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USA Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Democrats waste $20 million to learn why they lost men. Here's my free advice.
Let me tell you the tale of two beards. (Yes, beard, as in male facial hair.) Both cases say a lot about what's wrong with the Democratic Party and its struggles to hold on to men – particularly young men. It started last summer when then-candidate Donald Trump chose Ohio Sen. JD Vance for vice president. It seemed that all some people wanted to talk about … was Vance's beard. Democrats and their mouthpieces in the media did not appreciate Vance's renegade move to sport whiskers while serving in the political realm. Take this July 2024 Politico Magazine treatise, 'Yes, JD Vance's beard matters. Here's why.' The author talks about how for decades beards were seen as 'unprofessional and unhygienic,' before pivoting to how 'more recent research has shown that voters perceive facial hair as deeply masculine, which can come with both positive connotations (like competence) and negative ones (like aggression and less support of feminist issues).' Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. In other words, Vance's beard indicates a toxic masculinity vibe, according to progressive logic. Fast-forward to now, when former Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg – who is a Democrat – is getting very different treatment in response to his fresh lumberjack look. A recent piece in Slate that focuses entirely on Buttigieg's beard notes people are finding the new facial hair sexy and how beards in general are a 'particularly powerful tool' and a 'vehicle for personal transformation.' Is Buttigieg indeed trying on the beard to better appeal to men whom Democrats are losing, as he mulls another run for president? Therein lies the problem with both hairy tales – or at least a big part of it. Democrats' messaging is turning off American men. Will studying male voters help? In essence, Vance's beard received ridicule from the left because it appeared 'too manly' and must have misogynistic meaning (he is a Republican, after all). And now it appears that Buttigieg's advisers may believe he could persuade more men to give Democrats a chance by sporting facial hair. Is it any wonder many men are finding all this a turnoff? Can't a beard just be a beard? Democrats' devotion to appearance, gender, race and identity in general may appeal to the party's base, but it has ostracized a wide swath of men. Trump made gains across the demographic board in 2024 with this voting bloc, and Democrats are worried. That's why they are spending $20 million to study how best to talk to men, first reported last month by The New York Times. 'Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan' or 'SAM' will study 'the syntax' and 'language' of young male voters and prioritize a 'shift from a moralizing tone.' Democrats could have saved themselves a lot of money if they'd just come to me for advice. There are so many examples of what they did wrong in the past election. Men want respect. They don't want to be given 'permission' to vote for someone. When then-Vice President Kamala Harris took Joe Biden's place on the presidential ticket in July, the campaign centered on her race and her gender – and all the 'firsts' a Harris presidency would mean. Fundraising efforts like 'White Dudes for Harris' doubled down on her identity. In fact, just days before Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, he appeared on the 'White Dudes' call and said this of the upcoming election: 'How often in the world do you make that bastard (Trump) wake up afterwards and know that a Black woman kicked his ass and sent him on the road?' More recently, Walz has said that the Harris campaign wanted him on board because, as a White male, he could 'code talk' with other White males and men in general and serve as the "permission structure" to vote for a woman of color. This blatant push to give men 'permission' or cover to vote for Harris obviously backfired. One ad on behalf of Harris featured actor George Clooney narrating a message that chided tough-looking dudes to vote for Harris, underscoring they shouldn't give in to pressure to support Trump. Data guru Nate Silver in a recent post detailed some of the reasons Democrats are struggling with men. He noted a study that showed conservatives who report excellent mental health outnumber liberals 51% to 20%. Among Generation Z, born between 1997 to 2012, the mental health gap between men and women is 17 points (38% of men report very good or excellent mental health compared with 21% of women). It wasn't by coincidence that a New York Times/Siena College poll reported in August that among voters ages 18 to 29, there was a 24-point gender gap between male and female Trump voters. Silver concludes that 'it's those who report relatively high mental health and see Democrats as being too neurotic and perhaps constraining their opportunity to compete and reap the rewards of their work' who are leaving liberal identity politics and the diversity-fueled victimhood mentality by the wayside. And they are more likely to be men. The majority of men (and many conservative women) voted for Trump not because of what he looked like or what identity boxes he checked off. They liked what he promised for the economy and the security of our border. I hate to break it to Democrats, but it will take a lot more than 'code talk' and beards to win back men. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@ or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Why Is a House Democrat Making Nice With El Salvador's President?
Donald Trump is a big fan of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and turns a blind eye to his administration's myriad human rights violations and increasing authoritarianism in exchange for accepting deportees of any nationality. But why does Bukele also have a fan in Democratic Representative Vicente Gonzalez? The Texas moderate is the lone House Democrat to have met with Bukele while visiting El Salvador, and toured the country's Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, where immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia was once held and where Venezuelan immigrants removed from the U.S. are currently detained. Other Democrats, including Senator Chris Van Hollen, were unable to visit the prison or meet with Bukele on their visits to the country. 'El Salvador is crucial in helping the United States curb the flow of irregular migration and is an important ally in the western hemisphere,' Gonzalez said in a press release after his visit. Gonzalez's district voted for Trump in 2024 and is 90 percent Hispanic, and also happens to be on the U.S.'s southern border. Gonzales has praised Bukele, claiming that the Salvadoran leader has created for Latin America with his crackdown on gangs in the country. 'I think it's undeniable what he's done has been spectacular, in terms of bringing security to over 98 percent of the population that lived in turmoil for over a generation,' Gonzalez told Politico Magazine. 'He clean[ed] up the most dangerous country in the world and turn[ed] it into the safest in the hemisphere.' Along with former Representative Matt Gaetz, Gonzalez is a founding member of the El Salvador Caucus in Congress, and now is only one of two Democrats in the pro-Bukele organization along with Representative Lou Correa. That may be due to the fact that Bukele has trolled and mocked other Democrats on social media, who have criticized the Trump administration's deal with El Salvador. That doesn't seem to matter to Gonzalez, who thinks 'Democrats … shouldn't shy from building a diplomatic relationship with the country of El Salvador' despite the fact that human rights activists in the country have been arrested and journalists have been forced to flee. Perhaps Gonzalez should ask himself how he'd feel if Trump acted like the Salvadoran autocrat.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. says Jordan's king ‘cut us off' on 2,000 Gaza children pledge
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a Politico Magazine article published Monday that the king of Jordan 'cut us off' regarding a pledge to take in 2,000 sick Palestinian children. Two months ago, King Abdullah II of Jordan pledged to take in 2,000 sick Palestinian children from Gaza, but Kennedy said Jordan 'took 44, and then they've cut us off.' 'I would encourage him to put the welfare of these children first and put the politics aside,' Kennedy said, seemingly referring to the king. While at the White House earlier this year, Abdullah said he believed that 'the president is very happy that we do this thing with 2,000 children as quickly as possible.' 'I believe that the president is looking forward to getting a group of us Arabs here to discuss the overall plan,' he added. Gaza has faced dire conditions and mass death amid Israel's strikes amid its war with Hamas that began in October 2023. Early Monday, Israeli Cabinet members approved a plan to take control of the Gaza Strip for a length of time that was not specified, letting down hope that a ceasefire with Hamas could come soon. The late Pope Francis's popemobile is set to serve as a Gaza children's health clinic in a final wish from the pontiff who died last month, according to Vatican News. The News reported Monday that the conversion of the pontiff's popemobile was a final request from Francis for Gaza residents. The Hill has reached out to Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
05-05-2025
- Health
- The Hill
RFK Jr. says Jordan's king ‘cut us off' on 2,000 Gaza children pledge
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a Politico Magazine piece published Monday that the king of Jordan 'cut us off' when it came to a pledge to take in 2,000 sick Palestinian children. Two months ago, King Abdullah II of Jordan pledged to take in 2,000 sick Palestinian children from Gaza, but Kennedy said in the Politico Magazine piece that Jordan 'took 44, and then they've cut us off.' 'I would encourage him to put the welfare of these children first and put the politics aside,' Kennedy said, seemingly referring to the king. While at the White House earlier this year, Abdullah said he believed that 'the president is very happy that we do this thing with 2,000 children as quickly as possible.' 'I believe that the president is looking forward to getting a group of us Arabs here to discuss the overall plan,' he added. Gaza has faced dire conditions and mass death amid Israel's strikes on the territory amid its war with Hamas that began in October 2023. Early Monday, Israeli Cabinet members approved a plan to take control of the Gaza Strip for a length of time that was not specified, letting down hope that a ceasefire with Hamas could come soon. The late Pope Francis's popemobile is set to serve as a Gaza children's health clinic in a final wish from the pontiff who passed last month, according to Vatican News. The News reported Monday that the conversion of the pontiff's popemobile was a final request from Francis for Gaza residents.
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
How A First-Time Politician Defeated Canada's PM Candidate Pierre Poilievre In His Own Riding
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Bruce Fanjoy, a Liberal newcomer, stunned by defeating Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in Carleton, ending his 20-year MP tenure. Fanjoy's positive campaign, door-knocking, and Poilievre's perceived absence led to this significant win. In a stunning upset, Bruce Fanjoy, a stay-at-home dad and Liberal candidate, has defeated Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party, in the Carleton electoral district, with over 4,300 votes. This remarkable victory not only marked the end of Poilievre's 20-year tenure as the MP for Carleton but also dealt a significant blow to his bid for prime minister. Fanjoy's campaign was built on a foundation of positivity and hard work. "We ran a positive campaign, in remarkable contrast to Pierre's style of politics," he told Politico Magazine. "We attracted a small army of volunteers, and as the campaign carried on, more and more people believed in what we were doing." Fanjoy's dedication to his constituents was evident in his door-knocking efforts, which began in 2023. "I wore through two pairs of sneakers and a pair of boots," he recalled. The turning point in the campaign came when Donald Trump's threats against Canada began to escalate. "There was a sea change in what I was hearing at the doors," Fanjoy said. "Canadians recognised we were facing another U.S. administration led by Donald Trump and some of his hostile rhetoric toward Canada, our economy, and our political sovereignty." This shift in public opinion, combined with Poilievre's perceived absence from the riding, ultimately sealed his fate. Fanjoy attributed his success to his team's tireless efforts and Poilievre's complacency. "We outworked him," he said. "We were present, we were all over the riding, and we were connecting with voters. People appreciated the fact that we were present and that we offered a positive alternative to Pierre." Fanjoy also noted that Poilievre's absence from the riding was a significant factor in his defeat. "If there was one surprise that I had in this campaign in Carleton, it's that Pierre barely showed up," he said. "After all his time as MP, he took the riding for granted, and nobody likes to be taken for granted." As a first-time politician, Fanjoy remains committed to his values and principles. "I know who I am, and I'm going to be true to my values," he said. "I grew up playing competitive sports, I had a career in the private sector, so I understand what it's like to compete." Fanjoy's victory is seen as a referendum on Poilievre's leadership style and a rejection of his conservative ideology. "The result is very clear that Canadians want responsible leadership," Fanjoy said. "They want serious leadership, and this is no time to be flirting with the kind of politics that we're seeing down to the south." With the Liberal Party now forming a minority government, Fanjoy expects the party to govern with principle and in the best interests of Canadians. "We'll govern with principle, we'll govern in the best interests of Canadians," he said. "This Liberal government is filled with people who are committed to their communities and committed to this country."
