General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: James Carville worried Dems set to lose over social issues [View all]fishwax
(29,149 posts)I can see that defund the police is a legitimately controversial phrase. Personally I think the phrase is fine (if defended and explained aggressively and strategically), but I can see why some would argue that (a) the term could scare older white voters (like my mom, who freaked out when she heard dems wanted to "defund the police" and/or (b) that one could more effectively argue for the same policies under the banner of police reform.
But "people of color"? That's just not a controversial label, except perhaps among very, very uptight white folk. I know hundreds of people who think of themselves as a "person of color." I also know some folks who may not use the term for their own identity primarily or even at all, but I don't think I know anyone who is a person of color who would be offended at the term. I can't fathom this term turning off voters who were ever going to vote dem anyway. It's a really bizarre association.
I mean, Obama joked about Boehner being a "person of color ... a color not found in nature" (or something similar) way back in his first term. And I don't remember it being any more controversial than, say, wearing a tan suit or using utensils to eat pizza. Or greeting someone with a fist bump.