I don't know to what extent it's a purposeful strategy, but you're absolutely right that most of what is going on is about class, not race. IMO, we're fifty years into an undeclared war of conquest by what I call the blue-state-college-kid-elite against everyone, but particularly against working and lower-middle class Americans--the core of the group you call the 80%. The so-called liberal elite gives a pass to African American and some Hispanic working people because they're perceived as being more glamorous, but for the rest of them they have an undisguised loathing. The hated Trump base is working class and for the first time in history the left actually hates working people openly. But their mistake is, they weren't the Republican base until the New Left drove them out with relentless denigration of everything they hold important. Until about 1980 they were "the base" of pretty much anyone who wanted to win a national election, from Roosevelt through Nixon. The "Trump Base" are the people who elected everyone who ever put in place a major progressive program. There's been almost zero social justice legislation since Nixon left office. (Title 9 for female athletes--that's about it. Obama care, lame as it is, but "European style socialized medicine" was on NIxon's desk when he resigned! In 1973, Republicans were to the left of where AOC and Bernie are today. ) The only gains have been judicial because in most of America, you cannot get elected without them. I'm a lefty myself, but I despise what it's become. The new left's favorite phrase is dog-whistle, but as far as I can see, Trump Base is itself a dog-whistle that really means "working people". I never thought I'd see the day when liberals hate the working person and oppose free speech.