2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Why draw a distinction between the working class and the white working class? [View all]Garrett78
(10,721 posts)It's the basis for that segment of working class whites having a different set of priorities than the working class as a whole. One of the problems with the "working class whites/economic messaging" narrative is that it implies working class persons of color (not to mention the millions of working class whites who voted for Clinton) must not care about economics. There's a clear racist element to that notion, as well as the implicit suggestion that "working class" is synonymous with white. To say nothing of the fact that Clinton won among those who said 'the economy' was their top priority.
Bear in mind that a vast majority of Trump supporters are Birthers. Birtherism is rooted in racism.
The white backlash and hatred for "liberals" (two things that are not mutually exclusive) is a driving force behind the Trump Cult. "Conservatism turned toxic: Donald Trumps fanbase has no actual ideology, just a nihilistic hatred of liberals."