Under Trump, Republicans have forever shed their image as the party of the country club…
— from ‘Party of the People No More’, by Alan Greenblatt, Governing.com, January 11, 2024.
Alan Greenblatt is a smart guy, for a journalist. Prior to becoming the editor at Governing magazine, he wrote for NPR. You can’t be a dummy and write for NPR.
So when he writes that Republicans have “shed their image as the party of the country club,” we’re pretty much obligated to give that claim some credibility. Even if the unofficial head of the party plays a lot of golf.
I’ve never belonged to a country club. In fact, I’m not exactly sure what a country club is. I think it’s a group of rich business owners and politicians who get together to play golf and make deals. But that’s just a vague impression I’ve gotten from watching movies and TV.
A few things you might talk about at the country club:
The sand trap on Hole 5.
The guy who had a heart attack on the 18th tee, but somehow managed to finish the hole, and then died.
Warren Buffett’s latest advice on tech investments.
The fact that Joe Biden doesn’t have a chance in hell.
Your latest prostate-specific antigen test results.
If someone asked me to join a country club, I would probably say, sure, why not? Unless I had to pay money to be a member. I am religiously opposed to being part of any group that makes me pay money to be a member.
Unfortunately, the only golf I’ve ever played was mini-golf. I suspect that doesn’t qualify. I can hardly imagine politicians and business moguls deciding the future of the world while playing mini-golf.
Well, yes, I can imagine it… but hardly.
Mr. Greenblatt’s article in Governing magazine referred to the exodus of working class voters from the Democratic Party, suggesting that working people — of all ethnic backgrounds — believe you should get a job and earn an honest living, even if you’re gay or lesbian. And even if the job pays $12 an hour, and you’re living in your car, with two kids and a dog.
But I’m wondering if that’s really what’s going on? I mean, I’m not an expert on the economy — who is? — but I wonder if we all shouldn’t have a chance to join the country club. And maybe that’s why people are dissatisfied with Joe Biden? Because he doesn’t play golf?
Obama played golf, and he actually got re-elected.
The American working class is called the working class, because they’re working. But do we really want to be working? Isn’t the ultimate goal to retire, and play golf? Every day?
Or maybe, once a week? Because sometimes we need to stay home and watch the basketball game, for example. Or better yet, the Masters.
Now that the Republicans are getting rid of women’s reproductive rights, maybe they can make up for it by inviting the ladies to join the country club. From what I’ve seen online, most women look good in red MAGA hats. And looking good is probably just as important as your score.
Anyway, it seems a shame for the Republicans to forever shed their image as the party of the country club.
They just need to allow the rest of us to join.
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all.