponent, but getting the name and gender wrong among other things. I hate the idea that Democrats might likewise vote for someone who rapes the environment, oppresses women, and condones wage slavery as long as the ballot shows a “D” after their name. That’s especially wrong downballot where it has greater effect on my daily life.

Think of these new independents like a marketer. This may be the first vote this person has cast for a Democratic candidate. Some Bernie voters identify as Green Party or Socialists, too. You still need to win them over. You’re always lucky to have had that chance.

#3 — Vitriol.

It often seems like the Sanders camp and their supporters are under attack by officeholders and officials. A lot of party leaders are tired of being called “the establishment.”

I know — it seems unfair. But lashing out is causing bad blood. There’s a human being on either side.

The ridiculous articles blaming Sanders for the Supreme Court loss remind me of the jabs Bernie supporters have been taking for months now. We’re constantly being told that Sanders voters are low information, misogynist boys who troll the Internet and abuse women.

“Bernie Bros” may be the dumbest argument ever to grace the Internet. Ask Jane Sanders how it feels to be trending on social media due to sexist attacks. No one is immune. Yet the label is still being used to typecast much of America by authors as mainstream as Krugman. Welcome to the information superhighway. There are trolls for everything and Krugman has somehow recently fallen even below their level.

If it ever gets mentioned that Sanders wins by a landslide among young women or that he won among all women in Wisconsin, they are accused of being girls who cannot find dates. We’re supposed to be convinced to turn to Hillary by the same argument used to sell us acne cream.

Sanders voters are called “johnny-come-latelies” to the party. Never mind that the party needs voters under 30 and independents and will simply cease to exist without new voters. Nor mention long-time pacifists and environmentalists in the party who fear a Hillary administration will not meet its promises.

In the constant barrage of calls to party unity on social media, it’s often missed that slipping in articles demonizing the other side’s supporters is causing irreparable harm.

“Bernie or Bust” did not begin because the party’s loudest voices were treating his supporters with respect. Today, a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll already shows 33% of Bernie supporters “could not see themselves supporting Clinton” in the general election.

There’s a very real danger that whether Bernie wins or loses, the party may manage to alienate everyone under age 30. We all need to do better. For ourselves as well as Kloppenburg.