A New Democratic Strategy
The bottom line is that Democrats should stop engaging the
far right as equals. Groups such as the Tea Party are not actually mainstream.
Their ideology continues to move so far to the right that it is becoming
difficult for many Republicans to defend it. We should stop trying to meet them
on common ground. You cannot negotiate with someone who holds extreme views and
will not compromise. You cannot reason with someone who is unreasonable.
We should stop treating radical ideologues like equal and
rational opponents. We debase our ideas and ourselves when we invest our
energies in point-by-point name-calling, finger-pointing and obsessive
refutation. Worse, by meeting our opponents as responsible peers, we elevate
and amplify every lie and damaging policy they mention while signaling their
legitimacy. Because they do not expect themselves to be factual, or even
consistent, they have mastered the art of twisting language, re-assigning
meaning, and persuading the already-faithful with loud voices and repeated talking
points.
