Andrew Yang tears into the Democrats for becoming a party of 'urban coastal elites' who have abandoned the working class and are more concerned with 'policing cultural issues' after their dismal results

Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang warned that the Democratic Party was becoming the party of the 'coastal urban elites' in the eyes of the working class American, insisting the country would 'get worse' if it didn't work to represent more in the country. 

The wealthy New York businessman voiced his concern while appearing on a CNN panel on Wednesday with Don Lemon, sharing an insight to some of the responses he received while on the campaign trail. 

The warning echoes similar sentiments made by Bernie Sanders (I-VT) last week. 

'I would say, "Hey! I'm running for president!" to a truck driver, retail worker, waitress in a diner,' Yang described. 'And they would say, "What party?" And I'd say "Democrat" and they would flinch like I said something really negative or I had just turned another color or something like that.'

The wealthy New York businessman voiced his concern while appearing on a CNN panel on Wednesday with Don Lemon

Andrew Yang says Democrats need to improve their appeal to the working class: "In there minds the Democratic party unfortunately has taken on this role of the coastal urban elites who are more concerned about policing various cultural issues than improving their way of life." pic.twitter.com/UljmEH0sEn

— The Matt Skidmore Show (@ZachandMattShow) November 6, 2020

Andrew Yang says Democrats need to improve their appeal to the working class: "In there minds the Democratic party unfortunately has taken on this role of the coastal urban elites who are more concerned about policing various cultural issues than improving their way of life." pic.twitter.com/UljmEH0sEn

Yang, who is now a CNN contributor, continued: 'And there's something deeply wrong when working-class Americans have that response to a major party that theoretically is supposed to be fighting for them. 

'So you have to ask yourself, what has the Democratic Party been standing for in their minds? And in their minds, the Democratic Party, unfortunately, has taken on this role of the coastal urban elites who are more concerned about policing various cultural issues than improving their way of life that has been declining for years!' 

Yang said that the polirzation and divisiveness in the country would 'get worse if the party didn't work to connect with the group

Yang asserted that it was a 'fundamental problem for the Democratic Party,' to be so out of touch with working class people. It was then that Yang said that the polirzation and divisiveness in the country would 'get worse if the party didn't work to connect with the group.  

'They lost a plant that had 1,500 workers. And so if you're a laid-off worker from that plant and you say "What is the Democratic Party doing for me," it's unclear,' Yang said. 

'We can talk about a unifying message from Joe Biden, he's naturally a unifying figure, but then there's the reality on the ground where their way of life has been disintegrating for years.'

'If we don't that, then we're going to see a continued acceleration towards the institutional mistrust that animated the Trump vote and will continue to do so.'

Yang's comment came as crucial swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania started to lean heavily towards Biden as mail-in ballots began getting tallied.

And many on Twitter took issue with Yang's comments, insinuating he was out of touch with the party.  

'The question for @AndrewYang is... “who is “they” at the end of this clip?” It sounds to me like he is speaking about WHITE working class people. Unless BLACK WOMEN in South Carolina and in the rest of the US are now ALL “coastal elites”, Andrew... you are way off here,' said one user, Jason Sherbundy. 

'The question for @AndrewYang is... “who is “they” at the end of this clip?” It sounds to me like he is speaking about WHITE working class people. Unless BLACK WOMEN in South Carolina and in the rest of the US are now ALL “coastal elites”, Andrew... you are way off here,' said one user, Jason Sherbundy

Author Michael Arceneaux aired a similar grievance, highlighting the major urban cities Biden lead in that weren't representative of 'coastal urban elites'

'Yang is wrong,' said Professor Michael McFaul, former ambassador to Russia. 'The electoral divide in the US is urban-rural, not coasts vs the rest. People who live in cities, in CA or KS or MT, tend to vote for Democrats. People who live in rural areas, in CA & NY too, tend to vote for Republicans'

Author Michael Arceneaux aired a similar grievance, highlighting the major urban cities Biden lead in that weren't representative of 'coastal urban elites.' 

'The coastal elite cities of Milwaukee, Detroit, Tucson, and Philadelphia that delivered Biden the presidency counter this trope Andrew Yang is parroting but acquiescence and empty gestures were themes of his presidential campaign,' the New York Times bestselling author said. 'He is now a pundit.'

'Yang is wrong,' said Professor Michael McFaul, former ambassador to Russia. 'The electoral divide in the US is urban-rural, not coasts vs the rest. People who live in cities, in CA or KS or MT, tend to vote for Democrats. People who live in rural areas, in CA & NY too, tend to vote for Republicans.'

A different user added: 'Andrew Yang's ignorance of this basic fact illustrates how reckless it is to be elevating these Johnny-come-lately hacks. I'm a working class Black Democrat in the Chicago suburbs. There are millions just like me here and in neighboring states. Coastal Elite these nuts, Andrew'

'I’m just tired of hearing a party whose standard bearer is on track to get a record 80 million votes or so and has the most diverse representation our country has ever seen is just some coastal elite party (as if all people on coasts are elitist),' said David Berkowitz. 'But yes we can do even better'

A different user added: 'Andrew Yang's ignorance of this basic fact illustrates how reckless it is to be elevating these Johnny-come-lately hacks. I'm a working class Black Democrat in the Chicago suburbs. There are millions just like me here and in neighboring states. Coastal Elite these nuts, Andrew.' 

Many took issue with Yang's apparent dismissal of the party and the diversity it represented. 

'I’m just tired of hearing a party whose standard bearer is on track to get a record 80 million votes or so and has the most diverse representation our country has ever seen is just some coastal elite party (as if all people on coasts are elitist),' said David Berkowitz. 'But yes we can do even better.' 

A different user declared: 'I actually like @AndrewYang but a lot of times he ends up talking that BS. This makes NO sense in light of the fact that Biden has the highest vote total in history-over 71M+. Most Americans make an avg of $50k per year. How is it Dems only appeal to coastal urban elites?'

'I actually like @AndrewYang but a lot of times he ends up talking that BS,' said one user. 'This makes NO sense in light of the fact that Biden has the highest vote total in history-over 71M+. Most Americans make an avg of $50k per year. How is it Dems only appeal to coastal urban elites?'

'It's always on the Democrats to understand Republican voters,' one user said. 'Meanwhile, the GOP never have this conversation. They just try to stop us from voting in the first place. It's such BS. The party of "coastal elites" and "cultural issues" talked nonstop about saving healthcare.'

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) made similar comments about the Democratic Party while appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers last Thursday

In an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers last Thursday, Bernie Sanders also criticized the party from getting off track when it comes to meeting the needs of working class people. 

'I think it is fair to say that in many ways the Democratic Party has become a party of the coastal elites, folks who have a lot of money, upper-middle-class people who are good people, who believe in social justice in many respects,' Sanders said.

'But I think for many, many years the Democratic Party has not paid the kind of attention to working-class needs that they should've.' 

As of Friday, if Biden wins Nevada and its 6 electoral college points, and keeps his hold in Arizona, he has won but he doesn't necessarily need it to claim victory. 

Biden is also leading in Pennsylvania, which carries 20 electoral college votes and would land him the White House. A result is expected there at any time. They are racing through votes. 

As of Friday, if Biden wins Nevada and its 6 electoral college points, and keeps his hold in Arizona, he has won but he doesn't necessarily need it to claim victory