Middle-Class Pennsylvania
Singing. Dancing. Sign waving. Chants. You might expect to find these at a Trump rally. At last night’s town-hall meeting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, however, it was all cheers for Hillary. Thus far, Clinton’s campaign has struggled to create enthusiasm from even her own party, but that lack of buzz was no where to be seen in Harrisburg. Clinton spoke to the people as one of them. She spoke of her Scranton roots and the identity Pennsylvanians have of themselves as “blue-collar, hardworking, capable of manufacturing the steel that built the country and producing energy that keeps on the lights.” While the rally centered on reaching out to these middle-class workers, a central theme of family dominated Clinton’s responses last night. By focusing on what matters to families, Hillary Clinton managed both to humanize herself and expand her middle-class base in the important battleground state of Pennsylvania.
Past Record
“When I think about this election, I think of my own family.” That’s how actress Elizabeth Banks started off the rally. From that moment onward, the theme of the night was clear. Banks, as well as Clinton and her daughter Chelsea, all focused on Hillary Clinton’s track record of looking out for children. In an important moment, Chelsea even addressed the concept that perhaps Clinton is simply focusing on family just to gain votes: “I wish that people really understood that… putting families and children first isn’t rhetorical for my mom. It’s something I watched her do my whole life.” Hillary also focused on steps she has taken and will continue to take to help working parents, including focusing on paid family leave. By backing up rhetoric with past actions, Hillary was able to highlight that she will work to protect what every middle-class American has: a family.
Other Issues
An important aspect of her family theme yesterday was that Clinton expanded the idea beyond just the nuclear family. She spoke about various topics that are currently on the minds of middle-class America. Clinton touched on her plan to make college free for students that are from families making less than $125,000. Issues related to the significance of body positivity for young girls and the importance of care for the elderly also were brought up. Perhaps yesterday’s town-hall meeting garnered so much enthusiasm because it showcased a Hillary that middle-class America can get behind; a candidate for whom family matters.
I like your points about Hillary using the values of family to rhetorically reach the middle class, because that is the only similarity she can really exploit with that group. It is interesting that Trump hasn’t tried to take that angle being that he has such a large and active family, but the story of his family does not seem as warm as that of Hillary Clinton (divorces, affairs, etc). I will be interested to see if Hillary is able to successfully recycle the same story of her fathers modest shop and her middle class, family based upbringing at the town hall debate. I don’t see her appeals standing up as well to active critics who are truly living middle-class lifestyles.
I agree with your view of Hillary Clinton, family, and the middle-class. She uses her past to project her future plans and speak to voters. Clinton goes to context rather than phrases that warp voters’ into thinking she will stand with them. She has a history of working with mothers and children so she frames her rhetoric around those experiences. Her policies center around the family including paid family leave, debt-free college, medical care extensions like her mental health care plan. She also plays on her own family. Despite its’ past scandals and negative portrayal by the media, Clinton draws on her experience as a wife, mother, and daughter to help her connect with families and reach middle-class voters.