The Democratic primary is suddenly booming frontpage news. The new question is not, “Will the real ant-Trump please stand up?” but, “How do we fight the fire?” for which there are four alternatives.
The first method is fight fire with fire –Bern it out. In debates, and now in itty-bitty vote tallies in three states, Bernie Sanders has not been merely fiery, but consistently standing for his principles. He is not mean-spirited but insists that his policy proposals are what the country needs to move forward. He occasionally flashes humor and lets down his privacy to mention his past.
Imagine him on a debate stage with the current president, and you see him insistent, his index finger jabbing the air, his flyaway hair and rumpled suit no problem with the orange hair and long red necktie of the opponent. Should Trump roar and rant – and we know he will – Bernie will match him in volume and passion but so much more articulately and persuasively – facts, goals, statistics rather than sloganeering and hyperbole.
Moderates are hoping to throw water on the fire. If it’s old Uncle Joe, it would be like a squirt bottle, sputtering but of no consequence to the White House arsonist. Technical knockout in three rounds. Should it be young Mayor Pete, who can think on his feet, Trump may have more trouble – he will try his bullying but be scared of a gay man who actually served in Afghanistan. (Asked last week what he would do if Trump refused to vacate the White House, Buttigieg said, “He can stay, but he will have to do chores.”) The fire may not be extinguished, but it will be controlled.
A third way to battle the conflagration in Washington is by sending a woman up there, women being the president’s chief critics. Amy Klobuchar says, “You question a woman standing up to Donald Trump? Nancy Pelosi does it every day!” But could Klobuchar or Elizabeth Warren do that? When Trump gets nasty, I am not sure either of those two competent qualified women can survive in the ring. My first choice among Democratic candidates was Kamala Harris, whom I thought could coolly and calmly eviscerate him in debate, but she is gone. Hillary Clinton is smart and credentialed (and yes there were numerous other factors), but she got Trumped.
For comparison, consider that when Barack Obama was elected, he was the right person at the right time. Remember Joe Biden’s remark, “I mean you’ve got the first sort of mainstream African American candidate who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean that’s a storybook man.”
We might say the same for Jesse Jackson, but he wasn’t perceived that way during his primary attempts. In today’s America, a woman will win the presidency when she arrives with that kind of spectacular “storybook” pedigree and the voters are tired of misogyny and male supremacy. Warren may be potentially the best person to serve as president, but her supporters are going for the old guy with the index finger instead.
Finally, there are Democrats who say we can buy the White House. “You got a New York billionaire who switched from Democrat to Republican, has authoritarian ways, is accused or racism and sexual shenanigans, and uses mass media to great effect? We got a New York billionaire who switched from Republican to Democrat, has all that other baggage, and owns a media empire! So there!” No Bloomberg, for me thank you very much.
Arkansas Democrats vote March 3, if not earlier. Our choices are based on policy versus personality. Are you bothered that three candidates are 77-78 years old, and one is 40 years younger? Can you support a woman and cross your fingers that Trump won’t trash her 100%? Does it bother you one guy kisses his husband onstage? Do you believe “they’re all billionaires so why not this guy?” Do you support wonderful ideas that probably cannot be enacted into law? Are you willing to compromise in order to wrest the presidency and the Senate from Trumpism? Stay tuned – and go vote.
Kirk Ashworth