Centerfield

Does that mean Democrats are not voting their values? Or just different values?

I made a point of listening and reading everything I could find in an effort to understand what my fellow Americans were thinking in the run up to this election. Neither the media-coined phrase, these sentiments, nor the specific issues this person articulates came to the fore.

After the election, I continued to listen and read the specific responses Americans gave. Again, that phrase and those issues failed to dominate.

I whole heartedly accept that Americans enjoy a life style where economics don't dictate their voting choices. But, I reject this dumbed down, simplistic, catch phrase as an acceptable explanation for the voters' collective and complex psyche.

This writer's job is to be everywhere with her message. She surely didn't use this jargon before the election. I think her post election take is convenient rather than insightful.

Well, I don't know that I'd call Coulter a journalist! But for all her overblown and hyperbolic vitriol and sarcasm, she is a bright and insightful pundit. If you can withstand the venom well enough to read the analysis underneath.

Much has been made of the "values" factor in the recent elections. Many misinterpret "values" as meaning only "hot-button" issues such as abortion or gay marriage. It goes much deeper than that.

Oberon,

Most Democrats are also voting their values. The whole anti-war movement is hardly motivated by economic determinism. I suspect that only a few people voted for Kerry because the promises of health care or other social benefits would accrue to them personally.

The problem for Democrats is that there seem to be fewer people value what liberals hold dear compared to what conservatives hold dear.

Democrats had no substantially articulated message on much of anything besides "Bush sucks." This was their main problem. I've been saying this for two years.

Well that and a ton of their voters were voting purely out of a sense of noblesse oblige; most Democrats have perfectly good health care, for example.

The Democratic Party's vision needs an overhaul.

Coulter is a nasty women, but she sometimes gets off a good line. I see this particular column as bein more indicative of how foolish many Democrats are being in retrospect in trying to explain away their losses. In that sense, while it's often rude, it's funny and cuttingly insightful in parts:

"...if there's one thing voters respond to, it's crude insults."

Yep.

She certainly follows through--you can't accuse her of being inconsistent!

Maybe someone will drop a house on her. :)

All kidding aside...I do think she has a point. As a liberal, I do have a difficult time wrapping my brain around the notion that Mazlow's Heirarchy of Needs doesn't come into play here. It seems really odd to me that people would vote antiabortion over prohealth care, antigay marriage over job creation.

I disagree that Democrats are trying to "explain away their losses", however. Many in the party are attempting to take a cold, hard look at what's gone on and make some major changes. And that said...it's not like Democrats are losing at every level. They've definitely done well in the 'AAA league' so to speak. It's the national party that needs the work...so it shouldn't be painted with such a broad brush, IMO.

And with all due respect, "Most Democrats have perfectly good health care" isn't the point. Democrats believe all people, not just themselves, should have good healthcare.

Carla;

Just read the Coulter piece. I'm certainly not a fan of hers but she certainly reiterates a common theme coming from the right: "The Dems don't get it".

To follow up on that, I don't get why the Dems don't get it. Given its party that has a long history of championing minority issues (which by definition would not win in a popular vote) why are the Dems so surprised when folks vote based on some underlying principle that may not (on the surface) be in their self-interest.

You can agree or disagree with the specific issue but I think its a positive phenomenom when folks vote on principle and not just self-interest.