Who would say such a thing? President Trump? Tucker Carlson? Sean Hannity? Nope!
That was the stated opinion of longtime Democrat strategist James Carville. It comes from the sanctum sanctorum of leftwing ideology, the New York Times. according to New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. The blunt-talking Ragin’ Cajun political operative was famous for adding “It’s the economy, stupid” to the political lexicon.
This latest statement is extraordinary because it flies directly into the face of the Democratic Party’s claim to being the party of women’s issues and rights. And Carville made his statements to the Times, one of the sanctum sanctorum of progressive theology.
Democrats have long bragged about an advantageous “female gap” with the Republican Party. The highly touted women’s movement has long been seen as the feminist wing of the Democratic Party. The Party lays claim to voting demographics described as “soccer moms,” “suburban housewives” and “Black women.”
Carville blames those “preachy women” — who he says dominate and feminize the Democratic Party messaging — for President Biden’s low polling numbers – especially the precipitous drop in the President’s numbers with Black voters.
It was not a misstatement or a throw-away line. Carville added:
“If you listen to Democratic elites — NPR is my go-to place for that — the whole talk is about how women, and women of color, are going to decide this election. I’m like: ‘Well, 48 percent of the people that vote are males. Do you mind if they have some consideration?”
Carville went on to mock what he sees as the feminization of political dialogue.
“Don’t drink beer. Don’t watch football. Don’t eat hamburgers. This is not good for you. Everything you’re doing is destroying the planet. You’ve got to eat your peas.”
Carvill summarized his opinion of Democrat messaging with, “The message is too feminine.”
He argued that Democrat leadership was focusing on the influence of women within the party at the expense of male votes. Carville cited the polling numbers showing Trump and Republicans making significant inroads with Black voters – especially Black men.
In his most colorful manner, Carville said “When I look at these polling numbers, it’s like walking in on your grandma naked. You can’t get the image out of your mind.”
While Carville attests to being an admirer of Biden and a dedicated Democrat, he did not pull punches in pointing out his criticism of the contemporary Democratic Party as being too liberal and too woke. He called out progressives for being “too censorious,” and having “faculty lounge’ attitudes.” He said the “woke stuff is killing us” – using words like “Latinx” or “communities of color.” He referred to the progressive tone as “sneering.”
Carville rhetorically asked:
“Who ever thought it was a good idea to tell people you can’t hug them or you’ve got to be careful or you’ve got to think about names to call them other than the name you know them by? There’s nothing wrong with me being white or you being white or them being Black or me being male or you being female. It’s a giant, stupid argument.”
He concluded, “No one wants to live like this.”
Carville complained that “There are a lot of people on the left that would rather lose and be pure because it makes them feel good, it makes them feel superior.”
There is no doubt that Carville is going to get a lot of panties in a bunch. His remarks will be considered sexist, chauvinistic and misogynistic. Ironically, the more women voice their umbrage over his comments, the more valid they may appear.
Democrats would be foolish to disregard or condemn his comments. Carville is not a stupid man. In fact, he is one of the best strategists Democrats have. He is pointing to a trend that can be seen in the polling data and voting numbers.
The so-called “female voter gap” that has had a negative impact on Republicans is being offset by a growing “male voter gap” that is negatively impacting on Democrats. The dramatic increase in the GOP share of the Black and Hispanic vote is based largely on male voters.
In many ways, Carville’s statements of more of a warning than a criticism. They were not a rejection of the Democratic Party as an institution. He gives it as advice from a loyalist. Not all may see it that way, however. But there can be no disagreement that Carville has a way with words – one of those “tell it like it is” guys. Whether he is viewed as an apostle, or an apostate of Democrat theology is in the eye of the beholder.
And to think, Carville said all this during Women’s History Month. Has he no decency? He could have waited until Men’s History Month – but then again, there isn’t one. Maybe that is the point.
So, there ‘tis.