The Democratic Party's Misguided Efforts to Win Men

As the election approaches, the Democratic Party is struggling to connect with men, especially black and Hispanic ones. Recent efforts to appeal to this demographic have been clumsy and off-target. For instance, Vice President Kamala Harris recently unveiled an "Opportunity Agenda for Black Men, " focusing on legalizing marijuana and regulating cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tried to engage men by playing the football video game Madden, but their attempt fell flat due to a misunderstanding of football terminology. Additionally, a political action fund is running ads that depict young men watching pornography, suggesting that the Democratic Party sees this as the ideal behavior for their target audience. However, many young men want more than just marijuana, video games, and pornography. They desire stable jobs, family support, and a sense of purpose. A New York Times report found that many men aspire to make enough money to support their families and have children. This contradicts the current Democratic agenda, which often focuses on creating a welfare state and a "care economy" that may not prioritize traditional family structures. Men are also growing tired of being portrayed as oppressors while dealing with real issues such as lower graduation rates, lack of due process in sexual misconduct cases, and the challenging job market. If the Democratic Party wants to form a stronger governing coalition, it needs to better understand and address the real concerns and aspirations of men.