I don’t see a good argument, however, that the issue will help the Democrats in the midterms. On their own, the protests don’t seem big enough to inspire higher voter turnout among left-leaning people who rarely vote in midterms. Yet the issue does seem divisive enough to cause some swing voters to decide that Democrats are out of touch. It’s precisely the kind of issue that can lead white working-class voters to focus on the white part of their identity rather than the working-class part. When that happens, Republicans benefit. When those same voters are thinking about class — about taxes, health care and the like — Democrats benefit.
To retake Congress, Democrats need to win elections not just in solidly blue places like Massachusetts. They need to win in purple places, as well as in red places where protesting during the national anthem is even less popular than it is in the country as a whole.
That’s why a good number of Democrats are quietly — and smartly — staying away from the messy debate over the anthem. More should do so. This election is too important for Democrats not to do everything they can to win it.
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