“If you drive a Volvo and you do yoga, you’re pretty much a Democrat. And if you drive a Lincoln or a BMW and you own a gun, you’re voting for George W. Bush.”
–Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign manager Ken Mehlman, explaining how the GOP identified potential voters.
But what if you’re a Lincoln-driving yoga practitioner? Or a Volvo-driving gun owner? Or even (shudder) a gun-owning yoga practitioner? What are you then?
Here’s a suggestion for the next four years:
Every hardcore Democratic “blue-state” voter should take up at least one stereotyped “red-state” activity: hunting, NASCAR fandom, military enlistment, etc. Meanwhile red-staters should reciprocate by indulging in at least one activity associated with blue-staters: latte drinking, National Public Radio listening, “West Wing” watching, etc.
Not only would this help unite a divided nation; it would drive campaign experts like Mehlman nuts– both worthy goals, I think.
