The shins that we kick beneath the table, that reflexive cry

There was an interesting discussion of Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s response to Trump’s speech in the comments yesterday. I take the point that her mission is to lose by less in red precincts, she did it, and she won. I’m no stranger to what used to be called blue dogs.

Part of the ritual of unveiling the person who does the response speech is some media interviews, and Slotkin has one in the Atlantic today, written by Tim Alberta. It’s gotten a lot of attention for a couple of quotes and non-quotes. The piece is framed as Slotkin vs the extremists, and there’s some phrasing in it that is pure DC journalistic joy at keeping the status quo of the middle of the Democratic Party fighting with the left. Here’s a sampling:

So, first, in fairness to Slotkin, the parts of this piece that are getting outraged links on BlueSky are the non-quotes that Alberta wrote. Second, I’m not surprised that Slotkin is annoyed with the people pushing her to say things. Third, it’s fine to say that it’s easy to be AOC, which is essentially her point about reps in blue districts.

But, how does the rest of this negativity help anyone but Tim Alberta, who is certainly going to get clicks from this? The notion that there’s something horrific about Al Green demonstrating, or even the extremely benign coordination of clothing and holding up protest signs, is dumb. Let many flowers bloom.

Is it even necessary to point out that Slotkin’s election to the House in 2018 was probably due in part to the massive amount of organizing from Democrats who people like Tim Alberta would consider “cringe”? I know my suburb in Rochester, Republicans were beaten by wine moms who organized on Facebook. Republicans had been entrenched in our town politics for over a hundred years, and some pissed-off women who might have been guilty of wearing vagina hats and marching in DC took them out. That’s political power.

And, yes, these women were demanding. And, yeah, some of them probably believed things that Elissa Slotkin wouldn’t want to campaign on. But what’s wrong with being polite and saying “I don’t agree with some of their positions, but I appreciate their enthusiasm and respect them as supporters who work hard to get me elected.” That’s the truth underneath it all, isn’t it?

Tim Walz is from “blue” Minnesota (where, btw, the GOP just took back one chamber of the legislature), and one thing that he understands is that people generally dislike politicians. The left of his party wants him to do more. Republicans shit on him every way that they can. His solution, as expressed in his interview the other day, is to deliver enough tangible results with universal programs (school lunch, family medical leave, etc.) so they don’t have a real, solid basis for complaint. He doesn’t expect to be loved, just tolerated.

I think this is where some of the anger from “centrists” in the party comes from:

• They know that Democrats have a “do nothing” reputation, earned in some cases, unearned in others.

• They know, as Walz acknowledges, that there will be great expectations for change if they win in 2026 and especially 2028.

• They are under tremendous pressure from donors not to do what the left wants them to do. Picking one issue: universal health care. Their consultants amplify this.

• They view the left of their party as ungrateful and unrealistic — in their minds, they’re so much better than the alternative (Republicans) that the left should just shut up and quietly support them.

• They face opponents who are excellent at creating wedge issues that put them in extremely tough political positions. Trans rights was this cycle’s issue, but there’s always one.

The sad part of this whole thing is that Slotkin’s positive agenda and strategy as expressed in the piece was basically Tim Walz’ — delivering for the middle class.

This has gotten way too long, but what I’m asking from politicians like Slotkin who need to win in tough districts is just to realize how demoralizing and unnecessary this reflexive shin kicking is. Stay away from the poisonous DC rags, no matter how frustrated you are, because they just want to pour gas on the fire and reward behavior that doesn’t do a damn bit of good for the party. And remember that “centrism” is a DC creation — real voters would rather hear what you support without reservation, whatever that is, even if they might disagree with some of what you support. They smell a splitter a mile away.