The Limits of Woke Politics

Abou t this time last year, when the various candidates for the Democratic nomination were racing to disavow their past votes and stances while shoring up their claims to wokeness—their commitment to social justice and the advancement of oppressed social groups—I suggested that this election cycle would become ever-more defined by identity-preening and the Jacobin pursuit of purity. Some of that did happen. In successive debates, the candidates attempted to outdo themselves in acts of ritual piety. But it wasn’t all wokeness: While some candidates sought to weaponize some aspect of their identity as women or minorities, Bernie Sanders stuck to his roots—a broad appeal to the American people on behalf of the working class. Joe Biden similarly stuck to familiar positions. I find myself most surprised that he has survived, but he discovered early on that the woke tyrants never accept a partial apology and hewed to his obvious advantage as the moderate in the room. Perhaps this demonstrates the degree to which claims of identity fail to resonate deeply outside elite culture, the universities, and media. What wins likes and retweets probably doesn’t win votes—and Biden profits from that. Read Full Article »