White Men: Let's Talk.

In these hours before the election, I'm looking for a few good men.

I’ve had so many conversations with white men I know and respect lately about the election, because that’s all we talk about these days. In full disclosure, these are often successful, white-collar, cis-gendered straight men who live on the coasts. Some are working class guys. Some own their own small businesses and are struggling to varying degrees.

What they have in common is that at some point during the conversation, they’ll say: I’m voting for Harris but…

…but she should have chosen Josh Shapiro.
…but she should have chosen Mark Kelly.
…but what does she stand for, really?
…but I don’t know if America is ready for a woman to be president.
…but Harris really should be speaking to men like me more directly.

What I believe I’m hearing is, “I don’t see myself represented in a Harris presidency.”

What I believe I’m hearing is, “I’m having trouble seeing where I fit in here.”

MEN! MY GUYS! WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

First, please know I love you.

If it weren’t for white men, we wouldn’t have [insert list of many inventions here]. We wouldn’t have the lyrics to A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall or Hungry Heart. We wouldn’t have Darwin, and thus, we wouldn’t have the Darwin Awards, which would be a huge shame.

If it weren’t for white men, I wouldn’t have my dad. I wouldn’t have my brother. I wouldn’t have my kids or stepkids. I wouldn’t have the love of my life.

I wouldn’t even be able to quote The Princess Bride and let me tell you, that would be a huge quality of life issue for me.

But I also understand, from some of the guys I’ve spoken to, that maybe you don’t see yourself specifically in the Harris-Walz platform.

My friend Kevin mentioned to me that he read through the entire Kamala Harris website platform summary and while he likes her policies and is proudly voting for her, never saw the word “men” or “boys.”

I looked at the same web page, and he’s right. I don’t see those two words. But I do see men’s interests and issues all over the page.

I had to think about that a lot.

The thing is, women are a protected class. And like people from minority backgrounds or marginalized communities, we often get our own handy “section” in any candidate’s platform to address our unique concerns. Same as union workers. Same as enlisted military and their families living overseas. Same as seniors. Same as people with disabilities.

If you don’t fit into those groups, maybe you are wondering who will protect you?

I will be honest, I spent hours — hours — yesterday writing a compelling plea to white men, showing point by point how every single aspect of the Harris-Walz platform impacts your life for the better, both directly and indirectly.

Then I trashed it.

There are more qualified experts than me — Republicans, Democrats, economists, doctors, tax experts, military leaders, mental health professionals — who have already done this.

I can only speak to you from my heart. And maybe this is silly, because by all accounts, you are the least persuadable “undecided” voters in this whole country. whether you are older and a lifelong Republican, or younger and don’t pay a lot of attention to politics.

But what the hell, I’m going to say it.

White men: I’m asking you to step up.

Good people support people who need help.

Good men support people who need help.

You may be the one who needs help, of course. I know the economy is cited as the number one concern of white men.

Under Trump, the economy lost 2.7 million jobs and the unemployment rate increased. Housing prices skyrocketed by 27.5%. His economic proposals will support billionaires and the heads of corporations most, and in exchange that will deplete Social Security for the rest of us in just 6 years, and increase our deficit by $1.65 trillion using the lowest estimates. His plan for replacing the ACA, which has helped millions of us with pre-existing conditions boils down to “concepts of a plan,” even after 9 years of thinking about it; though what we do know that it includes weakening protections for pre-existing conditions or making us pay a lot more.

That hurts people with asthma. With diabetes. With high blood pressure. With anxiety and depression. With cancer. Even pregnancy is a preexisting condition.

We are all worried about the cost of the things we buy. You know what will make them cost more? Mass deportations. Low-wage immigrants are doing farm work, construction work, staffing restaurant kitchens, taking care of children, cleaning houses — all in places where there is no one else to do those jobs.

When you hear Trump talk about tariffs, and how it’s his favorite word in the world, we should all be scared. Not just because he doesn’t seem to understand what a tariff is (even after being president for 4 years) but because it’s a 20-60% tax paid by us, the American consumers, on imported goods.

Your phone? Your PS5? Your Kia? Your lawnmower? Whatever other stereotypical dude gift you see on Father’s Day cards — all more expensive.

He talks a big game about the economy, but none of his policies actually help us. They doesn’t help me and they don’t help you. (Unless you’re rich like Mark Cuban or Lebron James, but they’re still voting for Kamala Harris.)

The alternative is a candidate with sensible policies to lower costs, make energy more affordable, support first-time home buying, give entrepreneurs and small business owners $25k to get them started, and take on price gougers so none of us ever see a $75 price tag on a 12-pack of Charmin again.

She comes from the party that fought to give you those sweet pandemic relief checks (even if her opponent insisted on putting his name on them) and extended unemployment benefits when you really needed them.

She’s here for you.

All kinds of men do good things, regardless of political party, and maybe you, white men of America, feel like you’re not hearing that loudly enough.

We know that you give to charities and help buddies move, you cheer on veterans in local parades, you rescue puppies, coach soccer, play with your kids even when you’re exhausted. You work extra hard because the holidays are coming up. You tell your girlfriend or wife she looks gorgeous today because it’s true. You hold doors open and leave big tips and call your mother on her birthday every year.

But there are things good men don’t do, also.

I don’t think good men support admitted and unrepentant sexual predators. I don’t think good men vote for people who consistently bully, attack, and threaten women. I don’t think good men vote for someone who mocks people with disabilities. I don’t think good men vote for a Commander-in-Chief who demeans soldiers as “suckers and losers,” then threatens to order those soldiers to defy the oath they swore to the US Constitution, and turn their weapons on fellow Americans.

I don’t think good men vote for a candidate who admires brutal dictators and fits the very definition of a fascist, according to his longest Chief of Staff. The same candidate who calls our beautiful country “the garbage can of the world.”

I don’t think good men vote for a president who uses foul language, encourages violence, and calls women the C-word.

Just this weekend he fellated a microphone. I don’t think good men want kids seeing the President of the United States doing things that.

Kamala Harris may not look like you, or any other president in our nation’s history but she loves this country. She is compassionate. She wants to help people, not hurt them. She has dedicated her entire life to public service from the local level right on up to the White House. She is not cruel or vengeful. She doesn’t just hire “yes men” to obey her, she hires smart people who she can learn from. She works across the aisle.

I hope you can see that Kamala Harris is the fastest, clearest path to a successful, abundant, prosperous America — and importantly, a path back to a more normal America where we are not stealing our neighbor’s yard signs or walking around family neighborhoods wearing “Fuck Your Feelings” t-shirts and thinking any of it is funny or okay.

I believe under Kamala Harris we can work toward being America at our best again. And guys, in these final hours of voting, you can help make it so.

Americans are the people who rally for victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, and wildfires, without worrying whether they live in a red state or a blue state. We are the people who share solemnity and sadness on 9/11 each year. We are the people who lend a lawnmower or cup of sugar to our neighbors, help find lost cats, cheer on our kids at Little League games and school plays, and spend way too much money handing out candy on Halloween when we can afford it. Because let’s be honest, we all know that Snickers Minis really don’t do the job.

We’re good when we come together. I want to feel that so much it hurts.

Men: Kamala Harris is for the people.

Kamala Harris is for America.

That means Kamala Harris is for you.

I hope you see it, and I really hope that if you’re still thinking about what to do on Tuesday, that you’ll vote for her.

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