A subtle post about inclusion and those who are 'mousy, introverted'

[inthecorneroverhere]

Anyone else here "mousy, introverted?"

I took the phraseology from a thread over in GD about women that hate Hillary Clinton. The reference was to someone in East Texas who raised Cain when Hillary's name gets mentioned. She was described as "mousy, introverted," AND the rest of the phrase is "ultra-conservate, bible-thumping" which I gather describes no-one here except freeper lurkers. :-)

I've always been introverted. I'm short - 5 ft. and a little bit. Not really overweight, maybe 5% over what I could be. I dunno about 'mousy,' but it's not like I have a head of Swedish-type blonde hair. Mine's kinda brown, not black and not blonde.

I'm trying to make a subtle point about inclusion here. If Dems like 'bold fashion plate-attractive-assertive women' in preference to those of us who are 'mousy, introverted,' they are taking a huge risk politically. I am already aware that a lot of the 'beautiful people' in Hollywood are tight-in with the Dems.

I'm not a member of a visible minority group, i.e. I'm a white female between 18 and 55. I have had experiences in the North, New England in particular, with very 'liberal' individuals that call themselves 'Democrats' who have rejected me very quickly based on things like seeing a southern-state licence plate, solely on the basis that I am a 'white southerner.'

I'm making a rather subtle point with this post about inclusion. Like probably 85% of the population, I am one of those individuals who was never endowed with beauty pageant looks, nor with the boldness of a Hillary in rapport.

I'm not particularly liberal on social issues, i.e. I'm liberal on some and conservative on others. I believe that there is such a thing as ethics and moral standards. For example, I believe in testing and having high academic standards in education. I also believe schools need to be adequately funded. One indicator that I am not extremely liberal socially is that when I post here, I attempt to make my posts comfortable for a parent, and a 12-year old studying history or elections to read. In other words, I don't believe in using bad language here. Sure, I'll sometimes cuss like a sailor at home, especially if I've stubbed my toe or the whole pile of dreck in the workshop that I have taken considerable effort to arrange in a neat and orderly fashion falls down again in chaos. However, I don't believe in using potty-mouth in a place where a 10-year old could read it.

I am a staunch supporter of the right of American workers to a just, living wage. I am a staunch supporter of protecting our American standard of living through protecting the jobs held by our middle class and creating better jobs for those who are falling through the cracks. I am adamantly against corporate welfare. I believe something pretty drastic needs to be done both about the deficit and about the crazy state of the health care system.

Do Dem's want to include 'me'?, or are they looking for any of:

1) Hollywood looks for spokespeople and visible donors
2) Strident verbal audacity to the point of creating 'litmus tests' on certain social issues that are very divisive
3) Folks that aren't 'white southerners' with a preference for puritanical New Englanders. I have noticed less attention paid to the African American southern vote in the last few campaigns.

This is a question to ponder. I probably won't reply to the responses, since I want to throw this question out in a sort of 'theoretical' fashion and invite the board members to explore issues rather than personal facts. To sum up, the issues are about whether Dems are willing to drop factionalism and admit people who are not as liberal on some of the social issues nor as strident as the Hollywood glitterati.

Are the Dems willing to return to working-class roots and populism?

[BlueJazz]

1. I'll leave the main topic of your great post just to state..

...that as far as I'm concerned, you sound like a pretty cool person yourself.
I think a lot of Democratic men (when they talk about "Hot" woman) are also talking about women who can string great thoughts, such as yours, together.

[amazona]

2. sure, you're included

The majority of Democrats are not particularly glamourous or beautiful. It is a very inclusive party. Most politicians are going to be gregarious and extroverted, regardless of party affiliation, because they have to be people who can handle having other people's demands pressing in on them all day. Don't confuse what people look for in a celebrity spokesperson with what they look for in a voter or an activist or a letter writeror even a politician. Was Paul Wellstone physically beautiful? I think not. The party of putting up empty designer suits happens to be the GOP.

As a white southerner myself, I have experienced the prejudice you describe against white southerners. It sucks, sure. But, you know what, the Yankee (sorry if any Northerner here is offended by the term but it seems to fit) who assumes all southern accents is stupid is just as likely to be GOP as Democrat. Go to a party or function sponsored by the dark side, and you will see that I am right. Or -- and I find this even more offensive -- the dark sider will start spewing all their anti-black, anti-gay crap at you, just assuming you will go along because you are from the south. I hate that!

Neither side is perfect but, as we have a two party system and the Democrats have done far more for the little guy than the other side, then I believe we need to overlook the prejudiced individuals and work with what we have.

And I agree with you that we need to pay more attention to our loyal African-American voters. I personally believe it's time for an African-American presidential or vice-presidential candidate.

For the record, while I can pass as a normal human being if pressed, my nature is to be extremely introverted. I am not however "mousy," as I like high fashion, and I suppose could be viewed as "flashy." But I've never heard anyone say I shouldn't sign a petition or vote for a candidate because my blouse hurt their eyeballs...mousy is the default, and I think most people prefer it, but if someone wants to be prejudiced because you're not a blonde, well, tell them to go do themselves. I've been blonde, brunette, redhead, and other...it really doesn't and shouldn't matter. Hillary Clinton must be more conservative in her dress and manner because she is a politician but there is no reason that a regular woman-on-the-street progressive should dye her hair blonde unless she darn well feels like it!

On Edit: I'm real short, too, and it stinks, but I don't think Democrats have any monopoly on patronizing short people. We can't all be Swedish, if we were, I guess we'd be in Sweden now!

[MuseRider]

3. Pretty good for an introvert!

I can't answer all your questions but this is a hard place to be if you are introverted. In my real life I don't take any crap but most people don't even know I am around unless I know them well. It took me a while to feel comfortable enough to post here and I am still tormented by the times I kill threads or nobody answers. It is my nature to be a bit insecure. I don't for a second think that anyone here would exclude you. Many of us are far left but many are more moderate. It may just be the nature of this board. So many people who "know" each other and feel comfortable with the banter.

I think we have always been the party you describe. We here get distracted by certain issues and seem to learn by reading and arguing at times and for an introvert that can be difficult. A board by it's nature lends itself well to that. I have certainly learned a lot here.

That is just my two cents and it really does not mean a lot but I do understand. I think the party is still the party of working class roots and populism. It just may not always be apparent here while we argue and learn how to deal with what has become of our country.

Peace.

[KG]

4. i'm a mousey introverted guy.

think i should go blond? :)

[JanMichael]

5. Hmm. Honestly? I've been making a real effort to avoid exclusionary talk.

That would include exactly what you are describing.

So YES you're exactly who I want to include in our movemnet!

The expletives however will probably continue.

Perhaps there's a way to deal with that which isn't too restrictive?


PS~ My whole family is either Southern or recently moved to Charlotte, NC so I've made an attempt to "get" the elusive "Southern Voter" too.

[ForrestGump]

6. Noy 'mousey' (whatever that is), often introverted (well, reclusive), BUT

I do know what it's like to be excluded, or to be made to feel as if I was excluded, on the basis of some imagined criteria that I somehow did not meet. It sucks.

But I don't believe that the Democratic Party is truly like that. Sure, they're just like everyone else....except....they're not. Regardless, even if the Party were neglecting certain among its constituency (unintentionally or because they want to focus on 'sexier' issues that may more affect other demographics), DU is here as a refuge and maybe we somehow can prod them into waking up and smelling their supporters.

Are they going to go 'working-class' and populist? I don't know. I would hope that they would retain or expand that part of their makeup but the question then becomes whether it is more important that the party becomes all things to everyone, inevitably a totally unrealistic goal, or whether they remain coherent and cohesive enough to win and thereby help make things at least a little better for everyone.

[Elidor]

7. Your place in the party is what you make of it

Of course we want your inclusion. What so many people don't understand - and this includes many DUers: we're stronger for your presence. It's worth our while to be as open-minded as possible to different views. It's worth our while to make peace with ideas that we don't agree with in the interest of forming a more representative government for the people, against the corporations. Your position on education closely resembles my own. I'd go further and tie education to military spending at a ratio of 1:10. We'd be much better for it.

You think that certain democrats are snubbing you? Who cares what they think? You bring energy to the party. Don't let them keep you from doing your best.