CNN host Fareed Zakaria delivered a blistering critique of the Democratic Party, attributing their 2024 electoral defeat to several critical missteps on key issues such as immigration and identity politics.
Fox News reported that Zakaria argued that Democrats' misinterpretation of public sentiment on crucial matters made them appear disconnected from mainstream voters, ultimately contributing to Kamala Harris's loss in the presidential race.
Zakaria's analysis, delivered during his show "GPS" on Sunday, highlighted what he saw as a significant "blindness" to evolving public opinions on immigration.
He pointed out that the Biden administration's response to the border crisis and an overwhelmed asylum system was seen as inadequate.
While Americans once only moderately favored restricting immigration, by 2024, a majority sought more stringent measures, yet the administration remained unwavering in its policy approach.
The host emphasized the stark change in public opinion, with the percentage of Americans wanting to reduce immigration increasing from 28% in 2020 to 55% in 2024. Despite this shift, Harris adhered closely to Biden's existing policies, which Zakaria suggested might have cost her pivotal support.
Alongside immigration, Zakaria critiqued what he termed the Democrats' mismanagement of legal actions against former President Donald Trump.
He argued that Democratic enthusiasm for exhaustive legal battles against Trump, notably the case spearheaded by Alvin Bragg in New York, was perceived as politically motivated “lawfare” rather than justice. This perception, Zakaria asserted, bolstered Trump's narrative and energized his base, transforming a potentially vulnerable candidate into a formidable one.
Zakaria’s disapproval extended to what he described as Democrats' preoccupation with identity politics, which he believes alienated working-class voters, particularly Latinos. The use of the term "Latinx," despite its lack of popularity within the Latino community, was emblematic of the party's focus on identity issues. Instead of winning over these voters, the approach seemed to push many towards Trump's rhetoric and policies.
Zakaria cautioned Democrats about these potential pitfalls ahead of the election, yet, his warnings were met with resistance from within the party. During a PBS interview in May, he urged President Biden to reconsider immigration policies and draw insights from Trump's handling of the issue. Despite his advocacy for change, the Democratic leadership maintained its course.
The aftermath of the election saw Democrats engaging in internal disputes. Some within the party placed the blame on President Biden for not stepping aside earlier, while others criticized Harris for purportedly obscuring Biden's perceived cognitive decline.
The defeat marked a significant point in electoral history, being the first time since 2004 that a Democrat lost the popular vote.
The New York Times estimated Harris's loss by approximately a point and a half—an indication of shifting political landscapes and voter priorities.
In his critique, Zakaria didn't dismiss the achievements made under the Biden administration, noting economic strides such as strong employment figures and increasing wages alongside decreasing inflation. However, he insisted these achievements were overshadowed by strategic errors.
Zakaria's closing remarks offered a stark reflection: Democrats failed to capitalize on their early advantage post-January 6th. "They blew it," he concluded, suggesting that internal party dynamics and strategic missteps resulted in an opportunity squandered.
