Reworking DEI - Part 2

A follow-up based on comments on my first post

I cross-posted my article Why Democrats Need to Reject DEI on DailyKos where it struck a nerve (161 comments). Based on that, here’s my follow-up.

First off, I am not proposing we abandon the goals of DEI, but that we discard the term DEI. This is akin to how Clinton eliminated welfare as an issue the Republicans always ran against by “ending welfare as we know it”. He then worked with Gingrich and Congressional Republicans to craft something new.

The result? We continued to support people in need. And welfare disappeared as a major campaign issue. My proposal is to do the same here, end DEI as the term is toxic, and support the individual policies that have support.

My primary goal in this is we have to stay true to the fundamentals of our party, retain our base, and get the middle/moderate voters. We don’t win with 49% support, especially with the Electoral College, Senate, & House Districts favoring the Republicans. For 50 Senators we need 58% or better.

Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.

— Barry Goldwater

First, there was one comment that I think raises a good point:

I think this is the wrong issue to drop. You may not like it,¹ but a lot of people do, and will vote on it.

Whether an issue is popular or not isn’t as important as whether people vote based on it. Most Americans are in favor of prayer in school, but few run on that issue, because people don’t actually vote based on it.

With DEI...wingnuts hate it, but it’s not what drives their votes. They’re more concerned about immigration and abortion. But our side likes it, to the point that they’re willing to boycott stores over it. So we’d alienate people on our side, without winning anyone on the other side.

So maybe the answer is to stop using the term DEI, but not say anything negative about the term. I do agree a lot of Democrats are very supportive of it. But support gets us to 45% and we need more.

In addition, a lot depends on how the question is asked. The DEI programs recently implemented by corporations & universities are strongly disliked. The goals are supported. So a lot depends on the wording. Anyways, food for thought.

And now, on to the comments (responding in terms of getting votes from the moderate middle):

1. Why am I against Diversity Equity, & Inclusion? I’m not.² I’m against programs that are ineffective at best and counter productive at worse. And I’m against messaging that gives the Republicans a large effective target.

2. People support DEI. No. They support the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, etc. They don’t support DEI.³ And they dislike by large margins the required training sessions many corporations & universities implemented.

   1. Beyond DEI: Understanding Public Opinion on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

   2. Americans are divided over DEI programs on college campuses, an AP-NORC poll finds

   3. Poll: American voters are deeply divided on DEI programs and political correctness

3. We need to do the right thing. Compromise is moral cowardice. That’s great if you’re in a religion. Politics is compromise. We went through 20 years and DOMA, DADT, Civil Unions until we got to equality with gay marriage. Would we have been better off if the Clinton & Obama administrations had been Republican while we stayed 100% true to our principles? No.

4. We need the DEI training to undo people’s preference for white supremacy. This is a total loser. Most people think they treat others equitably.⁴ Getting in their face and telling them they are “racist, misogynistic, bigoted” will just piss them off. It’s counter-productive.

5. There are companies that have stuck with DEI. I can’t speak for all of them but what I have read of Costco is they were already doing useful effective practices that their employees bought off on and just wrapped that up in the DEI label. In addition, a company has a target market and appeals to that. Our target is 70% of the voters.

6. We need to correct how people think. I think this is un-American. Yes people’s attitudes affect others.⁵ Yes it would be wonderful if we could change this. But this country has as it’s basis individual freedom. Free to think as we like. Our job, our neighbors, society in general can put constraints on what we do. But thought control - that’s 1984.

   1. I think this is why DEI is viewed so negatively. Because it’s viewed not as what people are required to do but more that it is trying to change how people think.

7. We need to fight for what we believe in. Yes we do. But we need to do it effectively. Step 1 is winning elections. Without that, there is no step 2. And I am not proposing we abandon the fundamental goals of DEI. I’m proposing we drop the term and focus on the parts that have strong support.

8. We just need to explain it better. Sorry but in politics if you’re explaining, you’re losing. Moderate voters, casual voters, they don’t do nuance. They don’t do details.

9. I’m a white male so I can’t understand this. I strongly disagree with topics being out of bounds due to race, gender, etc. Hell, DEI is trying to move us beyond that.⁶

10. I’m good with people being discriminated against. No I’m not. I hate discrimination. I hate schoolchildren not having a chance at their full potential. I strongly dislike living in non diverse areas. But I’m focused on what’s possible.

11. Fuck You for proposing this. When you wonder how a MAGA zealot can be so impervious to argument - look in the mirror.

This country has always been imperfect. But at our core we believe in the fundamentals as laid out in the Declaration of Independence. And we have consistently improved on this. America is this never-ending journey.

In closing I want to thank those who commented discussing the issue. Finding a way to electoral success requires good faith discussion from many in the party on contentious issues like this.

1. I do like it. I just think it’s a negative getting votes from the middle.

2. With the caveat that I’m in favor of equal opportunity, not equal outcomes (like this proposed insanity - presently delayed thank god).

3. Part of this is polls show greater support for the Affordable Care Act than for Obamacare. They’re the same thing.

4. We don’t. We all treat people differently based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, height, weight, hair style (yes), etc. All of us, not just white males.

5. White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

6. In addition, I grew up in Hawaii. I was declined for 2 jobs because I wasn’t Japanese-American. I was beat up a couple of times because I am white. I’ve lived that experience.