Why Democrats should run on anti-Republican 'anger and terror' in 2022: journalist

Although Democrats control the White House and both branches of Congress, Republicans have still been able to inflict plenty of damage in the Biden era — from the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wadeto GOP-controlled state legislatures passing voter suppression and anti-abortion laws. And if the 2022 midterms bring about a major red wave like the ones in 1994 and 2010, Republicans will be in a position to inflict even more damage.

Many Democratic strategists are hoping that anger over Roe will help their party in the midterms, but that remains to be seen. Journalist A.B. Stoddard, in an article published by The Bulwark on July 6, lays out some of the many reasons to be angry with Republicans but warns that anti-Republican anger won’t mean much if voters don’t express that anger at the polls in November.

“A raped and pregnant 10-year-old crossing state lines for an abortion,” Stoddard writes. “A coup against our government led by a president eager to send a mob he knew was armed to threaten the vice president and members of Congress. A Supreme Court that rules against the majority of the country on guns, abortion, and climate change and may side with Republicans next year who want partisans to decide our elections. The attorney general of Texas admitting he would welcome the return of anti-sodomy laws.”

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Stoddard continues, “After years of tumultuous change and accelerating division, these past days and weeks have made perfectly clear — even to those who had tried tuning it all out when Donald Trump lost the 2020 election — just what Republicans do with power. In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, and explosive testimony in several hearings on January 6th, polls show enthusiasm about voting rising, and the generic ballot tightening or even leaning toward Democrats. Yet reportedly, the party’s base is unmoved.”

The journalist goes on to say that if the Democratic base doesn’t vote in big numbers in the 2022 midterms, they will have even more to complain about when Republicans regain control of Congress.

“If Democrats want more of their legislative priorities addressed, then they should be eager to vote,” Stoddard explains. “Because that is how you solve your problems. And the bigger the majorities you can make, the bigger the problems you can tackle.”

Stoddard argues that “turning out Democrats” who are “enraged over abortion bans or the Republicans downplaying an insurrection” can “make a significant difference in the outcome” in the 2022 midterms.

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“If there is a GOP wave, it will be the result of a refusal of Democratic voters to turn out,” Stoddard explains. “An energized Democratic coalition can break the wave, mitigate losses, and reduce the number of seats Republicans were certain they would win before June changed the dynamics of the campaign. This year, Democrats should run on anger and terror.”

Stoddard wraps up her article by stressing that voters who are “raging” against Republicans need to do so at the polls in November.

“Rage posting on Instagram is not the same as rage voting,” Stoddard writes. “Pushing back against the dystopian tide will take resources, and energy, and all hands on deck. Pouting is simply dangerous.”