Is Bill Maher stereotyping the White working class voter?
Bill Maher attempted to bring in another story on the evils of Islam early in his show Real Time. He relayed yet another anecdotal story about a Pakistani woman that was sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet Mohammed. It was obvious he was still feeling the sting both he and Sam Harris got for their Islamophobic stances from several shows back. Bill Maher quickly changed the subject as he started getting push back from two of his guest, David Frum and David Miliband, who showed much more prowess in the subject than he did.
Bill Maher proceeded to concentrate on what he does best on this week’s show, political satire. True to form he was very good.
“Before they lose the midterm any worse than they already are,” Bill Maher said. “Democrats must learn to speak to the one group of people who actually vote in the midterms, Caucasians. You hear a lot about Republicans’ inability to reach minorities. But what about the converse. Have Democrats lost the art of talking to [White people]?”
Bill Maher then pointed out that inasmuch as unemployment is way down, the deficit is way down, gas prices are way down, and Obamacare is working, Democrats are as popular as a ‘Liberian travel agent’. Of course Republicans are even less popular but that was not the gist of this skit.
Bill Maher then proceeded to enumerate the three tips on talking to the ‘White voter’.
- Talk a lot about hard work because “They think they are the only Americans who do work hard and that they are carrying all the people who just collect welfare and complain. …”
- Two words, small businesses. You love them because, “There are two thoughts that never leave White people’s minds, when’s lunch and someday I am going to tell that d$ck for brain boss of mine to shove it and then I will start my own small business. Do not screw with the imaginary small business. …”
- When dealing with foreign policy talk more like John Wayne.
Bill Maher’s tips are funny. They may even work for many. The problem is the above tips are simply playing down to that constituency instead of lifting them up. The better approach, though much more tedious, is laid out in Drew Westen’s The Political Brain. One must tailor the message to the problems and needs of this constituency’s everyday lives. They will buy in eventually if the effort is made and they see you as an ally.
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