Stickybuffalo.com

Over the weekend, The Economist‘s Lexington columnist wrote:

The political puzzle that Barack Obama and the Democrats need to figure out is just why such a large chunk of America’s white middle class appears to feel that American honour and values are in jeopardy, and why they appear to blame this president for this perceived danger…. Why is it so widely believed? … I am genuinely perplexed.

I actually didn’t even leave a comment, aside from one directed at another comment which was shockingly racist and hate-filled, at any rate by the standards which usually prevail at The Economist site. I kept thinking about the question, though, and over night (yes, crazies, you haunt me even in my sleep) came up with probably the closest to an answer I can suggest.

Then I woke up and found that our scruffy pal at The Times had already written up the idea for me. He pretty much got everything; the only thing I would have specifically added was to connect the fact that “a significant number of Americans just don’t consider government by liberals — even very moderate liberals — legitimate” with a complete “us vs them” mentality.

Democrats are seen as illegitimate because we’re “the enemy,” and we’re the enemy not because of anything we do but just because we aren’t part of their “us.” After all, these people didn’t give a fart about deficit spending, expanding government, reduced individual liberties, etc., etc., etc., so long as the role of the big tribe’s alpha male was occupied by their guy.

Call it identity politics, whatever you want, but that’s basically what’s going on. In the sense of some kind of “substantive” explanation in terms of issues, there’s nothing for Obama, et al. to “figure out.” These people don’t have genuine, rational grievances that Democrats can somehow “understand” and respond to; Democrats, ourselves, are their grievance.

And, really, what can be done about that? Krugman, per his usual pugilistic instincts, suggests that Obama basically needs to fight harder, “on the economic front in particular.” But, of course, Krugs is also by this point well aware that such encouragement to activity is likely to go unheeded.

Man, I really don’t know if I can stomach another out-for-blood reactionary congress…