Mike the Mad Biologist

Over the weekend, political scientist Dan Silverman compared the response to former senate candidate Graham Platner and (for now) Republican congressional candidate Max Miller:

I hope I don’t have to explain who Graham Platner is, but, if you haven’t heard about Republican congressman Max Miller, well, he’s accused of abusing his wife and terrorizing their daughter. Miller’s father-in-law, a Republican senator, Bernie Moreno said:

“My daughter lives in constant fear of this man – not something that’s existential but, deeply in her heart, she fears what this guy is capable of,” he said. “You can’t fathom what that makes me feel like when a dad’s No. 1 job is to protect your kids.”

Yet, if the Google Machine is to be believed, Platner’s abuse is getting far more play. Much of this has to do with a news media that is conservatively biased, along with the absence of a significant left-leaning media to promote the narrative. Unfortunately, that’s baked in, at least over the short term. But it also highlights the invective gap between professional Democrats and professional Republicans.

Given the media environment, Democrats must find ways to break through–and they must be willing to do so. Imagine if a prominent Democrat had a fake hot mic moment where they said, “Damn, are there any Republicans who don’t beat their wives?” Said Democrat would then be ‘forced’ to apologize and could say something like, “I didn’t mean to imply that all of my Republican colleagues beat their wives. Some of them, I’m sure, don’t.”

Yes, this is not the airy heights of policy, but politics requires a strong stomach. Because Republicans have successfully convinced tens of millions of Americans that Democrats are awful human beings. It’s time to return the favor. It’s not enough to oppose bad Republican policies. Professional Democrats must be willing to state that Republicans are bad people, who awfulness is evidenced by bad policy.

Because that’s how you defeat fascist formations.