In 2016 the starkest difference between Clinton’s campaign and Trump’s was that Clinton invited the American people to join her in joy and optimism while Trump commiserated with the fearful and the angry. Harris made the same mistake.
When I’m struggling with sadness, hopelessness and rage, it does not help for someone to smile gently (smiling joyously would be even worse) and tell me to cheer up, be positive, look at how good life can be. When I get that kind of response, it makes me feel like there’s a big gap between my despair and the other person’s chirping. It makes me feel like they’re not listening, and someone who isn’t listening doesn’t look like they care.
For Americans who have been struggling for years, Trump met them where they were. They’re scared and angry, and his blustering outrage felt like he understood them. His railing against the establishment felt like empathy. When someone feels like their pain has been acknowledged, that creates much more of a bond than being ordered to not stop thinking about tomorrow.
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Why does the Democratic Party think looking like they’re having a great time will feel welcoming to us? The happy party of August’s DNC didn’t feel welcoming to a lot of people. It felt tone deaf.
Kamala Harris spoke today to her supporters, smiling calmly. She talked about rolling up our sleeves and getting to work (as if her volunteers aren’t exhausted) and said we need to keep our eye on the light.
The woman sounded completely disconnected from the grief, rage and terror her constituents are feeling.
Democrats! Stop grinning. Stop saying everything’s going to be okay. Stop acting like the future is in our hands. Do you think you’re talking to children who will believe whatever you believe? You sound delusional, or maybe like idiots.
Michelle Obama used to say “When they go low, we go high.” That was always a terrible strategy, and I’m glad I haven’t heard those words in years. Now it’s time to let go of the message that Democrats will triumph with joy and togetherness. Joy is not compelling. Joy doesn’t feel like empathy. It’s time for the Democratic Party to at least act like they’re listening to our pain, like they care. They have to act like that at least as well as Donald Trump does.
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