Democrats Have No Monopoly on “Joy”
October 16, 2024
When Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president, “joy” became a theme of her campaign. At least until recently, this comparatively upbeat approach had seemed to pay off, putting Democrats in a stronger position than before Harris became the party’s standard-bearer. As the race reaches the homestretch, however, the momentum appears to be turning against Harris; time will obviously tell. In any case, Democrats unquestionably chose to put “vibes” at the forefront of the Harris campaign, believing that this gave them the best chance of winning.
The Harris campaign has sought to bring various stereotypes of the two parties to the front of the public’s mind. Democrats want to present themselves as the party of the future, optimistic and welcoming change. They seek to portray Republicans, by contrast, as embittered, retrogressive dinosaurs, clinging to unearned privileges. It is not outlandish for people to accept this dichotomy: the trope of the right-wing uncle who ruins family get-togethers with political tirades is now a staple of popular culture. When they embrace angry rhetoric and engage in wild conspiracy theories, some Republican leaders and conservative influencers can reinforce this typecast.
