Tim Walz’s Silly ‘Insight’ Highlights Democrats’ Obsession with Identity Politics

Tim Walz, a former vice-presidential candidate, recently addressed an audience at Harvard’s Kennedy School, stating that Kamala Harris picked him as a running mate for his extraordinary ability to connect with average white men.

“I can communicate with white guys—talking about football, fixing trucks,” he detailed. “I was the green light for them to think, ‘You can vote for this.’”

Indeed, “permission structures” seem to be a hot topic among the guys these days.

Unfortunately, the so-called White Guy Whisperer didn’t bolster the Democratic Party ticket in 2024.

One might speculate that the governor of Minnesota harbors a misguided self-image as the archetype of the working-class man.

Even if he were, few would pay attention. Obvious pandering fails to resonate with any race or gender.

For instance, men who engage with other men typically don’t boast about their knack for connecting.

Regardless of what you think about Donald Trump, he doesn’t “code” his messaging to curry favor with the working class or anyone else.

Take his critique of NFL general managers for passing on Shedeur Sanders; it’s evident his remarks aren’t filtered through cautious pollsters or handlers.

Unfortunately, authenticity is the last quality that comes to mind watching Walz’s clumsy attempts at masculinity in 2024, whether it’s during his awkward Madden video game match with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or his hunting trip where he struggled with a shotgun.

The idea that “white guys” would be captivated by a candidate simply because he enjoys football is frankly insulting. Just because a couple of white men chat about trucks doesn’t imply they share the same views on foreign policy.

While it’s easy to overanalyze a politician’s words, Walz’s comment about a “white guy code” reflects a significant issue hindering Democrats: their unnatural fixation on identities.

It’s tragically misguided and decidedly un-American to engage individuals based on their race. At a basic level, voters who identify themselves or allow others to identify them through unchangeable traits diminish their self-worth and autonomy.

There exists no such thing as “white guys” beyond a biological definition.

Trump and I are both white men from Queens, though admittedly, one of us has had a bit more success.

Yet, a white Southern Baptist from Georgia may relate to Trump, a billionaire with a gilded lifestyle, in ways I can’t comprehend.

A white Evangelical from rural South Carolina, a Catholic from Arizona, or an atheist from Oregon all possess distinct cultural values, interests, and peculiarities.

A tiny handful of racists define themselves by their “whiteness.”

Personally, I’ve never pondered what other “white people” are thinking or doing, nor has any rational person.

In contrast, the Democratic Party is a coalition formed around identity politics.

This fixation compels them to invest considerable energy into portraying the opposition as a bigoted adversary.

The left has wagered that demographic changes would reshape the electorate, effectively dismantling the “white” Republican Party. That hasn’t occurred.

Democrats view the world through a lens of color, assuming everyone shares that myopic perspective.

For years, Republicans have attempted to connect with Hispanic and Black voters to broaden their coalition, adjusting policies and elevating minority candidates solely to relate to voters through identity.

This strategy never yields results, as identity politics is greatly overrated.

Generational voting trends and regional allegiances wield far more influence over our choices.

Urban voters typically back Democrats who resonate with their moral beliefs. Urban areas house a higher density of minorities, while rural constituents tend to support traditional values. The political divide is more about worldviews than race.

If racial divisions exist, it’s often due to the modern left grouping people together.

One advantage of federalism and local governance is its ability to accommodate diverse populations under a single federal system that upholds essential principles.

Democrats have spent years striving to centralize federal authority and adopt structures that force people to conform to their increasingly narrow and irrational liberal ideologies.

One of the most detrimental aspects of this perspective is projecting one’s own racial views onto others.