There’s a famous story in American politics that, many decades ago, a supporter at a presidential campaign stop told her party’s nominee, “Every thinking person in America is voting for you.” The nominee’s response? “That’s not enough. I need a majority.”

The story’s likely untrue, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be informative. Too often, people’s takeaway from this tale is a chuckle at the idea most Americans are stupid. It ought to be flop-sweat fear at even the thought of insulting voters. Because the presidential candidate at the center of the story lost to his opponent by a lot. Like, a lot a lot. Twice. And the man who defeated him regularly appears on top ten lists of America’s greatest presidents, so it would seem the “stupid American” joke doesn’t really even apply.

At this point, you might know what contemporary politician today’s link is about. But then again, you might not. That’s the problem with politics. Today’s piece could be about any number of people in either party who can’t keep from insulting voters. The first party leaders to stop denying the problem and start fixing it are going to give themselves a leg up in what’s looking to be a very tight election. Maybe that won’t be enough to win in November, but the alternative is certainly enough to lose.