As “vulnerable Democrats from Nevada to New Hampshire are promising to make abortion a centerpiece of their political strategy in midterm elections,” should Dems ask themselves is this REALLY is what voters want?
Vulnerable Democrats from Nevada to New Hampshire are promising to make abortion a centerpiece of their political strategy in midterm elections. The new intensity comes amid signs that the Supreme Court could weaken or reverse Roe v. Wade. https://t.co/wSQOQA78jZ
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 2, 2021
Because it’s very likely what they think will happen is not what will happen:
It strikes me that there's a big disconnect between how important and animating Dem elites think abortion is and how voters view it.
Abortions post six-weeks have been illegal in Texas for three months and the sky has not been falling politically. https://t.co/ZtsJcQjS99
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) December 3, 2021
And here’s Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle making that very point and warning liberal women, “your circle of young, educated professionals aren’t the majority”:
So far, the response from readers to this column has been "This is ridiculous, every single woman I know will be up in arms!"
First of all, that's probably not true–and second of all, it's a big country, & your circle of young, educated professionals aren't the majority. https://t.co/GuXZ4g7Ws0
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) December 3, 2021
She also scolded “American elites” on being “blind to the fact that the things that matter most to them are not necessarily what others most care about”:
This is a symptom of a broader problem with how American elites approach diversity. We emphasize certain kinds of demographic diversity a lot–which, yay!–but forget that highly educated professionals are unrepresentative of basically any demographic group they belong to.
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) December 3, 2021
Their interests, tastes, needs, and outlook all diverge significantly from the average member of their demographic group. And like all of us, they often tend to be blind to the fact that the things that matter most to them are not necessarily what others most care about.
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) December 3, 2021
And she noted that her readers aren’t the “average voter,” so they’re sure to be angry at what she’s writing:
Certainly many of my readers are surrounded by progressive women who are absolutely passionate about preserving abortion rights. But almost all my readers are college educated and highly politically engaged, which makes them very unlike the average voter.
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) December 3, 2021
This main issue is, and always will be, the economy:
To quote Democratic Pollster Brian Stryker "The No. 1 issue for women right now is the economy, and the No. 1 issue for Black voters is the economy, and the No. 1 issue for Latino voters is the economy." Maybe abortion should be their number one, but it isn't.
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) December 3, 2021
More here:
The fact that you know a lot of people who care more about abortion rights than anything else is interesting, but it does not tell you how the general public will vote.
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) December 3, 2021
This problem distorts the way we cover issues, and the way we frame solutions to problems. The fact that you, educated professional, are EXTREMELY worried about timing pregnancies in order to protect your career, does not mean that this is a #1, or even #10, issue for most women.
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) December 3, 2021
I'm not saying your concerns are invalid! I'm just saying that you should not assume that most women think about abortion the way you do, much less that they will vote accordingly.
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) December 3, 2021
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