It's not racism, but it is about race. The Democrats' message feels anti-White. It makes absolutely no difference whether CRT or the 1619 Project is actually anti-White, so saying they aren't is a non sequitur in a discussion of political reality. Identitarianism is perceived by the average White working stiff as an attack on the average White working stiff. The Democrats seem all too eager to talk about DEI but have no time for AFL or CIO. Hillary lost the "Blue Wall" states because she didn't go after the labor vote. It was there for Trump to take, and he took it.

Trump's message was simple: It's OK to be White. The Democrats' message is exactly the opposite, at least that's how it is heard, whatever its intent. The people who brought us "Defund the police" can complain that they are being misinterpreted, but if they want to win elections, they need to avoid saying things that are so easy to misrepresent and misunderstand.

A party that won't defend America's Origin Story will not garner the votes of White working class Americans. That means the Republicans' winning strategy boils down simply to not being Democrats. The Democrats take care of the heavy lifting.