Staff Reports
Representative James Clyburn’s recent appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” revealed a startling alarm bell ringing in the hearts of Democrats everywhere. It seems that the grassroots support among black men for former President Donald Trump has become a sinister whisper in the halls of power for the Democratic Party. Clyburn explicitly voiced his dread that black men might actually be considering the straightforward appeal from Trump instead of dutifully siding with the Democratic narrative.
During the interview, host Dana Bash didn’t waste time getting to the heart of the matter. She highlighted the sentiments of Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, who closely campaigned alongside Clyburn in Michigan. Dingell’s brave proclamation noted that many black men feel that Democrats take them for granted while Trump talks to them “directly.” One can hardly blame Democrats for wanting to keep this under wraps. After all, a group of voters recognizing their agency and considering all options is a nightmare for a party that thrives on dependency.
WOW!
Rep. James Clyburn says he is concerned that young black men will either stay home or vote for Donald J. Trump!
Barack Obama had no effect.
Everyone remembers his 8 years of lies.pic.twitter.com/hquuUyUan0
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) October 13, 2024
Clyburn’s response was a mix of concern and denial. While admitting his worries about black men choosing to stay home or, heaven forbid, vote for Trump, he insisted that these concerns wouldn’t dampen his enthusiasm for the Democrat campaign. This may be a classic case of fake it till you make it, as he rambled on about how effective his campaigning in Michigan was. He claimed to have met with a bevy of key figures within the black community, including religious and union leaders as if these platitudes could somehow drown out the growing discontent among voters.
The revelation that black men are beginning to hold Democrats accountable must be particularly unsettling for Clyburn. He outlined how he has been frank in his talks, contrasting the vision for a Harris administration against that of Trump’s. He even went as far as to conjure up a specter dubbed “Project 2025”, predicting that under a Trump administration, black men would be subjected to “Jim Crow 2.0.” Such a statement raises an eyebrow and calls into question the tendency of Democrats to resort to hyperbolic fears whenever their grip on the narrative slips away.
In the end, Clyburn’s rant serves as a reminder that the Democratic Party’s grasp on the black vote isn’t a birthright. They are learning that their attempts to take marginalized groups for granted might just backfire. Voters, particularly black men, are starting to absorb the message from Trump that they deserve more than the empty promises and patronizing rhetoric that has characterized much of the Democratic strategy. The next election could just be a referendum on how well the left has been listening, or rather, ignoring.
