When someone tells you who they really are, and what they think – you should believe them, because they’re probably telling the truth.
Case in point: On his “The Axe Files” podcast, Democratic strategist and political consultant David Axelrod had some interesting things to say about North Carolina voters – especially Harris voters vs. Trump voters:
Axelrod said:
Here’s my question about North Carolina. You had these killer storms which, by the way, was the third big story this week. And there’s a lot of displacement in western North Carolina, now Asheville is a blue dot in that area, there are a lot of Republican voters there. (some overtalk) But those voters in Asheville, you know, they’re the kind of voters who will figure out a way to vote, you know they’re upscale, kind of liberal voters, they’re probably going to figure out a way to vote. I’m not sure a bunch of these folks who’ve had their homes and lives destroyed elsewhere in western North Carolina are gonna be as easy to, uh, to, uh, wrangle for the Trump campaign.
There’s a fair amount to unpack here.
First of all, yeah, killer storms – sure there was a lot of displacement. A lot of people lost their homes, and a lot of people who are still in their homes have lost power, water, internet, and all the necessities of a modern lifestyle. Axelrod seems to forget about that when he’s talking disparagingly about the people outside of Asheville. But while I’m given to understand that Axelrod is correct about Asheville being a blue dot in that area, his elitist, condescending attitude about people “elsewhere in western North Carolina” is rather surprising, even coming from him.
What is it, Mr. Axelrod? Are you presuming these people are less intelligent and less sophisticated than your “upscale, kind of liberal” friends in Asheville? Do you think they are less committed? Less invested in the future of the republic? Are they less capable of figuring out where to go to vote, or less motivated to do so?
Never mind, I think we already know the answers to those questions. David Axelrod leaves us with a distinct impression as to how he views the rural and small-town folks in that part of North Carolina, and it’s not a pretty picture.
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Here’s the thing: This kind of snobbery, should it receive a wider audience, could very well backfire. I know rural and small-town folks pretty well; I grew up amongst them and live amongst them now, and I doubt rural and small-town folks living “elsewhere in western North Carolina” are that different from rural and small-town folks in Allamakee County, Iowa, or Alaska’s Susitna Valley. And I can tell you this: The best way to make sure these folks will crawl on their bellies through a half-mile of scrap iron and busted glass to vote, is to tell them you don’t think they have as much gumption to get out and cast their ballot as their citified, liberal “upscale” cousins.
To the people of western North Carolina, I will say this: Let’s show this jerk who’s motivated, who’s concerned about the outcome of his election and the future of our republic. Get out and vote!
