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Taking Bill Clinton’s cynical attack on Sister Souljah as a model of political engagement is already deeply problematic. Then saying that Democrats “flubbed” their opportunity to replicate it by refusing to accept conservative talking points is another level of bad analysis. 1/
Bret thinks that Harris should reject the Green New Deal, which is very popular (and, incidentally, might help avert a global environmental catastrophe), in favor of “fiscal responsibility,” which is a cynical phrase that Republicans save for Democratic presidencies. 2/
He thinks that Gillibrand should embrace “her centrist record as a Blue Dog Democrat,” which sounds like excellent campaign advice for 1994. /3
He says that Hickenlooper should have described himself as Joe Scarborough insisted he do, as a “proud capitalist,” at a moment when there is a broad consensus that the track record of contemporary capitalism is decidly mixed and that major fixes are necessary. /4
There is nothing wrong with demonstrating “independence and nerve.” But Stephens’s belief that the only way to do that is to embrace his idiosyncratic version of “centrism” makes very little sense. /5
On the Republican side, Stephens’s version of a “Sister Souljah” moment is not equivalent. He doesn’t ask GOP leaders to reject the extreme and unpopular policies that dominate today. /6
Although he frames the issue symmetrically, indeed suggests the crisis is greater among Republicans, It is only Democrats who are expected to break with the policy direction of their party as a good-faith indication of a “break with their base.” /7
No, on the GOP side, Stephens thinks, that the “break with the base” should amount to reject Trump’s “grotesque” comments about John McCain. Isn’t that a pretty low bar for political bravery? It’s also not at all similar to what he thinks Democrats must do. /8
Moreover, he picks as “a rising Republican leader” Nikki Haley, who just this week made profoundly ignorant comments about health care in Finland and the United States, comments which showed no independence of mind or respect for the truth. /9
His ask of Republicans is that they give a speech to say “that is not us.” Since the pronoun is used in the first sentence of the paragraph, it is quite difficult to know to what it refers. I think he means the spirit of Trump’s remarks. /10
No, on the GOP side, Stephens thinks, that the “break with the base” should amount to reject Trump’s “grotesque” comments about John McCain. Isn’t that a pretty low bar for political bravery? It’s also not at all similar to what he thinks Democrats must do. /8
Moreover, he picks as “a rising Republican leader” Nikki Haley, who just this week made profoundly ignorant comments about health care in Finland and the United States, comments which showed no independence of mind or respect for the truth. /9
His ask of Republicans is that they give a speech to say “that is not us.” Since the pronoun is used in the first sentence of the paragraph, it is quite difficult to know to what it refers. I think he means the spirit of Trump’s remarks. /10
The brave GOP moment he envisions is for Haley to go to Arizona to praise McCain's values of "courage and freedom; faith and forgiveness; individualism and engagement." Wow, praising those controversial attributes would really be going out on a limb. /11
So the Democrats should break with "progressive orthodoxy," or what we might call the increasingly popular and serious policy preferences of the base of the Party, while the Republicans should break with their base by courageously praising freedom and faith. Got it, Bret. /12
For Stephens, a Republican condemning Trump for being uncouth and a liar is the height of political bravery. It is only Democrats who need to move toward the "political center" by rejecting their increasingly bold policy prescriptions. /13
