Opinion: Trump, Republicans won big because Democrats failed to listen to the people
America unburdened its future from what has been.
Donald Trump won a non-consecutive second term in the White House, Republicans have a comfortable majority in the United States Senate, and the House of Representatives is within reach.
Trump and Republicans cast Democrats as out of touch with working class Americans, and voters overwhelmingly agreed.
Without a doubt, progressives wrestling with the electoral beat down will fret about voters rejecting democracy, their unwillingness to appreciate the dangers of climate change, and toxic masculinity rising because of Trump. They point out he’s going to dismiss the cases against him and speculate who is on his “enemies” list.
If there are enough fumes left in the tank, they’ll continue to point out he’s a morally suspect man with a foul mouth who says whatever he wants regardless of the truth.
Democrats were defeated by hubris and contempt for fellow Americans
For years now, my Democratic friends have constantly explained to me that I’m essentially a low-information voter. If I simply understood the gravity of the political moment, I’d agree with them.
Where I come from, that’s called condescension. It’s why Democrats suffered such a significant defeat.
Republicans laser focused on the issues America’s working class cares about most: the economy, immigration, and violent crime.
Opinion: Tennessee gets ignored while swing states like Pennsylvania get all the attention
On the controversial issue of abortion, Republicans neutralized the attack by making the case that the issue is best decided at the state level. In contrast, Democrats put healthcare and Supreme Court appointments as higher priorities than the economy.
Most voters picked Trump and a Republican-led Senate. That's democracy.
On election night, America’s working class voted for safe communities grounded in steady jobs that won’t be taken by cheap undocumented immigrant labor.
America felt so strongly that Trump was the better choice to deliver on those core issues that they gave him a Senate majority to ensure the political appointees in his administration will almost certainly be confirmed.
Democrats and Trump’s most ardent detractors will spend the next few months explaining to the American people what they should have done instead of learning from what they actually did. Until that changes, Republicans will continue to gain momentum.
Fundamentally, Trump was correct about Democrats. Their ideas and values didn’t resonate with voters.
Progressives aren’t the sole keepers of American democracy. Now, they aren’t in charge of the Senate or White House either.
USA TODAY Network Tennessee Columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney who worked for conservative Republicans. He and his wife Justine are raising three boys in Nolensville, Tenn. Direct outrage or agreement to [email protected] or @DCameronSmith on X, formerly known as Twitter. Agree or disagree? Send a letter to the editor to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: Trump focused on the economy. Democrats obsessed over Trump