Conservative writer offers tips on how Democrats can fight back against MAGA 'hate wars'

From Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin to Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, MAGA Republicans are making culture war subjects a high priority in the 2022 midterms. Not all conservatives, however, are far-right culture warriors. And Washington Post opinion writer Jennifer Rubin, in an April 5 column, offers some tips on how Democrats can fight back against the MAGA “hate wars.”

“The Republican Party is on quite a tear,” Rubin observes. “Around the country, it has been criminalizing abortion and dangling bounties for people to turn in women for seeking the procedure. In Texas, it is threatening to take transgender kids away from parents who seek appropriate medical advice. And in Florida, its ludicrous ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law is a thinly disguised measure to target and ostracize LGBTQ kids.”

Rubin continues, “All of this is part of the GOP’s attempt to impose its reactionary, cultural and religious worldview on others. The result: Book banning is at record levels, school officials face public threats, and teachers who want to provide accurate information about the history of slavery and race in America are being muzzled.”

Although the 59-year-old Rubin has voted Republican in many presidential elections, she has been a blistering critic of former President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. And she cites Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a moderate conservative in a blue state, and Democratic White House Press Jen Psaki — who is leaving the Biden Administration for a job at MSNBC — as examples of people who have skillfully fought back against MAGA hate-mongering.

Democrats, Rubin argues, “have found it difficult to respond” to “the GOP’s hate wars” — partly because they “fear drawing more attacks or getting sidetracked on made-up issues.” And the Never Trumper recommends that they “take lessons” from Hogan and Psaki.

“Hogan showed the proper way to skewer Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for his threat to retaliate against Disney for objecting to his state’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law,” Rubin observes. “In an interview with CNN on (April 3), Hogan characterized DeSantis’ philosophy as repressive and pro-big government, blasting DeSantis for dictating COVID policies for private cruise lines and local schools…. Republicans used to be all about freedom, limited government and capitalism; Hogan correctly pointed out that the GOP has morphed into a party that supports pervasive government and state-directed business policies.”

Rubin goes on to note that Psaki “took a different — but still effective — tack in an exchange with Fox News’ Peter Doocy” on April 4.

“Doocy, ever in search of soundbites to advance the MAGA agenda, snidely asked, ‘At what age does the White House think that students should be taught about sexual orientation and gender identity?’” Rubin notes. “Psaki refused to engage, responding instead that Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law is ‘propagating misinformed, hateful policies that do absolutely nothing to address the real issues.’ She added that the Department of Education is ‘well-positioned and ready’ to evaluate whether the law violates federal civil rights law.”

Rubin wraps up her column by pointing out that Democrats “don’t do well when they play on Fox News’ turf.”

“Democrats need not give credence to GOP propaganda that the problem is ‘woke’ Democrats,” Rubin writes. “In reality, this is about Republicans trying to define who is a real American and who deserves respect and decency. If Democrats make that argument, they’ll find plenty of support. After all, no one likes bullies.”