Posted on 02/17/2022 2:33:57 AM PST by Libloather
SMETHPORT, Pa. (AP) - Some Democrats here in rural Pennsylvania are afraid to tell you they’re Democrats.
The party’s brand is so toxic in the small towns 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh that some liberals have removed bumper stickers and yard signs and refuse to acknowledge their party affiliation publicly. These Democrats are used to being outnumbered by the local Republican majority, but as their numbers continue to dwindle, the few that remain are feeling increasingly isolated and unwelcome in their own communities.
“The hatred for Democrats is just unbelievable,” said Tim Holohan, an accountant based in rural McKean County who recently encouraged his daughter to get rid of a pro-Joe Biden bumper sticker. “I feel like we’re on the run.”
The climate across rural Pennsylvania is symptomatic of a larger political problem threatening the Democratic Party ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Beyond losing votes in virtually every election since 2008, Democrats have been effectively ostracized from many parts of rural America, leaving party leaders with few options to reverse a cultural trend that is redefining the nation’s political landscape.
The shifting climate helped Republicans limit Democratic gains in 2020 — the GOP actually gained House seats despite former President Donald Trump’s loss — and a year later, surging Republican rural support enabled Republicans to claim the Virginia governorship. A small but vocal group of party officials now fears the same trends will undermine Democratic candidates in Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, states that will help decide the Senate majority in November, and the White House two years after that.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party continues to devote the vast majority of its energy, messaging and resources to voters in more populated urban and suburban areas.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Try sticking a Trump bumper sticker in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia or L.A.
Of course, rural America takes up a whole lot more acreage than those municipalities.
“Grandpa, did you murder people during the war?”
“No! I shot Nazis.”
(or something like that).
Yikes. When people go dumpster diving, they are on the the final downhill spiral. I might be wrong, but I don’t think most soup kitchens or food banks closed down through the worst of it.
“The hatred for Democrats is just unbelievable,” said Tim Holohan, an accountant based in rural McKean County who recently encouraged his daughter to get rid of a pro-Joe Biden bumper sticker. “I feel like we’re on the run.”
I will only be happy when the democraps hide in dark corners and cower alone in fear of reprisal.
yep
Can the Republicans capitalize on this, or will they destroy this opportunity as they have been known all too well to do…
- - - - - - -
A great contribution from Trump is showing Republican voters how bad Republican politicians are.
Democrats and their liars and goons are a million times worse...
Before Trump, Republican voters thought they were a billion times worse.
Awe, Democrats finally having to deal with the reality that Conservatives have had to deal with in Urban Areas for at least 3 decades now????
Cry me a river.
“the GOP actually gained House seats despite former President Donald Trump’s loss”
Because Trump didn’t lose...
There are a number of inaccuracies in this story. Fetterman is not a “small town” mayor. This implies he’s from one of the small rural towns the story is about. Fetterman was mayor of Braddock, Pa. which is essentially Pittsburgh. The last info I had about it was that it’s an economic disaster zone, one of those dying steel towns around Pittsburgh. I also remember reports when Fetterman ran for Lieutenant Governor detractors said he did little to help Braddock while he was mayor. He’s nothing but an opportunist.
On the Pittsburgh news stations he was often portrayed as a kook—a motorcycle-riding, shaved head, tattooed, avowed Socialist. He’s also an Ivy-league graduate who likes to portray himself as a man of the people.
If there are scared Democrats in Clarion they are probably the family of the left-wing faculty who populates the state university located there and who have adopted the entire “woke” agenda. And, no, any perceived hostility toward them from local Republicans is all in their fevered little brains. Most of the hardworking Republicans in Clarion probably couldn’t care less about Democrat yard signs. They’re too busy trying to cope with empty shelves, massive inflation, the 20% increase in natural gas to heat their homes, and Pennsylvania’s gasoline tax. We’re now paying $3.69+ a gallon for regular fuel in the western part of the state.
“The hatred for Democrats is just unbelievable,” said Tim Holohan,”
It’s totally believable.
“I feel like we’re on the run.”
Not yet. But that day is coming.
See my tag line.
L
It sounds like your local politicians need to fix the problem or be replaced.
A relatively few local activists can make it happen.
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