What is a "Lunch Pail" Democrat?

[Tracer]

I got a call from a pollster last night, asking questions about the candidates for Rep. Marty Meehan's (D-MA) seat in the House when he resigns in September.

One of the questions was "Would I support a Lunch Pail Democrat". My response was "Huh? Never heard of the term".

Anyone know?

[William769]

1. This was all I could find.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/02/12/who_are_you_calling_working_class/

[Warpy]

2. That refers to the rank and file working person

who, before the creation of fast food joints and roach coaches, took a cold lunch to work in a metal container called a pail (although it wasn't) because he didn't have access to the dining facilities management used.

I would support a working person's Democrat in a New York minute.

[wildhorses]

3. blue collar as opposed to white collar

labor as opposed to management

[noel711]

4. A semi-veiled reference to social class....

If you are 'working class,' you can't afford to buy your lunch, but must brown bag it, ('lunch pails' were a term of a previous generation. And thus, in the past, voted Democratic because of the support of the labor unions.

If you are white collar worker, you have lunch 'out,' in the past, these lunches ("martini lunches") were a business expense, paid for thru your employer. Now it's simply a status move, or a social move; folks who can afford lunch 'out' on a daily basis usually voted Republican.

That's my 2 cents worth...

From a 'lunch pail' professional..

[Tracer]

5. Thanks.

Obviously, I knew what a lunch pail was --- and after I hung up figured it must relate to pro-union, pro-working class etc. I just never had heard the term applied to any potential candidate.

There are 6 Democratic candidates for Meehan's job, and every single one has positions that I agree with --- making my voting choice quite difficult.

[Iris]

10. Interesting. My take is folks who eat lunch "out" on a daily basis are just fat.

Who can afford the calories?

[Apollo11]

6. Such a dumb question

How can anyone say no to that question? :eyes:

"No - I only vote for candidates who eat lunch in restaurants"

Why does it matter what someone has for lunch or how poor they are?

Surely what matters is what experience can a candidate bring to the job.

Where does she or he stand on the issues that are important to you?

[noel711]

7. I don't think the expression is about the candidate...

but about the contingiency to whom he/she appeals....

But I think it's a campaign requirement that the candidates go out, and be with the 'folks,' and thus they are seen on the campaign trail eating at local lunch counters, cafeterias..and eating things that aren't the usual diet... Bill Clinton loved this part of the campaign.

[Fovea]

8. A roll up them blue work sleeves, workin class kinda Dem

Often economically populist, highly pro labor, and frequently isolationist/protectionist.
Yes, I would support such a Dem.

We are being smacked hard right now, and we need to put the working class back on its feet.

[nealmhughes]

9. If you know what "4 to 12" means or "Mids" then you are one. If not, then you aren't.