John Stoehr

John Stoehr is managing editor of The Washington Spectator. He teaches writing at Yale. His essays and journalism have appeared in The American Prospect, Reuters Opinion, the Guardian, and Dissent, among other publications. He blogs about politics for the New Statesman and The Washington Spectator, and he's a frequent contributor to Al Jazeera English. Follow him on twitter @johnastoehr.

Republicans Don’t Really Care About Inequality

Inequality is emerging as a major issue in the 2016 presidential race, and Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz and others are going to try hard to convince us that the Republican Party cares, really cares, about the plight of the poor and an ever-shrinking middle class.

John Stoehr
By John Stoehr
MItt Romney,

The Republican Party appears to accept that poverty and the inequities of wealth and political power that have prevailed over the last 15 years are issues it can no longer ignore. Not without paying a price. Mitt Romney's cool indifference to the everyday struggles of working Americans went a long way toward sinking his 2012 campaign. But

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Freedom And Liberty: Ideas Democrats Should Fight For In The Coming Elections

When Roosevelt and the Old Left fought for Social Security, a minimum wage, workplace regulations and other policies, they didn’t do it only because they were smart policies. They did it because they liberated Americans from forces beyond their control but that could inflict fear and pain without notice.

John Stoehr
By John Stoehr
Mark Farris worked for Ford for 30 years. He turned out to voice his opposition to what is happening in society and with workers. He says, "The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer."

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut — Congressional Democrats believe, and are right to believe, that even anti-government Tea Party Republicans like what government does. Complain as they might about taxes, they value Medicare and Social Security. So while a few red-state Democrats are going to distance themselves from the Democrats' identity as the party

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The Economy, Middle Class And Election: What If Romney Wins?

(CONNECTICUT) — It has been said that liberalism won the culture war — or is winning it. Homosexuals can marry. Women are secretaries of state, chief executive officers and Indy race car drivers. Minorities have legally protected purchase of the American franchise. And a half-white, half-black grandson of a working-class secretary who self-identifies as African-American […]

John Stoehr
By John Stoehr
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and wife Ann Romney vote in Belmont, Mass., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

(CONNECTICUT) -- It has been said that liberalism won the culture war — or is winning it. Homosexuals can marry. Women are secretaries of state, chief executive officers and Indy race car drivers. Minorities have legally protected purchase of the American franchise. And a half-white, half-black grandson of a working-class secretary who

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Overreacting And The Race: Why Liberals Are Killing Themselves

(CONNECTICUT) — With the second debate behind us, and with President Barack Obama being the winner by most accounts, it might be time for liberals and Democrats to reassess their reaction to the first debate. I’m sure most would rather look ahead than behind, especially given that there’s only about a fortnight remaining until Election […]

John Stoehr
By John Stoehr
In this Oct. 9, 2012 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

(CONNECTICUT) -- With the second debate behind us, and with President Barack Obama being the winner by most accounts, it might be time for liberals and Democrats to reassess their reaction to the first debate. I'm sure most would rather look ahead than behind, especially given that there's only about a fortnight remaining until Election Day. But no

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Did The Media Change The Course Of The Presidential Election?

(CONNECTICUT) — After watching the first presidential debate last week, I thought President Barack Obama had a very bad night, Republican Mitt Romney had a very good night, neither lived up to expectations (high and low, respectively), and the whole thing amounted to a draw. The challenger must argue that the incumbent is no longer […]

John Stoehr
By John Stoehr
Stand-ins for moderator Jim Lehrer, center, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, and President Barack Obama, right, run through a rehearsal for a debate at the University of Denver Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

(CONNECTICUT) -- After watching the first presidential debate last week, I thought President Barack Obama had a very bad night, Republican Mitt Romney had a very good night, neither lived up to expectations (high and low, respectively), and the whole thing amounted to a draw. The challenger must argue that the incumbent is no longer worthy of an

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Myths Of The White Working Class

No matter who wins in November, one thing is certain. We won’t be hearing about the white working class anymore, not for another four years. This misunderstood class, millions in number, is the belle of the ball every presidential election cycle. The rest of the time, though, it’s neglected, overlooked and otherwise discredited as well […]

John Stoehr
By John Stoehr
In this Monday, Sept. 17, 2012, file photo, job applicants wait for the opening of a job fair held by National Career Fairs in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

No matter who wins in November, one thing is certain. We won't be hearing about the white working class anymore, not for another four years. This misunderstood class, millions in number, is the belle of the ball every presidential election cycle. The rest of the time, though, it's neglected, overlooked and otherwise discredited as well as subject

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Romney’s Plutocratic Paranoia

(CONNECTICUT) — Much has been said and will be said about the video featuring Mitt Romney’s bigotry toward the “47 percent” who support President Barack Obama. Most of the discussion will be about politics, which can be summed up in a word: devastating. This has the look of something that can’t be overcome even with […]

John Stoehr
By John Stoehr
In this Aug. 13, 2012 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, flanked by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks at a campaign event in Miami. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

(CONNECTICUT) -- Much has been said and will be said about the video featuring Mitt Romney's bigotry toward the "47 percent" who support President Barack Obama. Most of the discussion will be about politics, which can be summed up in a word: devastating. This has the look of something that can't be overcome even with the millions Romney has at his

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