Member-only story
How identity and economic interests collide to create our current political climate
There really is no debate
It has become fashion among Democrats to debate which approach is the best one to defeat Trump: an economic message or an identity one.
Those who argue that Democrats should focus on an identity-based message point to Obama, and how his appeal to young people and African-Americans increased their turnout dramatically.
On the other hand are those who point to Hillary Clinton’s failed campaign, and argue that her focus on identity politics doomed her with the larger electorate. Instead, they argue that on economic issues, and unlike with social issues, Democrats represent the majority views, and a campaign focused on economic issues will be successful in bringing back the Obama-Trump voters to the party.
In reality, both arguments oversimplify the issue. Obama was able to excite young people with his charisma, and the possibility of electing an African-American president brought that group to the polls. He also spoke to the economic anxiety of many working class white people, thus creating the Obama-Trump voter phenomenon in the first place.
Clinton, on the other hand, lost for a variety of reasons. Her inability to develop an economic message was only one reason…
