Identity politics has become a major theme on the left. The idea is that people should be judged first and foremost by traits like race, gender, and religion. Many Americans reject this way of thinking because it reduces individuals to only their labels. Most voters want leaders who focus on ideas, values, and competence, not checked boxes.
The 2020 Democratic vice presidential search showed this tension clearly. Politico (and others) reported that activists loudly pressured Joe Biden to choose a Black woman as his running mate. Their message was not about merit or readiness, but about the DEI hierarchy. Biden’s adherence to DEI orthodoxy was a strategic mistake.
Kamala Harris recently explained she avoided Pete Buttigieg as a possible 2024 running mate because a ticket with both a Black woman and a gay man might be “too risky.” This was the same logic applied in reverse; that labels decide electability. Critics including Ted Cruz called it prejudice, and many voters saw it as proof of the problem with identity politics. Harris claimed to stand for inclusion, yet discriminated against Buttigieg for his sexuality, exposing hypocrisy at the heart of Harris’ argument and DEI
Sara Haines, co-host of The View, explained why many Americans reject this:
“Kamala Harris is a Black woman, and she’s a lot of other things. Pete Buttigieg is a gay man, and he’s a lot of other things. When I look at these people, I don’t look and say ‘Well there’s a Black woman, there’s a gay man.’ End of story.”
In conclusion, both the Biden VP search and Harris’ comments show how identity politics distorts choices. Most Americans do not want leaders selected for labels. They want merit, judgment, and vision. The rejection of identity politics is not about ignoring difference, but about refusing to let difference outweigh substance.
Questions for Discussion:
- Should political candidates be chosen primarily on merit and competence rather than identity traits?
- Is identity politics helping or hurting the Democratic Party with mainstream voters
- How does Sara Haines’s view—that people are more than their labels—reflect broader public opinion?
R&I ~ MJM
RealJew
Article URL : https://disqus.com/by/TheGayJew/