Ken Berwitz
In recent days,Democrats have blasted Republicans on a number of issues, staking out positionsthat have one thing in common: they are unpopular with voters. The DNC put outan ad attacking Republicans for talking about “radical Islamic terrorism,” which the Democrats said was “inciting fear.” Just one problem: 60% of voters say we are at war withradical Islamic terrorism.
Then there are theSyrian refugees. President Obama says it is un-American to oppose importingthousands of Syrian refugees, above and beyond current limits, and Harry Reidsays he will block any effort to “pause” the importation of Syrian refugees.But 63% of voters oppose Obama\’s refugeeplan. Apparently a large majority of Americans are un-American.
Then there are theridiculous protests that have riled American college and university campuses.President Obama praised the activists who shut down theUniversity of Missouri, and other Democrats have generally been supportive ofsuch protests. But voters hate them; for instance, residents of Missouridisapprove of the demonstrations at their university by more than three to one. More broadly, publicdisgust with the Black Lives Matter movement and the national anti-policecampaign will hurt Democrats at the polls next year, perhaps fatally.
It\’s a novel strategy,not just taking unpopular positions but doing so aggressively, stridently andcontemptuously. Who knows, maybe it will work. But I doubt it.
