Defund the police?
Democrats and Never Trumpers who want to defeat Donald Trump were handed a setback this week, as the “Black Lives Matter” slogan was being overshadowed by the rallying cry, “Defund the police.”
It’s unclear exactly what this means, and some progressives argue that, in practice, it’s not as radical as it sounds. But as my friend Sarah Longwell points out, “If you don’t mean, ‘Defund the Police’ then don’t say, ‘Defund the Police.’ Please see, ‘Believe All Women,’ for a refresher on why words matter.”
From a messaging standpoint, Sarah makes a lot of sense. Think about the groups that have been really successful over the years. They usually have a name or slogan that is hard to argue with.
Antifa (anti-fascist) is a good example of a name that’s hard to oppose. Who wants to be pro-fascist?
The Right to Life and the National Right to Work are also good examples.
For that matter, so is the Right to Choose. Likewise, “Planned Parenthood” certainly sounds like a great thing—even if you oppose abortion.
It’s hard enough to win an argument with a good name. It’s surprising to me why organizations would want to start out with names that stake out unpopular positions.
And yet, that’s the trend.
I suspect this has something to do with our polarized world. We no longer want to persuade. Instead, we want to rally our hardcore fans with Twitter hashtags.
That might a great way to get followers and likes, but it’s not a great way to win an election. If they’re not careful, they will end up re-electing Donald Trump.
* * *
Speaking of Trump and Twitter, after former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Joe Biden today, Donald Trump lashed out at the retired general, calling him a “stiff” and blaming him for the Iraq war.
We might debate whether Powell has left the Republican Party or if the Republican Party has left him, but a few years ago, I dug up an old Larry King Live interview where Ronald Reagan was singing Powell’s praises.
It seems to me—based on the interview—that Reagan hoped Powell would be the future of the GOP.
Since he’s back in the news today, I thought I would re-up this excerpt (it’s a little long, but I think it’s worth your time):
KING: You -- there's a man that you brought to prominence in public life and now every American knows. He was your national security adviser. What do you think about the job that Colin Powell is doing?
REAGAN: I think it's a great job. I think he's a very remarkable man. I was greatly impressed with him and the way he thought when he was my adviser, and I had the pleasure and honor of putting stars on him to be a general, and I think we have a remarkably fine man as our commanding general.
KING: How about some of the other key players? Are you happy with Secretary Baker?
REAGAN: Yes, yes, he seems to be doing all that he can.
KING: Mr. Cheney?
REAGAN: Yes.
KING: I note, though, from the answers that Powell is your favorite of this group.
REAGAN: Well, I have really...
KING: Personal interest.
REAGAN: ... really a great admiration of him and a personal feeling of friendship.
KING: In a wartime situation, no doubt that he would be a great leader?
REAGAN: Yes, he would.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, NOVEMBER 9, 1993)
REAGAN: I know I shouldn't say this, but I have a confession to make. I just might have had an ulterior motive for inviting Colin Powell up here today to my presidential library. You see, I am hoping that perhaps one day he'll return the favor and invite me to his.
I’ll leave it to you to decide whether the GOP would have been better off going the direction of Powell, instead of Trump, but this raises an interesting hypothetical that my friend Jim Antle has pointed out could be the hinge of modern history: What if Colin Powell had run for the presidency as a Republican in 1996 (as he was considering), and won?
It’s possible that Colin Powell would have been the first African-American president. A few other things are then possible, too, including…. No Monica Lewinsky. No recount. No Iraq war. No Obama. No Trump.
Granted, we have no idea what other bad things might have happened, instead. But the world would look very different.
It’s amazing how one decision could have so many reverberations.
Listen to the latest podcast episodes ...
Shermichael Singleton on Trump and the George Floyd Protests
> Click here to listen online
Jonathan D.T. Ward on China’s Vision of Victory
> Click here to listen online
Mary C. Curtis on the Killing of George Floyd
> Click here to listen online
Want to get new "Matt Lewis & the News" podcast episodes as soon as I post them? Subscribe to my iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher feeds.
Please consider supporting my work on Patreon
Your support helps me produce "Matt Lewis & the News" and expand the content that I offer to subscribers like you. In addition, you'll get some awesome swag and exclusive access to special content, like mini-podcast episodes.
Yes, I want to support "Matt Lewis & the News" on Patreon