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From TPM Reader JB …
I just listened to the March 24th podcast and have to tell you that I could not disagree more with you concerning the right response to republicans from democrats. I do not disagree that there are significant characterological differences between the members of the parties. There are, but there are so many other issues that were elided by using that explanation that one end’s up concluding that there is no good response. That is wrong and a set up for failure for the democratic party.
Let’s focus on three major problems.
1. Voters need to be told what is going on. It is the assumption by democratic political actors that most voters pay close attention to anything to understand the nature of republican bad behavior. They don’t. Unless someone tells them over and over again with a clear message, that defense information doesn’t permeate the political environment. Moreover, if you don’t hear someone standing up for your guy/gal, then why should anyone else do it? There has to be an effort to push back as aggressively as attacked to demonstrate belief and support in one’s goals, plans, and personnel. Right now, it is like the Red Sox fan has shouted down the Yankee fan. One side is yelling, and the other is just taking it. Losers don’t support their own team.
2. THERE IS NO DEIFIED MODERATOR to give Gryffindor and Slytherin points. For some idiotic reason, democrats try and get republicans to agree when other republicans have said/done bad things. Why? No sane person needs the imprimatur of an insane person to know what reality is. Democrats need to push their view of what is right every time and question the value, motives, and goals put forward in bad faith as a political attack. The answer to Hawley, Cruz, etc digging into child porn sentencing is not to clutch pearls and get the vapors. The answer to it is to say that you understand why they care as so many GOP staffers and candidates have been arrested for child porn and they want to know the risks. (see here). The answer is to say you know Judge Jackson is deserving when they throw dirt instead of uncovering light. This is the weak man’s approach, and they are weak. I don’t care who is right, I care that democrats will go to the wall for their people because they are right, not because anyone else, especially their political enemies, thinks they are right.
3. Democrats need to do obvious blocking and tackling. Democrats have a huge opportunity to link Russia and Republicans in being anti-American. In recent weeks, we have had 1) Ron Johnson push for Obamacare repeal if/when the GOP takes power; 2) Mike Braun say that all 14th Amendment protections (interracial marriage, contraception, etc.) would better reside in the states; 3) Rick Scott put out an 11-point plan to bring us back to some dystopian 1950s time; and 4) Lindsay Graham saying that Putin owns Biden. As I have written before, there is so much Russian money sloshing around the republican party and its affiliates. It is time for a clear message that Republicans are anti-American and pro-Putin. They have taken his money, their last President tried to destroy NATO, and they want to create more oligarchs and serfs, just like Putin. Republicans want us to be like Russia while Democrats want to save democracy. This isn’t hard to do because it is true.
Each one of these things will create a perception of action and dynamism and force the media to ask Republicans the annoying questions that are all pointed to democrats now.
So, I agree that democrats are different from republicans. But, like all humans, we want to know that we have representatives who will fight for us, fight for what is right, and not be hemmed in by bad-faith political opponents. The answer to every charge is to gaslight them as to why they made it. Don’t accept any stupid premise and defend it. Ask them why they are so weak to make the charge. You don’t bargain with bullies. You punch them in the nose.