Sherrod Brown’s Unspoken Truth: The Untold Story of His Political Downfall and the Democratic Party’s Migration Dilemma
Former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown has penned a 4,300-word political autopsy following his unexpected defeat in the 2024 election. However, the document notably avoids mentioning the immediate cause of his political demise: President Joe Biden’s controversial support for mass migration. While Brown’s silence on the issue is understandable, given the Democratic Party’s alignment with Wall Street’s demand for cheap labor and consumers, it underscores a deeper problem. The Democratic Party’s refusal to address the unintended consequences of immigration and free trade policies has alienated its once-loyal working-class base and left moderate Democrats powerless to advocate for American workers.
Wall Street’s Influence and the Free Trade Mirage
Brown’s autopsy places blame squarely on President Bill Clinton’s free trade agreements with Mexico and China in the 1990s. He argues that these policies gutted America’s manufacturing sector, replacing high-paying jobs with low-wage positions in retail and service industries. However, Brown conveniently ignores the flip side of this free trade equation: the flood of legal, illegal, and quasi-legal migrants who filled the remaining jobs, further destabilizing the labor market. Since 1990, this influx of migrants has driven down wages, trapping millions of Americans in low-paying positions while their communities were abandoned by investors and transformed by government policies. The Democratic Party’s alliance with Wall Street has left it unable to address this issue, even as voters grow increasingly frustrated with the economic and cultural consequences.
The Human Cost of Extraction Migration
The impact of mass migration on American workers is not just economic but deeply personal. In cities like Oakland, California, organizations like Street Level provide aid to day laborers, many of whom are undocumented migrants struggling to survive. Workers like Diego, who earns just $300 a week and often goes hungry to afford rent, highlight the harsh realities of a system that prioritizes corporate profits over worker dignity. While progressives lionize migrants as grateful and hardworking, they often overlook the toll this takes on American workers, who see their wages stagnate and their communities lose their identity. The Democratic Party’s rhetoric about empathy and inclusivity rings hollow when it fails to acknowledge the pain of its own voters.
The Progressive Conundrum: Elites vs. the Working Class
The Democratic Party’s progressive wing has become so enamored with the idea of open borders that even mentioning immigration is taboo. Party activists like Kevin Oyakawa openly advocate for abolishing Border Patrol, dismissing concerns about migration as mere racism. This attitude not only alienates working-class Democrats but also harms the very progressives who once formed the backbone of the party. White-collar liberals, who might otherwise support Democratic candidates like Brown, are increasingly hurt by the influx of cheaper labor, which undermines their own economic stability. Brown’s inability to challenge Wall Street’s radicalism has left his staff and supporters adrift, with 70 people losing their jobs after his defeat. His own voting record earned him an “F” rating from NumbersUSA, a pro-American migration group, highlighting his failure to stand up for workers.
The Voters’ Revolt and the Democratic Party’s Identity Crisis
Brown’s autopsy hints at the growing frustration among voters, who are increasingly skeptical of the Democratic Party’s commitment to their interests. He writes about the need to trust workers, acknowledging their concerns about inflation, free trade, and tariffs. Yet, the party’s leadership remains beholden to Wall Street donors who insist that November’s electoral disaster was merely a “messaging” issue. The numbers tell a different story. Across Ohio and the country, the Democratic Party’s reputation has become toxic. In union towns once considered part of its base, voters now view the party with outright hostility. Brown acknowledges the root cause: an economy that no longer rewards work or values Americans without college degrees. Over the past 40 years, corporate profits have soared while wages have stagnated, leaving workers feeling betrayed.
Trump, Tariffs, and the Battle for the Working Class
While Brown calls for a “generational effort” to transform the Democratic Party into a workers’ party again, he faces an uphill battle. President Donald Trump has already capitalized on the issue, touting recent job gains for native-born Americans and positioning himself as a champion of the working class. His administration’s policies, including stricter enforcement of immigration laws and tariffs on foreign goods, have resonated with voters who feel abandoned by both parties. For Democrats to reclaim their mantle as the workers’ party, they must confront the consequences of their own policies and prioritize the dignity of American workers. Until then, the divide between the party’s elite donors and its working-class base will only continue to grow.