They’re identifying them. The editors of the Washington Post like me think that Democrats shouldn’t finance the campaigns of fringe Republican candidates:
The issue is not simply that this scheme could backfire and elect fringe candidates; Democrats’ Machiavellian approach in key races could pan out. Still, it reeks of hypocrisy to elevate figures who deny the election, while also making the case that they are a grievous threat to American democracy. The moves risk undercutting the progress Democrats have made on communicating these dangers to the public and positioning themselves as the party of democratic principles. As Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) told Politico: “No race is worth compromising your values in that way.â€
According to FiveThirtyEight, at least 120 Republican nominees for Congress and statewide elected office endorse the “big lie†that the 2020 election was stolen. Others are in contention to win primaries in the weeks ahead. To be sure, the rise of such candidates says more about the state of the Republican Party today. But what a sordid story if Democratic spending helps enable any of them.
You don’t come to an understanding of what people’s values are by listening to them talk. At best that tells you what they wish their values were. At worst it’s what they want you to think their values are.
No, values are what you do. Or, as Aristotle put it, virtue is a habit.
That’s the underlying reason for the sad state of our politics, particularly at the national level. Getting elected isn’t just the most important thing. It’s the only thing.
And if there is one election cycle where this is a particularly dumb tactic, it is this election cycle where voters are much more likely to vote for anyone that isn’t a Democrat.
But as the numbers show, fringe isn’t fringe any longer. The GOP nearly all support Trump. The latest example of his total goofiness I saw was when he had the temp who ran DoD investigate his theory that the Italians were using satellites to change votes and make him lose. The people who think Biden might be demented vote for the fruitcake.
In PA we now have a nutcase for governor and for senator. (OK OZ is also crooked snake oil salesman.) Mastriano won with 43%. That is not because some Dems voted for him. He has been popular since he started opposing vaccinations and with his no exceptions plan for abortions. Wasn’t it someone here who said not to worry, abortions would be limited to 6 weeks and there would be reasonable exceptions?
Steve
Then why was the greater part of Darren Bailey’s financing provided by Pritkzer and the Democratic Governor’s Association? That doesn’t sound like grassroots support to me.
Andy:
I don’t think we’re quite to that point yet but we’re well on our way as my posts quoting Cook and Larry Sabato have shown.
Biden’s RCP Average is presently 18 points underwater. If it goes to, say, 25 points underwater we’ll have reached that point and the strategy will result in some real nutbags being elected to office.
To expand on Dave’s comment about the Illinois governor race. The moderate Republican gubernatorial candidate that was leading in the primary polls and enjoyed big financial backing, got hit with Democratic ads likes this:
“Richard Irvin’s real record on crime? For 15 years, Irvin has been a defense lawyer, profiting by defending some of the most violent and heinous criminals. Domestic abusers and sexual assaults. Kidnapper who molested a child. Reckless homicide. Even accused child pornographers. Irvin has been getting rich by putting violent criminals back on our streets. Tell Richard Irvin to stop pretending to be tough on crime and start supporting policies to keep people safe.”
Irvin by the way is black and its hard to imagine Republicans running a scare ad like this without outrage over the racist subtext in the mainstream media.
“Getting elected isn’t just the most important thing. It’s the only thing.”
Sounds like a recipe for good governance……..not. But Hey!! So who’s up for more government?!
“I don’t think we’re quite to that point yet but we’re well on our way as my posts quoting Cook and Larry Sabato have shown.”
On further thought, I think you’re right, and the GoP isn’t actually trying to broaden its appeal. Dr. Oz, Herschel Walker, and voting against burn pit benefits aren’t exactly endearing. Several veteran friends of mine were so angry at the latter that they vowed to vote against every GoP candidate in November.
It keeps reminding me that negative partisanship is a huge, perhaps decisive, factor, and one that will inevitably breed political instability.
Serious question. Can anyone honestly say that 10-15 years ago they could have seen someone like Dr Oz run for senator in a large state and have a good chance of winning? I dont. He is an absolute snake oil salesman. As blatant as you can get. No relevant experience. Yes, someone is going to say other people with sketchy legal issue have run but never that I think of where their job was to sell fraudulent products leading to potential harm for people.
Steve
I can’t answer that question without appearing to defend Dr. Oz who I think is an idiot. I wouldn’t vote for him. So I won’t but they’re more common than you might think.
In addition I can’t address the issue of “relevant experience” without being just plain argumentative so I won’t do that, either. But people in the Senate without truly applicable experience is quite common.
That’s one of the several reasons I think the 17th Amendment was an error.
” So I won’t but they’re more common than you might think.”
At lower levels yes. For Senator? You get an occasional crook like Rick Scott, or someone from LA who made money illegally from their businesses but I cant think of anyone to match Oz who is so obvious.
Steve
I’ll just limit my response to my own state, Illinois. Our present junior senator had no relevant experience. Is she a crook? If she wasn’t when she ran for office, she undoubtedly is now. All senators are corrupt. It’s practically in the job description.
Has a television personality with no relevant experience ever been elected to the Senate? If you wrack your memory, you’ll certainly come up with one.