Don't Arm the Enemy

It is a confusing time for reasonable people. Our democratic republic wobbles at the abyss and the upcoming midterms may be the only salvation.

At a time when unity among democrats, liberals, progressives and democratic socialists is desperately needed, the squabbling is dangerously divisive.

How do we balance integrity and passion with compromise and pragmatism?

Mainstream democrats worry that passionate progressive rhetoric, particularly in those areas considered “woke,” will alienate voters in the amorphous “middle,” who will be pushed rightward or simply opt out if the non-Republican candidate seems too radical.

This concern is heightened by the apparent Republican delight in characterizing everyone left of George Bush as a communist. Red Scare reprise. It matters not a whit that these dunderheads have no idea what communism is and, of course, actual communists in the United States are rarer than hens’ teeth.

“Socialist” is proxy for “Commie!” in the intellectually stunted minds of the masses of low information voters.

So the liberal establishment moans and groans at the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), whose members are winning some primaries, but pose a risk to the general election maps needed for a Democratic majority in Congress come 2027.

New York Mayor Zorhan Mamdani’s stunning ascension was despite his membership in the DSA. I believe the label was irrelevant to most voters. He won because he proposed policies that dealt with real issues facing real people. And he’s wicked talented.

The symbolic divide between young Democratic Socialists and mainstream Democratic leaders is wide. The actual divide is quite small. Both groups champion universal health care, progressive taxation, climate activism, equal rights for all (except trans athletes!), and other hallmarks of a decent society.

Our challenge, lest our republic wobbles fully into the authoritarian abyss, is to embrace this coalition and give as few free cards to the nutbags as possible.

A case in point is the brouhaha arising from Mamdani’s youthful error in suggesting the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi when he sets foot on our soil. Bibi is the subject of a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his commission of war crimes. The outcry from the right was immediate and, in one sense, relevant, because we arrogant Americans are not even party to the ICC for fear that our own war criminals - Donald, Pete and many others -would be subject to arrest too.

Mamdani was both right and stupid. During an election that should be primarily - only - about saving the republic, saying virtually anything about Israel and/or Palestine is a losing proposition. My own view about the genocide in Gaza and Netanyahu is quite radical, but if I chanted about it in a campaign for the school board, I’d please my friends and lose in a landslide.

Mamdani can’t and won’t have Bibi arrested, despite how richly he deserves to be handcuffed and humiliated.

This is why almost every seasoned Democrat pivots immediately to gas prices when asked about anything. It’s infuriating, but necessary. Republicans have virtually nothing to run on but Red Scare #2. We needn’t give them fresh ammo when their bandoliers are empty.

Other examples can be instructive. Spawned in part by George Floyd’s murder, my ideological soulmates adopted “Defund the police!” as a marching song. Exactly the right sentiment and politically suicidal. No reasonable person wishes to or is able to defund the police. Reform? Yes!! Strictly regulate? Yes!! But “Defund the police!” became a machete to help mow down a whole field of Democratic candidates. It’s like “Off the pigs!” back in the day. The backlash to 15 years of proper radicalism brought us Ronald Reagan, and it’s been a bumpy, mostly downhill, ride ever since.

Even “Black Lives Matter” carries freight that can lose votes.There is no progressive voter who would base their vote solely on that slogan. There are measurable numbers of semi-racist, but not entirely crazy, voters who would. Perhaps “Black Lives Matter Too?”

I’m somewhat ambivalent about Democratic Socialists of America. I am an unofficial member, based on my own values, but the label is not an electoral advantage. I do see long term hope in building this identity as an alternative to the stagnant and fetid binary of Republican and Democrat, but the identity must be managed with delicacy. I don’t endorse hypocrisy or dishonesty, but all that matters is that good people regain the reins of power before it’s too late.

If that means “gas prices” rather than “Black Lives Matter” for the moment, so be it.