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Why Do Politicians Say The Right Things When No One’s Listening
Texas has emerged as a key battleground this midterm election cycle. It’s somewhat surprising that the Lone Star State is hosting one of the tightest races this time around.
Ken Paxton has been trying to save face after his defeat to John Cornyn, who, despite being heavily entrenched in the political swamp, is seen as more appealing. Paxton has faced criticism from both sides of the aisle, facing accusations ranging from infidelity to fraud and even impeachment. Interestingly, someone in his campaign might have hit on a decent strategy: leak audio of him discussing issues that resonate with voters, like gas prices and the war in Iran.
In these leaked recordings, Paxton appears more sincere than ever before. He’s acknowledged that the GOP’s midterm convention was detrimental to his campaign. Who could have predicted that Trump confronting democratic socialists with socialism wouldn’t sit well with the constituents?
But it’s not just the convention that he’s critiqued in private. He has also taken shots at the Washington consultant class, conceding that they’ve taken control of his campaign messaging.
At least it seems he’s aware of the Kool-Aid he’s pushing. Yet it all feels condescending. They are savvy enough to know the fibs they’re promoting, but are convinced that voters are gullible enough to buy into them and, in turn, support them—door-knocking, contributing funds, and all.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Back in August, audio surfaced of Republican Rep. Stephanie Bice from Oklahoma revealing, “We’re not helping ourselves today when we decide to rename Lake Ontario ‘Lake America.’” Her follow-up was particularly pointed: “They’re going to vote for the Democrat, and they may split [the] ticket and vote for me and a few others, or — this is my bigger fear right now — people don’t go vote.”
At least she might feel secure in her position.
Bice’s words resonate even more two months later. Kansas has inexplicably turned into a toss-up, Alaska appears to be shifting blue, and depending on Susan Collins’ recent debate performance, it could be her time to say goodbye as well.
I’ve seen arguments suggesting that we should support candidates like Paxton because they’re honest in private. That’s just absurd. We need to raise our standards and hold elected officials accountable.
Politicians who deceive us openly while agreeing with us when it’s just the two of us simply won’t cut it.
It’s time for voters on both sides—yes, even you, Mr. Inclusive Bible Talarico—to insist that politicians express their true beliefs honestly. We shouldn’t have to engage in a guessing game or wait for microphones to catch them off guard or sift through leaked audio to understand where a candidate genuinely stands.
If you believe something, own it. If you think your idea is unpopular, explain why you hold it; there must be a rationale for your belief.
And if you fear voters won’t embrace your real opinions, perhaps the issue lies not with voters needing clarity, but with you reevaluating why you’re asking for their votes in the first place.
When politicians are rewarded for expressing the right sentiments when they think no one’s listening, they’ll never muster the courage to express them when it truly counts.
From The Editors’ Desk
‘It’s Pink’: Inside The GOP’s Fight To Hold Trump Country In The Midterms — Reagan Reese explores the political struggle in Ohio, where data centers have emerged as a significant campaign issue. With competitive races for governor, Senate, and various congressional seats, Ohio is proving to be a hotly monitored battleground.
Rubio Urges Europe to Awaken From ‘Slumber’ and Uphold Western Dominance — During his visit to Greece, Rubio highlighted defense, immigration, and rising security concerns, which are crucial for strengthening ties with European allies.
Vegetables half as nutritious as they were in the 1960s — Patrick Galbraith discusses the alarming decrease in the nutritional quality of common foods, attributing it to factors like declining soil health. It may be time to reconsider any vegetarian commitments.
F-150s, Family Fortunes And Kansas Residency: Iowa Governor Debate Becomes A Battle Over Authenticity — A recent Iowa gubernatorial debate turned into a personal dispute about sincerity with Zach Lahn confronting Rob Sand about his family wealth, while Sand questioned Lahn’s Iowa roots. Throw in an F-150, and it made for a peculiar exchange.
MS NOW Finds Surprising El-Sayed Support Among Trump Voter Focus Group, While Mike Rogers Gets No Love — MS NOW got feedback from Trump voters in Michigan about the contested Senate race, with unexpected support for Abdul El-Sayed and less enthusiasm for GOP nominee Mike Rogers, highlighting a lingering “buyer’s remorse” among Trump supporters.
