In 2008, Obama was the dark horse disruptor candidate. He ran on "hope and change", promising to be a disruptor. It was McCain who was the establishment candidate running the milquetoast campaign trying to please everyone.
Of course Obama was elected and immediately started acting like a standard establishment Democrats, fucking over Unions, letting bankers off the hook for breaking the economy, and rebuilding that economy on the backs of the working class. Romney was another milquetoast Republican like McCain, but this time Obama came really close to losing - despite some serious missteps by the Romney campaign. Running for the middle almost lost Obama a second term.
Hillary was, of course, as establishment and milquetoast as candidates come, and look who she lost to. Biden was almost as bad, but he did manage to squeak by with a win, but he beat Trump in swing states by a much smaller margin than Trump beat Hillary. This was with 4 years of Trump and a failed pandemic response still fresh in everyone's minds. Trump was far more responsible for losing that election than Biden was for winning it.
I'm certainly no fan of Hillary, but I think too much is made of the deplorable comment. She should never have made it but, once she did, the bigger mistake was trying to walk it back. That just made her look weak. There is absolutely a large deplorable contingent in Republican politics, and Republicans call Democrats far worse every day.
You can't run a "please everyone" campaign on real policy. Any actual stance on any issue will piss of someone. Democrats who run this way trade off grass roots enthusiasm in exchange for a chance at appealing to Republican voters. They don't lose a lot of Democratic votes directly, but it kneecaps the Democratic ground game. Campaign need volunteers to knock on doors and get people registered. Nobody is excited to volunteer their time for a Democrat that sounds like a Republican or promise to put Republicans in their cabinet. This is even more critical as Republicans step up voter suppression strategies.
I know that Waltz isn't supposed to be front and center, but he brought a lot of really effective strategies that were working great and got pulled by the Democratic consultants.
It's hardly a strawman. Based on nothing but a statement that many Americans who don't buy into Trump's cult are still discontent with the system, you presumed that all of them, or at least a significant majority, are either against your rights, or at least willing to sacrifice them for some unspecified reason.
There is no conflict between being against the mass hording of wealth that plagues this country, and supporting the freedoms of disadvantaged groups. You seem awfully willing to abandon the fight for the economic prosperity for all Americans, not because it helps your minority, but because you get to be smug while society crumbles.
If the message is that people should vote for the lesser of two evils, especially to protect vulnerable classes, I'm right with you. If the message is "shut up about what's wrong with the Democratic party" then you are playing right into Republican strategy.
The Democrats don't want you dead, but they don't really care much if you live or die. The Democratic establishment is consistently the last on board for minority rights. Look at gay marriage for example. It wasn't until the idea became overwhelmingly popular that establishment Democrats came on board. The Defense of Marriage Act and "Don't ask, don't tell" both had overwhelming support from the Democratic establishment. Even then, gay marriage was enacted by the Supreme Court, and the Democrats have made no effort whatsoever to protect it in legislation, just like RvW.
At least the Republicans are honest in a warped way. Democrats hold minority interests hostage to further their own financial interests. They want your neck perpetually on the chopping block because they benefit from your peril. It's a game they play and, one time or another, it will be you that loses.